909 Poydras Street, Suite 1100 New Orleans LA 70112-4017 504.310.4088 504.310.2022 (fax)

Conveniently located in the heart of New Orleans Central Business District, our office specializes in defending national and global employers on a wide variety of labor and employment-related matters, with an emphasis on sophisticated ERISA matters. This includes all forms of ERISA litigation, arbitration, and mediation -- especially individual and class action lawsuits alleging claims for benefits and breaches of ERISA's fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction provisions, actions under Section 510, claims for severance pay, actions challenging particular investment decisions, delinquent employer contribution claims, plan investment losses, modifications to retiree benefit plans, denial of benefits or plan interpretations, severance pay, executive compensation, and claims challenging plan restrictions on particular types of coverages, delinquent employer contribution and withdrawal liability.

The New Orleans office also specializes in labor and employment representation, representing clients of all sizes, from small nonprofit organizations to multinational corporations in a wide range of employment and traditional labor areas. We counsel clients on day-to-day matters, including FMLA and other leave issues, hiring, layoffs and terminations, FLSA and other wage and hour concerns. Our practice also includes diverse experience in both litigation, such as federal and state discrimination laws, non-competition agreements, and wage claims, and arbitration, including both traditional labor arbitrations and arbitrations before specialized panels such as the NASD.

Veteran attorney Howard Shapiro heads up Proskauer's New Orleans team and brings more than 25 years of ERISA litigation experience. Named one of the "Top 40" benefits lawyers in the United States by the National Law Journal, and listed for many years in The Best Lawyers in America, Mr. Shapiro was one of the founding fellows (and initial members) of the Board of Governors of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. In addition to currently serving as the Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association, Mr. Shapiro is a past Chair of the ABA's Joint Committee on Employee Benefits.

Joining Howard are senior counsel Robert Rachal and Charles F. Seemann III, as well as several associates.

Robert Rachal's work has included traditional labor and employment law, such as employment discrimination claims, collective bargaining and union election challenges, and focuses now on complex ERISA litigation. Robert has teamed with Howard in handling many ERISA class action cases throughout the country. He speaks and writes extensively, including serving as chapter editor for BNA's Employee Benefits Law and chapter author for BNA's ERISA Litigation.

Charles Seemann's practice also emphasizes ERISA litigation, as well as employee benefits and employment law. Over the course of his career, he has participated in the resolution of complex class action matters in various federal courts throughout the nation, including claims involving ESOPs and directed trustees for 401(k) plans. Prior to joining Proskauer Rose, Charles was a partner in the commercial litigation section of a large New Orleans firm, where his practice also included professional liability, corporate control, intellectual property and other commercial matters. In addition to his ERISA and employment practice, Charles has continued his commercial litigation practice.