Private Funds Nuts & Bolts: Arbitration of Workplace Disputes in the Investment Management Industry

Employee claims, particularly those involving discrimination and sexual harassment, continue to surge, and employer responses are receiving increased scrutiny from regulators, investors, the media and the public at large. In this environment, many employers in the investment management industry are turning to mandatory arbitration agreements as a strategy to lower defense costs, expedite the resolution of claims, maintain the confidentiality of employment-related disputes, and avoid employee class actions. As more companies turn to arbitration as a means of resolving workplace disputes, legal issues surrounding such agreements continue to escalate. Moreover, some employers are finding that arbitration is not always all it’s cracked up to be.   

Please join members of Dechert's labor and employment group for a presentation addressing key issues that hedge fund and investment managers should consider when implementing or updating mandatory arbitration programs in the workplace.

The topics that will be covered include:

• An overview of federal and state laws governing mandatory arbitration agreements.
• Understanding recent changes in federal and state laws concerning mandatory arbitration of employment claims, including arbitration of sexual harassment claims and the use of class action waivers.
• Analysis of the benefits and disadvantages of mandatory arbitration programs.
• Best practices for drafting enforceable arbitration agreements and practical considerations for implementation.