Attorney Directory: David J. Laurent

David J. Laurent focuses his practice on complex ERISA litigation, traditional labor law, and transactional work involving employee-related issues, with a particular emphasis on the coal industry. His extensive ERISA practice includes defending claims by multiemployer trust funds for delinquent contributions and withdrawal liability, as well as a wide array of matters arising under the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act.

Dovetailing his ERISA practice with traditional labor law, David provides unique insight in collective bargaining with regard to benefits matters, as well as unfair labor proceedings, union organizing campaigns, decertification elections, strikes, and corporate campaigns. His knowledge in the ERISA and traditional labor law arenas complements his transactional practice, which encompasses helping clients structure acquisitions and divestitures to minimize control group, single employer, and other employee-related liabilities, negotiating labor agreements as a condition to closing transactions, conducting due diligence via web-based data rooms, and drafting complex employee and benefits-related provisions.

Some examples of David's recent matters include:

Assisting a large coal company with all of the labor and benefits aspects of several large acquisitions of both union and union free facilities.

Assisting a venture capital firm purchase the stock of a target company from an ESOP.

Helping to settle an ERISA class action claim for breach of fiduciary duty arising out of the bankruptcy of a large hospital.

Evaluating the trust fund contribution obligations that a national industry labor agreement will impose on potential me-too signers.

Helping a large investment firm understand the potential reach of related person liabilities under the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act.

Helping a family-owned group of affiliated companies understand the withdrawal liability implications of changes in ownership percentages.

Helping a coal company negotiate two collective bargaining agreements that included several major changes in benefits for active and retired employees.

Defending a unionized company from claims for trust fund contributions based on work performed by the employees of a union-free affiliate.

Helping two refractory companies negotiate new union contracts as a condition to acquiring those facilities.

Prior to joining Buchanan, David was a shareholder in the Pittsburgh office of a regional law firm, where he handled a wide range of labor, employment, and employee benefits laws issues for many years.

David has published many papers for the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation dealing with a variety of labor topics.

In 2006, David was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, and in 2007, Pittsburgh Magazine listed him as one of the city’s top labor and employment lawyers.

David J. Laurent

Baker Donelson

Fisher & Phillips

Shaw Valenza LLP

Shaw Valenza LLP

Jackson Lewis LLP

Jackson Lewis LLP

Jackson Lewis LLP

Jackson Lewis LLP

Jackson Lewis LLP

Jackson Lewis LLP