Eisenmann helps clients avoid employment-law landmines

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Labor and employment matters are some of the trickiest that employers face. As an attorney in the field, Erik Eisenmann’s principle is to tackle his clients’ difficulties as if they were his own.

“My most important job is to relieve my clients’ burdens,” said Eisenmann, vice chairman of Husch Blackwell’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, “give them the confidence and peace of mind that once they’ve retained me to handle an issue, they no longer need to worry about it and can turn their focus back to where it should be — on running their business.”

Working from Husch Blackwell’s Milwaukee office, Eisenmann has taken on a breadth of employment-law matters. These include charges of unfair labor practice, internal investigations concerning fraud or harassment and workplace-safety matters involving the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“Clients tend to seek out Erik with highly sensitive matters that involve substantial reputational risks, such as charges of executive misconduct or workplace accidents that result in fatalities,” Jack Enea, managing partner at Husch Blackwell’s Milwaukee office, said. Eisenmann’s clients range from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies.

In one case, he guided a multinational manufacturer of automotive components through an OSHA inspection after the company experienced a workplace fatality. Eisenmann’s firm credits him for helping the client reach a favorable settlement that avoided any willful citations.

Eisenmann routinely represents Milwaukee County before the county’s personnel review board, which hears cases regarding the suspension, demotion or discharge of county employees.

To keep employers out of court in the first place, the George Washington University Law School graduate offers advice on the drafting and enforcement of workplace agreements. He also provides counsel on workplace procedures to resolve difficulties before they become disputes.

At his firm, Eisenmann has taken on a role of helping to recruit young lawyers. He is also involved in various community organizations.

One cause close to his heart is arts education, which he is able to promote as a board member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, which provides musical opportunities to underprivileged children in the greater Milwaukee area.