Labor + Employment

Overview

Barakat + Bossa is recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2026 Best Law Firms® list for Labor & Employment Litigation (Miami). This distinction reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional legal counsel in this specialized area and the trust placed in us by clients and peers alike.

Our Labor + Employment Practice is built to meet the needs of modern businesses — including fast-growing companies, startups, and entrepreneurial organizations — our team provides creative and adaptive counsel that helps employers thrive in today’s dynamic workplace environment. Too often, these organizations fuel innovation and growth without access to the same caliber of sophisticated legal guidance that larger corporations take for granted. We’re changing that, delivering tailored, practical solutions that empower employers to build strong, compliant, and resilient workplaces.

We offer comprehensive support across the full spectrum of labor and employment law — including corporate immigration matters that are essential to building and maintaining a global workforce. From proactive counseling designed to mitigate risk and avoid costly disputes, to guidance on workforce mobility and compliance with evolving federal requirements, to vigorous defense in litigation and administrative proceedings, we help employers navigate every stage of the employment lifecycle with precision and foresight. Our team remains deeply attuned to the shifting regulatory landscape, ensuring that public and private employers alike are prepared to address challenges ranging from wage‑and‑hour compliance and workplace policies to discrimination claims, restrictive covenants, employee mobility, and immigration‑related obligations.

Our attorneys are not only trusted advisors but also active contributors to shaping business law, including participation in the drafting of key provisions governing restrictive covenants. This experience gives our clients unique insight into how laws are formed and applied—an advantage that directly informs the counsel we provide.

Whether advising on day-to-day compliance, designing forward-looking workplace strategies, or defending high-stakes disputes, our Labor & Employment team partners with clients to safeguard their most important asset: their people.

Key Contact

Sarah Barickman

Labor + Employment Practice Leader

Areas of Focus

Business Set Up

Our team works hand-in-hand with founders and growing businesses at the earliest stages of development to lay the legal foundation for a strong and sustainable workforce. From drafting employment agreements and handbooks to advising on classification of workers, restrictive covenants, and compliance with wage-and-hour and anti-discrimination laws, we ensure that businesses are structured to minimize risk and maximize growth potential. By addressing labor and employment issues at the outset, we help emerging companies avoid costly pitfalls and create the compliant, people-focused cultures that attract and retain top talent.

Employment Solutions

From the very first hire, we help businesses build compliant and high-performing workforces. This includes assisting clients in structuring independent contractor agreements, advising on workforce classification, and providing compliance guidance tailored to each unique business model. By aligning hiring practices with applicable labor and employment laws, we help companies minimize risk, streamline operations, and foster long-term growth.

Corporate Immigration

Our Corporate Immigration team helps employers build and sustain a globally mobile, compliant workforce from the very first sponsored hire. We guide companies through the full range of employment‑based immigration processes, developing tailored visa strategies and ensuring alignment with evolving federal requirements. Our work includes securing temporary work visas—such as H‑1B, L‑1, E‑2, TN, and O‑1 classifications—and navigating employment‑based permanent residency pathways, including PERM Labor Certifications and EB‑1, EB‑2, EB‑3, and EB‑5 filings. We also counsel employers on I‑9 compliance, audit readiness, and immigration practices that support long‑term operational growth.

Compliance & Risk Management

We help organizations embed compliance and best practices into the fabric of their workplaces. By designing and conducting targeted training programs and performing internal audits, we ensure adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws. This proactive approach helps employers identify and address potential risks early, maintain productive and legally compliant workplaces, and foster a culture of accountability and integrity.

Restrictive Covenant & Trade Secret Litigation

Protecting competitive advantage and sensitive business information is a cornerstone of our Labor & Employment practice. Our team guides clients through the complex and evolving landscape of noncompete agreements, non-solicitation clauses, non-disclosure agreements, and anti-poaching provisions. These matters often arise during business sales, the departure of key employees, or the movement of talent between competitors.

We represent both businesses and individuals in high-stakes disputes, combining strategic counsel with proven litigation experience at trial and appellate levels. By crafting efficient, tailored solutions, we help clients safeguard trade secrets, enforce restrictive covenants, and maintain continuity of operations, all while minimizing disruption to their business.

Labor & Employment Disputes

When disputes arise, we stand ready to defend employers at every stage—from pre-suit discussions to litigation and administrative proceedings. Our team advises and represents clients on a wide range of matters, including Title VII discrimination claims, harassment allegations, wage-and-hour disputes, wrongful termination, and employment agreement enforcement.

With experience in state and federal courts as well as before regulatory agencies, we provide strategic, practical solutions that help clients manage risk, resolve disputes efficiently, and maintain operational continuity.