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Prevailing Wage
Education, Consultation & Compliance Training
Contract Review & Related Rights
Government Audit & Investigation Representation
Assessment, Violation, & Debarment Mediation
Litigation
Presentations, Seminars, and Publications
Prevailing Wage Matters Attorneys
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Prevailing Wage Matters
SmithAmundsen's Prevailing Wage Law practice continues to be on the cutting edge in prevailing wage developments throughout the United States; with a particular emphasis on the Federal Davis-Bacon Act & Related Acts (DBRA), the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (IPWA) and the Wisconsin Prevailing Wage Law (WPWL). With public works and other related construction projects steadily becoming a major component of our economy, SmithAmundsen's Labor & Employment Practice Group understands the need for top notch counsel ready to assist public bodies, architects, engineers, project managers, developers, owners, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors in understanding and, at times, defending their interests under increasingly complex prevailing wage laws.
Our prevailing wage practicioners are committed to five (5) general areas of concentration:
Education, Consultation & Compliance Training
Contract Review & Related Rights
Government Audit & Investigation Representation
Assessment, Violation & Debarment Mediation
Litigation
Education, Consultation & Compliance Training
Our primary focus is to educate clients on prevailing wage compliance initiatives with the intent of preventing problems altogether. This education takes many forms, including specific on-site training on how and what to develop, maintain, and secure to showcase prevailing wage compliance. Much of what we do is help clients separate fact from the fiction (and there's unfortunately entirely too much fiction when it comes to prevailing wage).
Due to our firm's subtantial experience mediating and litigating prevailing wage disputes and controversies, and given our truly unique insight into the "internal policies" of many government agencies in the interpretation of prevailing wage law, we are strategically positioned to provide clients the road-map on how to avoid prevailing wage headaches.
Contract Review & Related Rights
Often public bodies, architects, engineers, project managers, developers, owners, contractors, and subcontractors are either much too rigid or much too relaxed in adopting clear contract language with respect to prevailing wage requirements and related obligations. Now more than ever individuals, businesses, organizations, and other entities that engage in work subject or purportedly subject to applicable prevailing wage law must have trustworthy, experienced, and highly dedicated counsel to help shield them from liabilities to the extent greatest possible. Creating and implementing strong contract rights is no longer a mere convenient tool; it is vital.
Government Audit & Investigation Representation
SmithAmundsen's Labor & Employment attorneys represent clients in thousands of government driven prevailing wage audits and related investigations. While the
Illinois Department of Labor
(IDOL),
the
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
(DWD)
,
and the
U.S. Department of Labor
(DOL)
are all high on our radar, we work with clients in geographic areas throughout the United States involving enforcement of local prevailing wage laws. We understand that it is in the audit stage of any prevailing wage controversy where clients have the best chance of successfully avoiding and resolving problems. We pride ourselves in knowing the applicable rule, law, policy, and facts better than the government auditor. Given our unmatched experience in such matters, we have developed a highly secretive and elaborate method in defending clients during this critically important stage.
Assessment, Violation, & Debarment Mediation
We offer the experience necessary to customize solutions for clients when facing fines, penalties, interest, backpay, violations, and/or debarment from public work. Because of our highly developed skills in handling such matters, we serve as trusted advisors to our clients and our clients know they will receive all available options including securing the best possible settlement under the circumstances. We have counseled far too many clients only after they have "settled" a prevailing wage dispute only to realize that they had other options that if pursued would have resulted in a far more valuable resolution. Although we prefer to be engaged with our client at the on-set of any potential controversy, we are often engaged to enter the picture late in the game. We are poised to take on any matter, anytime --- with the experience and insight to provide clients with all available alternatives and options designed to end the drama, heartache, and sleepless nights.
Litigation
For the volume of prevailing wage cases we handle, we seldom have to engage the government or interested third parties in formal litigation. However, at times a lawsuit simply is unavoidable.
When necessary we develop a thorough litigation plan with a resolution objective. Be assured that we are fully prepared to litigate any prevailing wage case through administrative hearing, trial and appellate review.
Writers,
Illinois Chamber of Commerce's HR Advisory Blog
Labor & Employment Newsletter - April 2010
Moderator, "
Prevailing Wage Law
in Illinois
," Lorman Education Seminars, Naperville, IL, April 13, 2010.
Labor & Employment Newsletter - March 2010
Presenter, "
Prevailing Wage Law
," Lorman Education Seminars, Hoffman Estates, IL, March 18, 2010.
Labor & Employment Newsletter - February 2010
Presenter, "
Employee Classification & Prevailing Wage Updates
," Midwest Truckers Association Annual Convention, Peoria, IL, February 6, 2010.
Presenters, "
Labor & Employment Law Forum
," Valley Industrial Association, Aurora, IL, February 4, 2010.
Presenter, "
Prevailing Wage Law
," Lorman Education Seminars, Chicago, IL, February 3, 2010.
Labor & Employment Newsletter - January 2010
Contributor, "
Educating Employees about Prevailing Wage Benefits
,"
Construction Executive
, December 2009.
Labor & Employment Newsletter - December 2009
Presenter, "
Expansion of Illinois Prevailing Wage: Game, Set, Match!?!?
," ABC of Illinois webinar, October 2, 2009 and December 11, 2009.
Presenter, "
Learn How to Navigate Prevailing Wage Paperwork and Payroll
," Illinois Electronic Security Association's (IESA) Membership Meeting, Elk Grove Village, IL, September 9, 2009.
Labor & Employment Alert: Governor Quinn Signs Union Backed Bill Which Expands Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Law
Jeffrey A. Risch
Rebecca L. Dobbs
Jonathon D. Hoag
Jacqueline Lentini McCullough
Christina Lopez-Nutzman
Julie A. Proscia
Sara S. Zorich
URL: /practice_details.aspx?p=59