Grand Rapids Employment Lawyers
SPECIALIZING IN:
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Non-Compete, Nonsolicitation Covenants
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Employment Law & Litigation
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Physician Staff Privileges
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Physician Employment Contracts
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Complex Severance Negotiations
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Trade Secrets, Nondisclosure & Confidential Information
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Sensitive Personnel Matters
Practice Areas
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NON-COMPETE, NON-SOLICITATION, NONINTERFERENCE LAW
We have extensive experience in the preparation, enforcement and/or defense of non-compete, non-solicitation and other restrictive employment contracts. We have represented both companies and employees in restrictive covenant matters, and have encountered a variety of issues in the field of restrictive covenant law. We have experience in pursuing and in opposing applications for TRO's and motions for preliminary injunctive relief.
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TRADE SECRETS, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
This firm has significant expertise in drafting, prosecuting and/or defending employment agreements designed to protect trade secrets and/or confidential information from misappropriation and/or unauthorized disclosure. We have also defended senior level personnel and/or other key employees accused of misappropriating trade secrets and/or confidential information.
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NEGOTIATION OF COMPLEX SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
Our firm has successfully negotiated numerous severance agreements on behalf of employers as well as key employees and other senior-level personnel in a variety of industries throughout West Michigan. Carefully drafted, comprehensive severance agreements protect employers' interests and/or provide departing employees with the precise terms and conditions to govern their separation.
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PHYSICIAN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS; PHYSICIAN STAFF PRIVILEGES
Negotiating physician employment contracts; representing physicians in employment contract disputes, including non-compete issues and other disputes arising out of physician employment matters. Representing physicians in fair hearing matters, peer review and incidents potentially impacting a physician's medical staff privileges.
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EMPLOYMENT LAW & EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION
We have more than 39 years of experience handling complex employment law matters, EEOC investigations and employment litigation involving (among other things) wrongful discharge, sexual harassment and discrimination claims, wage-hour violations, FMLA, ADA, defamation, breach of contract, retaliation, whistleblower and a variety of other employment-related claims in the state and federal courts and administrative tribunals. Litigation avoidance is one of our primary goals in representing clients. But when a lawsuit is unavoidable, we strive to defend the interests of all our clients with vigor and creative force.
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EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, PERSONNEL POLICIES
We provide practical counseling and legal representation aimed at resolving sensitive, employee-relations issues. We routinely assist employers with creating and updating "plain English," legally compliant, common sense employee handbooks and personnel policies designed to meet the specific needs of the client's workforce; we advise employers on a wide range of disciplinary issues in a variety of industries throughout West Michigan. We have also provided legal representation to senior-level personnel or other key employees facing (among other things) disciplinary and/or other personnel challenges.
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WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS
We have successfully represented both employers and employees in cases arising under the myriad of state and federal laws prohibiting retaliation against whistleblowers as well as anti-discrimination laws that forbid reprisals against employees.
Who We Are
Todd R. Knecht
Todd Knecht has more than 39 years of experience handling complex employment law problems and employment-related litigation in state and federal courts, administrative tribunals and private dispute resolution proceedings. He provides practical counseling in litigation avoidance strategies and legal representation aimed at resolving sensitive, employee-relations matters. Mr. Knecht has successfully negotiated numerous severance agreements on behalf of employers as well as key employees in the West Michigan area. He also has significant expertise and extensive experience in the creation, enforcement and/or defense of non-compete and nonsolicitation agreements as well as restrictive covenants designed to protect trade secrets from disclosure to competitors, among other critical transactions. He also provides counseling and representation to physicians in medical staff fair hearing procedures, peer review matters and physician employment contract disputes.
He is a graduate of Hope College (B.A., 1977) and the University of Detroit School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1981). Mr. Knecht served as law clerk to the late Hon. Douglas W. Hillman, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division, in 1983. He was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1981 and the Michigan Bar in 1983.
Among other jurisdictions, he is admitted to practice in the Michigan Court of Appeals; the Michigan Supreme Court; the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Mr. Knecht has appeared in court in over 43 of Michigan's 83 counties. He has been a speaker and author on a variety of labor and employment law issues.
Contact Us
Office
KNECHT LAW, PLC
4999 N Quail Crest Dr SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
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call: 616.308.4716
fax: 616.828.5982
email: trknechtlaw@gmail.com
General Inquiries
The following contact form is for general inquiries only. Please do not use or attempt to use this contact form to communicate privileged or confidential information to us. As a prerequisite to using this form, you understand, acknowledge and agree that an attorney-client relationship can only be created with you by means of a separate written retainer agreement signed by an authorized representative of KNECHT LAW, PLC on the one hand and by you on the other hand.
Mailing
KNECHT LAW, PLC
PO Box 68292
Grand Rapids, MI 49516-8292
