Joseph C. Devine practices in the area of management labor and employment law and handles a variety of matters for many different clients. He has represented clients in numerous discrimination cases involving claims under Title VII and Sections 1981, 1983, and 1985 of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and state discrimination laws.

Mr. Devine has also litigated other matters for clients, including enforcement of numerous covenant not to compete cases, breach of contract cases, interference with business and contractual relations situations, as well as Equal Pay Act, Trade Secret Act, Surface Transportation Assistance Act and Family and Medical Leave Act violations. In addition he has counseled a wide variety of clients on other employment-related matters including Fair Labor Standards Act issues, the creation of employee handbooks, drafting and revising employee contracts and covenants not to compete, and harassment training for employees, supervisors and executives.

Mr. Devine’s practice has had a particular emphasis on traditional labor law collective bargaining and labor arbitration. Mr. Devine has negotiated collective bargaining agreements for employers and has arbitrated cases on many diverse topics, including wrongful discharge, contract interpretation, arbitrability, custom and past practice, management rights, and seniority.

Since joining Baker Hostetler in 1994 after working for the National Labor Relations Board as a Field lawyer in Ohio and as a Law Clerk on a Board Member’s staff in Washington, D.C., Mr. Devine has represented employers before the NLRB on numerous matters, including representation case hearings to determine voter eligibility. In addition, Mr. Devine has represented many clients in unfair labor practice situations, including allegations of union discrimination, refusal to bargain, secondary boycotts, and picket and striker activity. Further, Mr. Devine has had a great deal of experience representing clients who have been confronted with union organizational campaigns and has advised them on how to lawfully prevent unionization.

Mr. Devine is a member of the Ohio Bar Association.