LEGAL SERVICES

Employment law isn’t just what we do — it’s the foundation of what we do. But our services extend beyond traditional employment law to meet the needs of small businesses, hospitality groups, and professionals navigating a broad range of workplace and commercial challenges, including real estate, ADA compliance, and commercial disputes.

We help businesses, executives, and employees understand the law, avoid legal landmines, and respond strategically when disputes arise. From proactive compliance to complex litigation, our services are designed to support your workplace through every phase of the employment relationship — and beyond.

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES & COMPLIANCE

We offer a structured, phased approach to help employers proactively manage risk and meet their obligations without unnecessary stress or expense.

Our flat-fee service packages are designed to be affordable and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Pricing is based on your company’s size and the complexity of your needs, not on unpredictable hourly billing.

We believe the only way to truly win an employment dispute is to avoid it in the first place. That’s why we focus on education, strategy, and long-term compliance — so you can lead your team confidently and do things right from the start.

Step One: Start Right

A comprehensive review of your employment policies, practices, and documents. We assess your existing infrastructure and provide a written report outlining compliance gaps and specific recommendations — including flat-fee pricing for remediation. This includes:

Handbook audits
Offer letters, pay notices, and onboarding forms
Job descriptions and classification analysis
Required workplace postings and notice compliance
WTPA (Wage Theft Prevention Act) review
NYC/NYS Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) compliance

Flat fee ranges depending on company size and scope of services.

Step Two: Support Right

We serve as your on-call employment counsel — without the surprise invoices. This ongoing support includes:

• Monthly or quarterly check-ins
• Onboarding and termination review
• Policy drafting and updates
• Manager training support

Flat monthly packages based on size and complexity.

Step Three: Shield Right

When issues escalate, we’re there to defend you. We handle:

Internal employee complaints and investigations

• DOL, NYDOL, SLA, and EEOC audits

• Demand letters and pre-litigation negotiations

HANDBOOKS, AGREEMENTS, & WORKPLACE POLICES

Clear, compliant documentation is the foundation of a healthy workplace. We draft, revise, and customize employment documents tailored to your business, your people, and your compliance requirements. Whether you’re building from scratch or updating outdated templates, we offer:

• Employee handbooks and policy manuals
• Offer letters and onboarding packages
• Employment, independent contractor, and separation agreements
• Confidentiality, non-competition, and non-solicitation agreements
• Arbitration agreements
• Disciplinary templates and progressive discipline tools

All documents are developed with an eye toward legal compliance, clarity, and company culture — and offered at flat fees based on your size and scope.

Wage & Hour / Pay Practices

We build compliant pay structures — and fix the ones that aren’t. Our services include:

• Overtime classification and exemption analysis
• Spread of hours and tip credit compliance
• True-ups and blended rate issues
• Uniform credits, deductions, and reimbursements
• Multi-rate/hourly pay challenges
• Meal and rest break compliance

We also have extensive experience in defending and navigating FLSA class and collective actions, helping clients assess risk and resolve matters efficiently

Wage & Hour Class & Collective Action Defense

Few areas of employment law are more complex — or more dangerous for employers — than wage and hour class and collective actions. We’ve defended clients in FLSA and New York Labor Law (NYLL) cases involving thousands of employees, millions of dollars in potential damages, and high public visibility. We bring a strategic, aggressive, and pragmatic approach to:

• Pre-litigation risk assessments and audits
• Defense against class certification and conditional certification
• Settlement structuring and negotiation
• Multi-jurisdictional strategy and defense coordination
• Hospitality and tipped-wage class defense

Whether you're facing allegations of unpaid overtime, improper tip pooling, misclassification, or spread of hours violations, we know how to respond quickly, mitigate damage, and protect your brand.

Investigations & Government Audits

Whether it’s a NYDOL wage audit, a Department of Labor investigation, or a sensitive internal issue like a workplace complaint or leadership dispute, we help clients gather facts, contain risk, and respond strategically. We conduct and support internal investigations with discretion and clarity, ensuring compliance with best practices and legal standards. We also train HR teams and managers on how to handle allegations appropriately — so they’re prepared to respond effectively long before regulators or attorneys get involved.

Employment Litigation Defense

When a complaint turns into a claim — or when a serious allegation becomes public — we represent clients in all phases of litigation and crisis response. Whether it’s a lawsuit, a damaging public accusation, or a viral social media post, we step in with calm, strategic guidance. We help clients set immediate goals, coordinate messaging, assess legal exposure, and move forward without panic.

Our firm is experienced in navigating sensitive, high-stakes matters with discretion and clarity — managing both the courtroom and the court of public opinion. We have significant experience defending businesses in FLSA class and collective actions, where wage and hour issues can create high financial exposure and reputational risk. We handle:

• Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims
• Wage & hour litigation, including FLSA and state law claims
• Whistleblower and wrongful termination suits
• Unpaid wage and spread of hours disputes

Crisis Response & Reputation Management

When a situation spirals quickly — from a serious internal complaint to media coverage, social media backlash, or high-stakes reputational risk — we help clients navigate the storm. At Jacobs & Associates, we specialize in stepping into high-pressure moments with calm, clarity, and strategic direction. Our crisis response services include:

Coordinating with internal leadership and outside PR teams

• Helping clients craft compliant, confident messaging

• Managing attorney communications with press, regulators, or stakeholders

• Advising on timing and disclosure strategies

• Supporting HR and leadership through internal and external investigations

We understand that crisis management isn’t just about protecting your legal position — it’s about preserving trust, stability, and your future.

Business & Commercial Litigation

Small businesses face legal issues that go beyond employment law. We represent clients in:

Contract disputes
Commercial lease and landlord/tenant issues
ADA accessibility claims (physical storefronts and websites)

• Business torts and partnership disagreements

We provide strategic counsel designed to resolve these matters efficiently and protect long-term business health.

Executive & Employee Representation

We represent executives and high-performing employees in severance negotiations, compensation disputes, and employment transitions. Our work includes reviewing, negotiating, and drafting employment and separation agreements, helping clients protect their compensation, equity, and reputation as they enter or exit senior-level roles.

We also take on select plaintiff-side cases involving discrimination, retaliation, or unpaid wages — bringing our deep defense experience to bear on the other side. We understand how employers assess legal risk, which makes us uniquely positioned to advocate for individuals with strong claims and clear damages. Whether it's a senior executive navigating a hostile separation or an hourly employee fighting for unpaid wages, we bring the same strategic approach and unwavering commitment to fairness.

Workplace Training & Compliance Programs

We offer tailored training sessions for managers, supervisors, and employees to build strong workplace culture, reduce legal risk, and meet mandatory requirements. Programs include:

• Harassment & discrimination prevention (EEOC & state law compliant)
• Management essentials: documentation, discipline, and communication
• Implicit bias and inclusive leadership
• Wage & hour compliance training
• Customized onboarding programs and policy rollouts

Trainings can be delivered live or virtually, one-time or as part of an ongoing compliance strategy.

Mediation, Arbitration & Neutral Services

We provide neutral support in resolving internal workplace disputes, executive departures, and pre-litigation conflicts. Our services include:

• Independent investigations and neutral fact-finding
• Mediation between employees, leadership, or departments
• Executive severance negotiation support
• Arbitration services or pre-litigation resolution

Our goal is to resolve issues before they escalate — and create a path forward everyone can live with.

Hospitality-Specific Compliance & SLA Defense

We understand the unique challenges faced by restaurants, hotels, bars, event venues, and hospitality groups of all sizes. Our firm has worked extensively with businesses that operate around the clock, rely on tipped workers, and manage high-turnover environments. We help clients navigate everything from SLA licensing issues to service charge compliance, tip pooling structures, spread of hours, and meal break obligations. We also advise on mandatory notices, training requirements, uniform credits, and onboarding systems built for hospitality teams.

When problems arise, we’re there — from audits and investigations to wage claims and class action defense. Our deep industry knowledge means smarter, faster answers — and strategies tailored for the unique pressures of hospitality employers.