OUR PROFESSIONALS
t: 916.210.0400
Benjamin M. Ebbink is a member of FP Advocacy. He is also a partner in the Sacramento and Washington D.C. offices of Fisher Phillips. With more than two decades of experience in labor and employment law and in assisting the development of California labor law and regulations, he focuses on legislation introduced at the state and local levels. Benjamin helps employers navigate evolving legislative and regulatory landscapes in a variety of areas including worker classification, workplace discrimination, employee privacy, wage and hour, employee compensation, trade secrets, employment contracts and terms, healthcare, immigration, employee leave, workers’ compensation, workplace safety and affirmative action.
For nearly 15 years, Benjamin served as Chief Consultant to the California Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment where he was the primary policy advisor on labor and employment matters for the California State Assembly. Benjamin played a key role in virtually every major labor and employment issue to come before the legislature during his tenure, and personally drafted hundreds of legislative proposals. During his service in the legislature, Benjamin earned a reputation for his integrity, his ability to work with diverse stakeholders on all sides, and his skill as a problem-solver.
His legislative experience and deep connections in the stakeholder community allow him to provide services to clients that have legislative or regulatory issues that benefit from his unparalleled experience and strategic guidance.
Benjamin began his legal career as an associate with Beeson, Tayer & Bodine, focusing on federal and state labor law, bankruptcy law and ERISA. He received his J.D. in 2000 and his B.A. in 1997 from the University of California, Davis. He lives in Roseville, California with his wife and eight children.
t: 610.230.2136
Rick Grimaldi, a member of FP Advocacy and a partner in the Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and New Jersey offices of Fisher Phillips, is a front-line advocate before federal, state, and local legislative bodies for employers looking to develop laws and policies that will help them thrive while addressing workplace concerns. Long involved in state and national politics, Rick is the former Deputy General Counsel to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and former Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
In 2017 Rick led the team that favorably changed labor law on behalf of employers nationwide by successfully overturning National Labor Relations Board precedent that had previously made it easier for unions to organize small groups of employees, known as micro units, within a larger employer. The result in PCC Structurals created a new legal standard benefiting all employers, and the case typified what has been the hallmark of Rick’s career - aggressively defending the interests of businesses around the world and at the same time working to help them be better employers, leading to more satisfied employees and ultimately increased employer success in the marketplace.
Rick’s practical approach to solving workplace challenges with his clients is a natural outgrowth of his experience leading an Employee Relations team as Director of Labor Relations for a large international technology company. This experience led him to understand the value of combining sound practical strategic advice with an understanding that business decisions are never made in a vacuum.
His national legal practice spans all aspects of labor and employment law, including regularly representing employers in litigation matters involving discrimination claims and wrongful termination claims; advising, counseling and training employers on such topics as interviewing and hiring, performance management, creating a respectful workplace and drafting employment handbooks and policies; assisting businesses in traditional labor matters such as formulating comprehensive and strategic union avoidance practices, protecting employers in union election campaigns, negotiating collective bargaining agreements and defending grievance and unfair labor practice claims.
He is the author of FLEX: A Leader’s Guide to Staying Nimble and Mastering Transformative Change in the Workplace, which provides a blueprint for all employers to successfully navigate the incredible changes occurring in the workplace impacting everything from hiring to terminations, and all the issues that arise in between.
Rick spent 15 years as a talk radio host and continues to make guest appearances on nationally syndicated programs. He is also a sought-after speaker who travels the country helping companies and organizations understand the ever-changing work environment, employment issues and how to blend diverse employee populations for maximum effectiveness. This, combined with his years practicing law, makes him uniquely qualified to help companies that find themselves in crises. From public relations to employee relations, Rick is able to help companies manage these situations.
Rick has been repeatedly selected for recognition in The Best Lawyers in America 2018© (2018 – 2019, 2021 – 2023).
t: 202.916.7179
Braden Lawes is a Senior Government Affairs Analyst in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and assists the Government Relations Practice Group in identifying and communicating federal and state policy changes that impact corporate counsel and their workplaces across the country.
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Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Braden was a Senior Government Affairs Associate for a government affairs firm in Washington D.C. where he managed a diverse portfolio of non-profit and trade association clients and tracked federal legislation in the transportation, cybersecurity, and healthcare sectors. In this role, he also guided companies through the often-complex federal appropriations process, organized congressional briefings to educate legislative staff on various policy matters, and drafted letters on clients’ behalf to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and congressional committees.
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Braden’s experience also extends to the public affairs arena, where he worked as an Account Executive with a K Street-based communications firm and a Digital Fellow on a political campaign in Virginia. He recently completed his Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University’s School of Political Management and is an active member of the James Madison University Political Science Alumni Board.
t: 202.220.8317
Leveraging a potent blend of senior level experience in both the public and private sectors, Greg Zerzan helps businesses navigate regulatory, legal, governmental and public relations challenges.
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Greg helps businesses comply with federal, state and local labor and employment laws by developing creative strategies for dealing with government-related challenges, including liaising with legislative and executive branch officials to help shape policy. He also assists in responding to government inquiries and preparing for hearings and appearances before Congress and federal agencies and in devising effective communications policies and strategies.
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A skilled negotiator and problem-solver who has testified before Congress many times, Greg has extensive, first-hand-experience with the difficult issues businesses face and keenly appreciates how the interplay of the legal, legislative, and regulatory processes can impact a company’s bottom line.
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Formerly Principal Deputy Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Greg previously oversaw high-profile federal rulemakings on environmental and natural resources policy while also working to favorably resolve numerous congressional inquiries and investigations.
Greg’s background also includes tenures counseling members of congressional committees in connection with weighty, high-profile public issues involving financial policy, energy, technology, and natural resources; managing government affairs and compliance matters for one of the world’s largest privately owned companies; and serving as Head of Global Public Policy and Counsel for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association.
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He also has held a key policymaking position for the U.S. Department of the Treasury and served as a senior attorney for three separate United States House of Representatives committees with jurisdiction in the areas of financial services, consumer privacy, interstate commerce and agriculture. Most recently, Greg was General Counsel for a publicly traded energy company where he managed legal and corporate affairs.
Greg is a frequent contributor to business television programs and published in newspapers and magazines, including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Forbes, and others.