Paul Zech is a former President of the firm and past Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment section. Over the course of over 30 years in practice, he has been entirely committed to representing management in providing employment law advice, employment litigation defense, and traditional labor law representation. Paul manages short- and long-term employment law conflicts and goals, assists in statutory and common law compliance, and helps business leaders make difficult decisions in virtually every aspect of labor and employment law.

Paul has successfully represented management in labor negotiations in dozens of different industries, successfully reaching contracts that are desirable to the client while maintaining as much as possible a good and respectful working relationship with organized labor and workers. He has also assisted management in dealing with and responding to labor disputes such as strikes and lockouts. Once contracts are settled, he works daily with clients in interpreting and administering the labor contract to avoid wherever possible misinterpretations and grievances. When grievances do arise, he is pleased to work with clients in handling grievance arbitrations from start to finish with a high success rate.

Paul’s practice includes the full range of labor and employment issues, from all National Labor Relations Board proceedings, labor negotiations and arbitrations, to lawsuits based on breach of contract, defamation, discrimination and wrongful termination. In litigation defense, he has represented clients on pre-litigation advice and counsel, undertaken the zealous defense of claims once filed and engaged in alternative dispute resolution (mediation) to reach early and advantageous settlements. When needed, Paul has tried cases to the courts and to juries with a high level of success for all of his clients in a multitude of industries. He has extensive expertise in handling complex litigation in the area of employment discrimination claims and has handled a number of constitutional law challenges in and out of the labor law arena. He has also worked extensively as a neutral mediator in dozens of successful mediations of employment disputes.

Paul has been named one of the Top 40 Labor and Employment Law Attorneys in Minnesota multiple years, as recognized in Minnesota Law & Politics and was appointed to the Top 40 ADR list by Minnesota Law & Politics this year. He has been on the Top 100 Super Lawyers® list, recognized by Minnesota Law & Politics, many times, most recently in 2017, and has been included regularly in “Best Lawyers in America©”. He lectures extensively on labor and employment issues, both locally and nationally.

Felhaber Larson

Felhaber Larson offers employers in every industry and domain creative, pragmatic representation that addresses the full spectrum of employment-related disputes. A recognized employment litigation power in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest, our employment litigation attorneys know how to drive success no matter the forum or claim. Whether in court, administrative proceedings, or arbitration, our lawyers use an experience-built array of settlement, motion, and trial tactics to help clients resolve employment disputes, minimize disruptions, and keep business goals on track.

Our 70+-year history in employment and labor law has given us a unique understanding of the challenges employment litigation involves—including the frustrations that accompany employment disputes that arise in spite of strong, existing preventative measures. When necessary, our trial-tested lawyers help employers take their cases before judges and juries and we have an impressive record of results that includes wins for employers facing claims of wrongful dismissal, harassment, and discrimination. But we also recognize when settlement or early dismissal provides the right way to reach client objectives. Our mastery across the range of available options means we can craft a strategy for each client that best meets their needs and goals. Of equal importance, we strive to help clients achieve that intended outcome in the most effective and efficient manner possible.