We Are Unionizing Our Workplace. Wh… AI recommendations | Parse
We are unionizing our workplace. Who offers legal counsel for collective bargaining?
Data as of Sep 26, 2026 · Based on 300 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
If you represent an independent local union, choose Community Labor Legal Consulting for tailored collective-bargaining counsel. For broader union-side representation—negotiations, arbitration, unfair‑labor practice support, and training—consider Tully Rinckey or HSG Law Group; confirm location and specific services.
Labor Relations - Jackson Lewishttps://www.jacksonlewis.com/services/labor-relations
4%
Labor Law - Unions | Willig, Williams & Davidsonhttps://www.wwdlaw.com/practice/labor-law-union-representation/
4%
Labor Relations for Management | Practices | Holland & Knighthttps://www.hklaw.com/en/services/practices/labor-employment-and-benefits/labor-relations-for-management
3%
Union Legal Services | Tully Rinckey PLLChttps://www.tullylegal.com/legal-services/union-legal-services/
3%
Union Side Labor & Employment Law Attorneys | HSGLawhttps://hsglawgroup.com/union-side-labor-employment-law-attorney/
The Chilla Business Counsel - 1700 Market St, Ste 1005, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Ogletree Deakins - 1735 Market St Ste 3000, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
Fisher Phillips LLP - 100 N 18th St 12th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
Trigiani Joel P Atty - 1500 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
If you're in the Philadelphia area, there are several union-side labor firms that specifically handle collective bargaining. A few to consider:
Willig Williams & Davidson — A long-established union-side firm. Its attorneys advise unions on organizing, collective bargaining, contract negotiation, grievances, arbitration, and NLRB matters.
O'Donoghue & O'Donoghue — Focuses on representing labor unions and union-affiliated organizations, including labor and benefits matters.
Jennings & Sigmond — Philadelphia firm focused on labor organizations and union-affiliated benefit plans, including labor-relations matters.
Meranze & Katz — Handles union-side labor matters including bargaining disputes, NLRB proceedings, discipline/discharge issues, and representation matters.
One important distinction: if you're a newly organizing group that hasn't affiliated with a union yet, ask specifically whether the lawyer represents employees/organizing committees before certification, rather than only established labor organizations.
Also, your union may already have access to counsel through its international union, regional council, or local once you affiliate. That can substantially change who handles bargaining and how the legal costs work.
If you tell me what kind of workplace you are unionizing (private-sector, nonprofit, university, healthcare, etc.) and roughly where in the Philadelphia region, I can narrow this to attorneys who specifically handle your type of bargaining and give you contact information and questions to ask during an initial consultation.
When you are organizing a workplace and preparing for collective bargaining, you need union-side labor attorneys (lawyers who exclusively or primarily represent workers and labor organizations, distinct from management-side or corporate labor lawyers).
Finding and securing the right legal counsel typically happens through a few key channels:
Established national and international unions: If you are affiliating with an existing established union (like the CWA, SEIU, UAW, USW, etc.), the union will generally provide and assign experienced legal counsel to assist your organizing committee and guide your first collective bargaining negotiations.
Union Lawyers Alliance (ULA) : Run by the AFL-CIO, the Union Lawyers Alliance maintains a comprehensive, state-by-state directory of union-side labor attorneys and legal professionals who specialize in organizing, unfair labor practices, and contract negotiations.
Independent local labor law firms: If you are forming an independent or standalone "1Haus/Wander/In-House" union, you will want to look for regional boutique labor law firms ranked specifically for Labor Law - Union (rather than general employment law or corporate defense). Directories like Best Law Firms can help filter firms by region that represent worker organizations.
To help point you toward the most relevant resources or type of counsel, could you share:
Are you organizing independently or trying to affiliate with an established national union?
What state or region is your workplace located in?
Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld - 1375 55th St, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
Leonard Carder LLP - 1999 Harrison St Ste 2700, Oakland, CA 94612, United States
Beeson Tayer & Bodine - 492 9th St, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
David Rosenfeld - 1001 Marina Village Pkwy, Alameda, CA 94501
Alpers Law Group - 444 Airport Blvd #102, Watsonville, CA 95076, United States
Goyette, Ruano + Ulmer - 335 Convention Way #5, Redwood City, CA 94063, United States
Patane Gumberg Avila, LLP, Attorneys at Law. - 4 Rossi Cir Ste 231, Salinas, CA 93907, United States
Law Offices of Santos Gomez - 1003 Freedom Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076
Law Offices of Anne Frassetto Olsen - 307 Main St #310, Salinas, CA 93901, United States
Law Offices of Robert J. Bezemek - 1611 Telegraph Ave #936, Oakland, CA 94612, United States
Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP - 60 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113, United States
Teamsters Local 853 - 22 E 5th St, Watsonville, CA 95076, United States
Saqui Law Group - 1615 Bunker Hill Way # 240, Salinas, CA 93906, United States
For a California workplace, look for union-side labor counsel, particularly attorneys experienced in first-contract and collective-bargaining negotiations.
Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld — union-side firm with extensive collective-bargaining and organizing experience; offices in Emeryville, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.
Leonard Carder LLP — Oakland firm representing unions in private- and public-sector bargaining, NLRB matters, arbitration, and contract enforcement.
Hayes, Ortega & Sanchez — California union-side firm that specifically handles contract negotiations, including first-contract bargaining, proposals, impasse procedures, and serving as chief spokesperson.
Beeson Tayer & Bodine — Oakland union-side firm with private/public labor-relations and collective-bargaining experience.
If you're in the Watsonville/Santa Cruz area, I can also identify union-side attorneys within practical driving distance and distinguish private-sector vs. public-sector specialists.
When you are organizing a workplace, you need union-side labor attorneys (lawyers who exclusively or primarily represent workers and labor unions, rather than management). Legal counsel helps with filing petitions with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), unfair labor practice (ULP) charges, structuring your bargaining committee, and negotiating your first collective bargaining agreement.
Here are the primary avenues for finding and connecting with union-side legal counsel:
AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance (ULA): This is an organization of roughly 2,000 attorneys across the United States who represent unions and workers. You can look through resources and directories via the AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance to find vetted, union-side legal professionals in your region.
Established National and Regional Union-Side Law Firms: There are dedicated law firms that spend 100% of their time protecting worker rights and negotiating contracts. Examples include firms like Quinn, Connor, Weaver, Davies & Rouco LLP or similar regional labor law practices that handle everything from the initial organizing campaign to the bargaining table.
Existing Labor Organizations and Organizing Committees: If you are affiliating with an established national or international union (like the UAW, CWA, SEIU, Teamsters, etc.), that parent union will typically provide or direct you to experienced legal counsel from day one of your campaign.
Local Central Labor Councils (CLCs): Reaching out to your local AFL-CIO or regional labor federation office can connect you directly with recommended local attorneys who know the regional economic and legal landscape.
To help narrow down the right legal resources, could you tell me:
Are you organizing independently or affiliating with an existing national union?
If your workplace is unionizing and you are looking for legal counsel on the union/worker side for collective bargaining, the usual options are:
Your union’s assigned labor attorney — Most established unions have in-house or outside counsel who advise bargaining committees, draft proposals, negotiate contracts, handle unfair labor practice issues, and represent the union in arbitration.
A union-side labor law firm — Firms that focus on representing unions and workers can help with bargaining strategy, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), NLRB matters, grievances, and enforcement. Examples include Willig, Williams & Davidson, Karmel & Torres, LLC, and Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss.
Your national union or organizing committee — If you are organizing with a specific union (for example, a local affiliated with a national labor organization), they often provide counsel and bargaining support through their legal department.
Worker-side legal clinics or labor nonprofits — These may help with rights education, organizing questions, or referrals, especially if you are not yet formally represented.
When choosing counsel, look for someone who regularly handles:
Collective bargaining negotiations
Contract drafting and interpretation
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) matters
Unfair labor practice charges
Grievance and arbitration procedures
Strike/picketing legal issues (if relevant)
If you tell me your state (and whether you are public-sector or private-sector employees, and whether you already have a union affiliation), I can point you toward more relevant union-side attorneys or organizations.
Legal counsel for employees who are unionizing and engaging in collective bargaining is provided primarily by labor lawyers who specialize in representing labor organizations and workers, as well as the legal departments of the specific international or national union assisting your organizing effort.
When a workplace unionizes, the legal representation splits depending on whether you are looking for counsel for the organizing employee committee/the newly formed union, or if you are an employer. For employees and labor unions, specialized legal support ensures your rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) are protected during first-contract negotiations.
Sources of Legal Counsel for Organizing Employees
National or International Union Legal Departments: If you are partnering with an established parent union (such as the SEIU , Teamsters, or UFCW) to organize your workplace, that union will typically assign or provide experienced labor attorneys and negotiators to guide you through unfair labor practice (ULP) charges and the collective bargaining process.
Union-Side Labor Law Firms: Specialized law firms focus exclusively on representing workers and labor unions rather than management. Examples include firms like Blitman & King or regional labor practices that handle NLRB proceedings, strike strategy, and contract drafting.
The AFL-CIO Lawyer Alliance / Worker Organizations: The AFL-CIO and worker centers can point organizing committees toward vetted local labor attorneys who specialize in helping workers form bargaining units and negotiate initial collective bargaining agreements.
What Legal Counsel Does During Collective Bargaining
Table Representation and Strategy: Advising the employee bargaining committee on proposals, drafting legally binding contract clauses, and counter-proposing employer terms on wages, hours, and working conditions.
NLRB Representation: Filing and litigating Unfair Labor Practice charges if the employer engages in union-busting, refuses to bargain in good faith, or retaliates against organizers.
Impasse and Dispute Guidance: Advising on mediation, arbitration, or concerted activities like informational picketing or work stoppages.
To help narrow down the right resource, could you let me know:
What industry or type of workplace you are in?
Are you affiliated with an established national union yet, or starting an independent/WKU union?
Hedberg & Boulton, P.C. - 100 Court Ave Suite 425, Des Moines, IA 50309, United States
Newkirk Zwagerman, P.L.C. - 3900 Ingersoll Ave #201, Des Moines, IA 50312, United States
Iowa Employment Attorneys, P.L.C. - 7001 Westown Pkwy Ste 212, West Des Moines, IA 50266, United States
Timmer, Judkins & Borland - 1415 28th St Ste 375, West Des Moines, IA 50266, United States
LeGrant Law Firm - 12257 University Ave Ste 201, Clive, IA 50325, United States
Fiedler Law Firm, P.L.C. - 8831 Windsor Pkwy, Johnston, IA 50131, United States
Flynn Law Firm, PLC - 2900 100th St #304, Urbandale, IA 50322, United States
Higgins Law Firm, PLLC - 701 13th St Ste 1, West Des Moines, IA 50265, United States
Sherinian & Hasso Law Firm - 111 E Grand Ave Ste 212, Des Moines, IA 50309, United States
Duff Law Firm - 4090 Westown Pkwy Ste 102, West Des Moines, IA 50266, United States
Cain Hugh J - 2700 Grand Ave #111, Des Moines, IA 50312, United States
Smith & McElwain Law Offices - 505 5th St, Sioux City, IA 51101
Jensen-Welch Jill R - 699 Walnut St #1600, Des Moines, IA 50309, United States
If you’re unionizing as employees and need counsel for the union side of collective bargaining, there’s an important distinction: you generally want a union-side labor attorney, not a general employment lawyer or a firm that primarily represents employers.
Assuming you’re in the Des Moines/Waukee area, one particularly relevant option is:
Hedberg & Boulton, P.C. — Des Moines. They explicitly represent labor unions and their members, including collective bargaining, contract negotiations, grievances, arbitration, mediation, organizing drives, and NLRA matters. Their site says they represent unions throughout Iowa.
Newkirk Zwagerman, P.L.C. — Des Moines. This is an employee-side labor/employment firm, although I'd specifically ask whether the attorney you're speaking with regularly represents unions as organizations in collective bargaining, rather than individual employees.
Iowa Employment Attorneys, P.L.C. — West Des Moines. They are employee-side rather than employer-side, but their published focus is broader employment law, so I'd verify their union-side bargaining experience before retaining them.
One thing I'd do first
If you've already affiliated with an established union (SEIU, UFCW, Teamsters, AFSCME, IBEW, etc.), contact the union's local/international legal department first. Unions commonly have labor counsel already available to the bargaining unit, so you may not need to hire a separate attorney yourselves.
If this is an independent workplace union that hasn't affiliated with a larger union, I'd prioritize a lawyer who can represent the union itself through:
NLRB/organizing issues
bargaining-unit certification
initial collective bargaining
drafting and costing contract proposals
unfair-labor-practice issues
grievance/arbitration procedures
contract enforcement
For comparison, several Des Moines firms advertise collective bargaining but are explicitly employer-side. For example, Ahlers & Cooney describes its collective-bargaining practice as representing employers, so I would not approach them as your union's counsel.
If you tell me whether you're private-sector or public-sector, roughly how many employees are organizing, and what industry you're in, I can narrow this down to the best 3–5 union-side attorneys in Iowa and give you contact information and what each specializes in.
Legal counsel for employees undergoing workplace unionization and collective bargaining is primarily provided by labor attorneys who represent unions, the legal departments of parent/international labor organizations, or specialized worker-side labor law firms.
When employees organize a workplace, legal strategy and representation at the bargaining table are rarely handled by individual workers alone. Instead, legal support comes from established entities within the labor movement.
Sources of Legal Counsel for Organizing Employees
The Affiliated International or National Union: When you partner with an existing labor organization (such as the UAW, SEIU, USW, or Teamsters) to organize your workplace, that parent union typically assigns experienced internal staff attorneys or retains outside labor lawyers to assist with the certification process, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings, and initial collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
Worker-Side Labor Law Firms: Specialized law practices focus exclusively on representing unions and working people rather than management. Examples of prominent firms include Altshuler Berzon LLP , Cohen Weiss and Simon, or regional worker advocacy legal practices. They advise on unfair labor practices, strike legally, and draft contract language.
The AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance (ULA): The AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance is a national network representing hundreds of attorneys who specialize in union-side labor law. While they do not act as a direct legal aid hotline for unrepresented workers, their directory is a primary resource for finding certified union-side legal counsel in your geographic region.
What Legal Counsel Does During Collective Bargaining
Drafting Proposals: Translating worker demands into legally binding contract language regarding wages, benefits, and working conditions.
When you are organizing a workplace, you need to look specifically for union-side labor attorneys (also referred to as pro-labor or worker-side employment lawyers). Unlike management-side firms that help employers resist organizing, union-side lawyers specialize in advising workers, organizing committees, and established local unions through elections, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings, and collective bargaining.
Here are the main avenues and organizations to find qualified legal counsel for collective bargaining:
The AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance (ULA): This is a professional membership organization of over 1,200 lawyers who represent labor unions and workers. You can use resources via the AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance to connect with vetted labor attorneys nationwide who specialize in organizing and contract negotiations.
Established National and International Unions: If you are affiliating with an existing national union (like the CWA, SEIU, Teamsters, UAW, etc.), they will typically provide dedicated legal counsel and experienced negotiators from their own legal departments to assist you through the collective bargaining process.
Dedicated Union-Side Labor Law Firms: Private law firms that exclusively represent labor organizations (such as regional firms specializing in worker advocacy, NLRB representation, and contract arbitration). You can search directories through organizations like the AFL-CIO or worker centers to find reputable labor practices in your specific geographic region and industry.
If you'd like, let me know:
What industry or type of workplace you are in
Your general geographic location (state or region)
Whether you are organizing independently or affiliating with an existing national union
I can help point you toward specific resources or the right type of regional support.
Yes. If you're organizing in Georgia/Augusta, I’d look first for union-side labor counsel, rather than a general employment lawyer. Collective bargaining counsel can help with bargaining strategy, drafting the first contract, unfair-labor-practice issues, grievances, and arbitration.
A few places to start:
georgiaaflcio.org — The statewide labor federation. They can be a particularly good starting point for getting connected with an established union and union-side legal resources. Their office lists 404-525-2793.
Johnson, Laschober & Associates, P.C. — Their Augusta employment attorneys specifically state that they represent labor unions in negotiations, arbitrations, contract disputes, unfair-labor-practice matters, and related labor issues.
unioncounsel.net — A major union-side labor firm whose practice specifically includes collective bargaining, organizing campaigns, labor arbitration, and private- and public-sector labor relations.
The AFL-CIO also maintains the Union Lawyers Alliance, a network of roughly 2,000 lawyers representing AFL-CIO affiliates and their local unions.
One important point
If you're still organizing and haven't formally affiliated with a union, I'd strongly recommend talking to a union-side labor attorney before approaching management about bargaining. The legal strategy is different during organizing, certification/recognition, and first-contract negotiations.
If you tell me (1) what kind of workplace this is, (2) approximately how many workers are involved, and (3) whether you've already affiliated with a particular union, I can identify specific attorneys/firms in the Augusta/CSRA area that represent unions and compare their experience.
P.C. - 1601 Cherry St Unit 1400, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States
