Clare M. Gallagher

Overview

Clare Gallagher, a partner at Eckert Seamans for over 15 years, is a distinguished labor and employment law practitioner. As a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of its Labor and Employment Practice Group, Clare brings over three decades of diverse experience to her clients.

With a career spanning both private practice and in-house roles, Clare offers a unique perspective on traditional labor law, employment law, and litigation. Her expertise encompasses managing complex legal matters, including class action litigation, overseeing corporate acquisitions, finance, and governance, and handling employment-related legal issues across various industries.

Before joining Eckert Seamans, Clare served as legal counsel and director of human resources for a large title agency in the real estate services industry. In this dual role, she supervised all aspects of human resources management, implemented employee retention programs and safety initiatives, managed legal compliance in recruitment, compensation, and workforce reductions, and oversaw workers’ compensation cost containment strategies.

Clare’s experience also includes over 16 years of labor and employment law practice with other Pittsburgh firms, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the local legal landscape. This background and her in-house experience enable her to provide clients with practical, business-oriented legal solutions.

Known for her pragmatic approach and deep industry knowledge, Clare continues to be a trusted advisor to businesses navigating the complex world of labor and employment law. Her ability to blend legal acumen with strategic human resources insights makes her a valuable asset to clients facing multifaceted workplace challenges.

Representative Matters

• Counseling clients on a variety of labor and employment issues.
• Advising on employment and employee benefit issues, employment litigation, executive employment agreements, non-competition agreements, discrimination and harassment issues and labor and employment issues involved in merger and acquisition projects.
• Representing clients in jury and non-jury trials, appellate advocacy and practice before state and federal courts, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), National Labor Relations Board, U.S. Department of Labor (Wage and Hour), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, and state human relations commissions.
• Representing clients in class-action lawsuits involving claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act.
• Counseling clients on the risks associated with reductions in force, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and related legal actions arising from such reductions.
• Conducting management training, in-person and online, in various labor and employment topics, including, for example, sexual harassment, diversity, equity and inclusion, conducting internal investigations, FMLA administration, and ADA compliance.
• Chairing labor negotiations ranging from traditional collective bargaining, concessionary negotiations and effects bargaining.
• Representing clients in labor arbitrations and labor-related court actions.
• Representing clients in labor-related matters in bankruptcy, receivership and workout situations.
• Negotiating separation and release agreements on behalf of clients.
• Representing clients in non-compete matters.

Spotlight:

Spotlight on Clare Gallagher