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.
t: 610.230.2136
Rick Grimaldi, as a Principle of FP Advocacy, is a front-line advocate before federal, state and local legislative and regulatory bodies on behalf of employers looking to develop laws and policies that will help them thrive while addressing workplace concerns.
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Additionally, he is a partner in the Washington D.C. Philadelphia and New Jersey offices of Fisher Phillips and co-chair of the law firm’s Government Relations and Crisis Communications Practice Groups.
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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. He is a member of the Labor Policy Council of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, as well as a member of the National Chicken Council and the US Chamber of Commerce.
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He is the author of two books: FLEX and Age Appropriate which both provide key insights into the shifting landscape of the workforce and serve as a blueprint for all employers to successfully navigate the incredible changes occurring in the workplace.
t: 202.916.7176
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.