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JOEL S. BARRAS is an attorney in the Philadelphia office of Reed Smith LLP, where he practices in the area of management-side labor and employment law, with an emphasis on public-sector labor and employment related litigation and advice. He provides legal guidance and counseling to municipalities on matters relating to the Policemen and Firemen Collective Bargaining Act (Act 111), the Police Pension Fund Act (Act 600), the Public Employee Relations Act (Act 195), the Police Tenure Act, the Borough Code, the First and Second Class Township Codes, Local Agency Law, as well as other areas of law relating to municipal affairs and employment litigation. Prior to coming to Reed Smith, Mr. Barras spent two years as an assistant counsel at the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Mr. Barras earned his B.A. degree in political science from Vassar College, his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Boston University School of Law and his M.S. degree in mass communications from Boston University College of Communication. Mr. Barras is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is a member of the Pennsylvania (member, Labor and Employment Law Section) and American bar associations. MATTHEW F. BOYER is a partner in the law firm of Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP in Wilmington, where he practices in employment law, commercial litigation and professional ethics. He has spoken frequently for the Delaware State Bar Association on ethical issues. Mr. Boyer earned his B.A. degree from Harvard University and his J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the St. Thomas More Society of Wilmington. From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Boyer served in the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Delaware Supreme Court. LORI A. BREWINGTON is an associate with the Wilmington firm of Richards, Layton & Finger, where she represents a wide variety of corporate and business clients in labor and employment issues, as well as intellectual property and commercial disputes, in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Ms. Brewington's practice includes appearances before state and federal agencies and courts. She provides employment advice on major corporate transactions and on general issues such as noncompete agreements and discipline/termination situation. Ms. Brewington trains both managers and employees regarding compliance with employment laws. She devotes a large portion of her time assisting clients before the EEOC and the Department of Labor, and in federal courts, with regards to Title VII, ADA, and FMLA claims and related state law claims. Ms. Brewington is a member of the Delaware State (chair, Labor and Employment Section and member, Multicultural Lawyers and Judges Section), the Federal, and the American (member, Labor and Employment Section) bar associations. She also is an associate member of the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners. Ms. Brewington was recognized in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA . She serves as a guardian ad litem to children who are in the care of the Delaware Division of Family Services. Ms. Brewington earned her B.S. degree from the University of Delaware and her J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law. VALERIE M. EIFERT is an associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Reed Smith LLP in Philadelphia. Her practice focuses on management-side representation in both employment litigation and traditional labor matters. Ms. Eifert works on employment discrimination issues and assists in representing employers on a wide variety of employment claims, including wage-and-hour litigation, wrongful discharge allegations, and actions under the Labor Management Relations Act. She also works on traditional labor matters on behalf of private employers under the National Labor Relations Act, as well as public employers under state and local laws, including the Policemen and Firemen Collective Bargaining Act (Act 111), the Police Pension Fund Act (Act 600), and the Public Employee Relations Act (Act 195). She provides guidance relating to employment practices, including anti-harassment policies, workplace investigations, employment applications, drug testing policies, and employee discipline. Prior to joining Reed Smith, Ms. Eifert worked at the State of Delaware in the Labor Relations and Employment Practices Section where she handled collective bargaining negotiations for a state-run healthcare facility, advised state agencies on employment practices, and represented the state in grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, and discrimination claims. Ms. Eifert has presented on managing employee grievances, conducting internal investigations, and handling discipline and discharge arbitrations. Ms. Eifert earned her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and her J.D. degree from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. G. KEVIN FASIC is an attorney with the Wilmington firm of Cooch and Taylor, P.A., where he concentrates his practice in the areas of labor, employment, construction, bankruptcy and commercial litigation. Mr. Fasic's labor and employment practice is primarily management based and includes discrimination, wage and hour, child labor, Davis-Bacon/prevailing wage, occupational safety and health, unfair labor disputes, union elections, employee handbooks and policies, benefits, and unemployment compensation. He is admitted to practice in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as the federal courts in Delaware, New Jersey, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Fasic appears frequently before various administrative boards and agencies, as well as private dispute resolution forums, and has litigated in Delaware's Superior Court, Court of Chancery, Court of Common Pleas, U.S. District Court and Bankruptcy Court. In 2007, he received his certification as a mediator from the Delaware Superior Court and is now available to mediate disputes in the area of labor/employment law and construction law/mechanic's liens. Mr. Fasic is a member of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce (chair, Employee Relations Committee), the Small Business Alliance (member, Board of Managers, Legislative Committee), Associated Builders and Contractors - Delaware chapter (member, Board of Directors, Legislative/Legal Affairs Committee), the Delaware Contractor's Association, and the American Council of Engineering Companies. He earned his B.A. degree from Lehigh University and his J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law. Mr. Fasic is a former investigator for the Delaware Department of Labor and a frequent speaker on employment and construction law topics for various professional and trade organizations.
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