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On March 24, 2016 the DOL’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) issued the so-called “persuader rule” that would greatly inhibit the ability of businesses to rely on labor experts and the ability of employers to obtain legal advice in responding to union organizing campaigns. For nearly 50 years the DOL has recognized that advice, including legal advice, is excluded from reporting under federal labor law. The new persuader rule would have forced lawyers and law firms that counsel a business on most labor relations matters to disclose not only their work with that client, but also all fees and arrangements for all clients for all labor-relations services.  Several lawsuits were filed challenging this rule on statutory and First Amendment grounds. On June 27, 2016, a district court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction enjoining DOL from implementing the new rule. The district court then made that preliminary injunction permanent in November 2016, and DOL has appealed to the Fifth Circuit.  While DOL’s appeal is pending, on June 12 DOL issued a proposal to rescind the rule.

Christopher C. Murray, a shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, represents some of the business groups in the Texas litigation who sued to stop the “persuader rule” from taking effect. He provided an update on the current state of play with regard to the litigation and proposed rulemaking.

Featuring:

  • Christopher C. Murray, Shareholder, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
  • Moderator: Karen Harned, Executive Director, National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center