Louisiana Labor Lawyers

Labor Law

830 North Street, 70802, United States

J. Arthur “Art” Smith, III is a Baton Rouge labor and employment attorney and the owner of Smith Law Firm. He established the firm in 1972; its North Street office also handles personal injury claims, a separate part of the firm’s stated practice. Questions about access to court recur in Smith’s published work. An October 2012 article listed in his biography addresses whether Louisiana state employees seeking relief for disability discrimination must first pursue civil service appeals. Another article from that year concerns procedural protections for teachers and university professors. His 2013 publications turn to two other subjects: possible amicus curiae assistance in employment cases and the Supreme Court’s standard for causation under Title VII. All four appear in his profile’s list of publications for the Louisiana Association for Justice. Smith’s involvement with employment-law organizations includes founding the Baton Rouge affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association. He formerly chaired both the Labor and Employment and Civil Rights sections of the Louisiana Association for Justice. Before entering practice, Smith earned two Louisiana State University degrees with honors: a bachelor’s in business and public administration in 1968 and a law degree in 1971. His listed admissions include the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1972 and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1975. The firm describes his courtroom work as encompassing both trials and appeals.

Labor Law

650 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

Nicole A. Eichberger is a partner in the Labor and Employment Law Department and a member of the Class & Collective Actions and Wage and Hour Groups. Nici is an experienced trial lawyer and represents clients in all types of employment-related matters, from single-plaintiff and complex employment to large, complex class and collective actions alleging discrimination, non-compete violations, and wage and hour disputes. Nici has significant experience assisting clients in the defense of numerous class and collective actions. She frequently counsels employers, fiduciaries, and trustees on employment, wage and hour and benefit issues. In addition to her litigation practice, Nici assists in conducting workplace investigations and audits related to discrimination, managerial training, non-competes and employee classification. She is adept to counseling clients on a wide array of issues including reviewing and drafting employee handbooks, wage and hour issues, employee leave and training policies. She is a member of the Firm’s eDiscovery Group and advises clients on eDiscovery matters, including day-to-day preservation, investigations and litigation strategies. Nici recently completed a three-year term was on the ABA’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono & Public Service and serves as the Pro Bono Co-Coordinator for Proskauer’s New Orleans office. She is a prolific writer, frequently contributing to Proskauer’s Law and the Workplace Blog and a sought-after speaker on collective/class action topics.