Barbara Barrett is a Labor Law consultant with nearly 30 years of Federal Government service. She is now focusing on guiding employers through the complicated maze of Labor and Wage laws to resolve complex issues. A former United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (USDOL) investigator, Barrett conducted thousands of investigations independent of employers in all areas of law enforced by USDOL WHD, and was recognized for her expertise, knowledge, skill, and enthusiasm in representing the agency at educational outreach seminars and speaking opportunities. Barrett has also established partnerships between state and federal agencies, business communities, universities, and private organizations in order to maximize compliance with Wage and Hour laws.

Education 

Barrett graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s in business, and has been recognized by her agency with several exceptional achievement awards.

Credentials 

• Secretary’s Exceptional Achievement Award Compliance Assistance Team, 2004
• Centennial Secretary’s Honor Award, 2013
• Secretary’s of Labor Distinguished Career Service Award, 2013
• Secretary’s Exceptional Achievement Award, 2014
• Distinguished Customer Service Award-2015

Upon her retirement from USDOL Wage and Hour she was recognized for her service by the following: United States Senator Sherrod Brown, Governor of Ohio, John R. Kasich and Proclamation from the Mayor of the City of Cincinnati, Ohio with the State of Ohio Wage and Hour Division.

Fred practices in all types of labor and employment disputes, including claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and numerous state statutes. Fred also handles disputes involving unfair competition issues, including non-competition agreements, non-solicitation agreements, confidentiality agreements and misappropriation of trade secrets. He has successfully defended employers against a variety of high-stakes claims through dispositive motions, skillful negotiation and aggressive litigation when necessary. Fred has worked with clients in many different industries, including transportation, energy, retail and construction.

He often steps outside of his employment practice to handle general litigation matters, including cases involving breach of contract, collections and premises liability. Fred has handled workers compensation matters and successfully argued and won a workers compensation matter before an administrative law judge. Fred also has significant experience defending class action and collection action lawsuits and cases in arbitration.

He is certified in alternative dispute resolution and available to help individuals and businesses reach a compromise in all types of labor and employment disputes.

Fred is a regular speaker on a variety of employment law issues, including the numerous federal and state regulations impacting employers, Texas arbitration law, workers compensation law, sexual harrassment and electronic issues in the workplace.

Jessica has experience working on litigation matters involving claims of employment discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour violations. Jessica also frequently advises clients on affirmative action plans, including preparing plans, planning for and defending OFCCP audits, and conducting compensation analyses. In addition to counseling employers, Jessica litigates employment law claims in federal and state courts, as well as before governmental agencies such as the EEOC and OFCCP. Jessica also advises clients on a variety of other employment related issues such as employee handbooks, non-competition agreements, and other personnel policies and concerns.

While in law school, Jessica was a law clerk at GE Aviation and legal extern for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Michael J. Newman. She also served on the University of Dayton Law Review Editorial Board as the Outside Articles Editor.

Jessica joined the firm in 2018 after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Dayton School of Law.