Attorney Directory: Charles T. Speth II

Mr. Speth is the Managing Shareholder of the firm's Columbia, South Carolina office. Mr. Speth has concentrated his practice in employment-related litigation matters during his entire legal career. He has successfully defended employers in state and federal litigation throughout the United States. Mr. Speth has devoted the majority of his time over the past several years to the representation of clients in class action litigation in which the putative class membership exceeded 100,000 persons. He also provides training and preventive advice to employers in an effort to resolve potential employment-related legal matters before the matters escalate into legal actions. Mr. Speth is listed in the 2001-2007 editions of The Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Speth was voted into membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates in July 2002.

Mr. Speth provides advice and legal representation in the following areas:

Representing clients in civil rights class-action lawsuits under such statutes as 42 U.S.C. " 1981; 42 U.S.C. " 1982; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; and other federal and state civil rights laws.

Advising clients in the complex area of disability law, including issues under the ADA, FMLA, and state workers' compensation laws. These statutory areas often interact with one another and, at times, create conflicts.

Advising and counseling clients when faced with downsizing or reorganizing their workforce. This advice would include reviewing possible exposure under various applicable state and federal employment discrimination laws and reviewing severance plan options, including the use of ERISA-covered plans and ensuring compliance with the OWBPA.

Advising and representing clients in the area of employment contracts. This advice includes reviewing company policies and procedures to ensure that employment contracts are not created unintentionally.

Advising and counseling employers who wish to enter employment contracts with employees, particularly highly compensated executives, successful and mobile sales employees, and highly sought research and development personnel.

Advising employers in the new and quickly evolving area of technology in the workplace. This advice includes drafting IT policies, reviewing privacy issues, and training managers on the use and abuse of e-mail and other modern methods of communication.

Representing healthcare organizations in matters involving physician privileges, exclusive contracts with physician groups, and individual liability of healthcare executives. Mr. Speth is also involved in representing teaching healthcare institutions with legal issues that arise with medical residents both in the employment and educational context.

Representing healthcare organizations in class action litigation involving patients" rights issues.