EXPERIENCE IN YOUR CORNER

Tom’s practice involves employment and labor law and exclusively represents corporation in issues facing management. Tom has over 40 years of experience in this area of the law and has done so since graduating from Marquette University Law School .  He has been involved in all aspects of labor and employment law involving the EEOC, DOL, NLRB , OSHA and all other agencies and extensive litigation of issues before the state and federal courts.  He speaks frequently to employers and associations throughout the country on these issues.  Tom is also the author of Employment Law Manual for Wisconsin Employers, which he has published since 1990, and FMLA Manual for Wisconsin Employers, comprehensive employment guides subscribed to by more than 4,000 companies. Tom has been involved in drafting these manuals and has his many programs on the bases of how to avoid conflict and problems based on the legal requirements facing corporation and how to avoid litigation.

Tom's focus is on evaluate and analyze complex employment matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, family and medical leave and disability issues, with the objective of resolving problems and making sound employment decisions while avoiding unnecessary lawsuits.  When issues must be met head-on, Tom is prepared to meet any challenges with extensive experience in litigation and negotiations.  He has successfully litigated numerous employment discrimination cases and sought sanctions against plaintiff-employees who brought frivolous claims against their employer.

Tom represents employers across the country to defend against class and collective actions, particularly as they involve Title VII and intricate wage and hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Another area of his practice is enforcing employment agreements to protect employers’ business interests, confidential information and trade secrets.

Tom also has extensive experience representing employers in labor disputes, union organizing campaigns and contract negotiations, where he emphasizes the need for corporate strategic and tactical planning.  This includes preparing vulnerability analyses for companies targeted in union corporate campaigns and diffusing union efforts to run a campaign and/or organize employees.  Where employers are unionized, he is skilled in preparing for and conducing labor contract negotiations to obtain the goals and objectives of the employer. Having also represented management in numerous arbitration cases. Tom has had extensive experience in attempting to avoid strikes and when they become necessary to establish and handle these difficult situations.

Email Tom at tkrukowski@tpklegal.com

Deborah A. Krukowski  is current employed as a partner in the law firm of Smith&Amundson s.c. with offices in the mid-west including Milwaukee. She emphasizes her practice in representing employers in the areas of litigation and investigations before the ERD and the EEOC and matters under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, sexual harassment and general employment discrimination law. She successfully argued a Motion for Summary Judgment to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on the issue of race discrimination and retaliation for a large financial institution. She also has successfully argued and won cases in the areas of contract disputes, violations of non-compete agreements, discrimination, retaliation, and harassment claims. She provides employee training in these areas as well and gives advice on employee handbooks and policies, including wrongful discharge and social media. She provides employers with assistance in separation agreements and releases, and downsizing or plant closing planning. Further, she has enforced relocation contracts on behalf of employers throughout the United States. Her practice focuses on industries such as financial services, retail, insurance, foods and distribution, manufacturing, health care, cosmetology, salon, and spa. She presentsnumerous seminars each year to employers on the subjects of FMLA, sexual harassment, retaliation, social media and electronic communication, constructive discharge, ADA, domestic partner benefits, workplace violence, employee privacy rights, employment releases, discipline and discharge, employee handbooks, work place violence and performance evaluations. Upon graduation from law school, she worked on ADA and Title VII issues for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. She continues to be involved in litigation before Wisconsin state agencies, Wisconsin state courts, federal district courts and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is past President and Board member of the Association of Women’s Lawyers, the largest women’s bar association in the U.S.A. She continues to lead all lawyers in providing corporation with an effort to understand the law and work with companies to become more efficient in the avoiding of unnecessary litigation.

Email Deborah at dkrukowski@salawus.com