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Rick Grimaldi

Partner


Philadelphia/Washington, D.C./New Jersey

t:610.230.2136/703.682.7096

f:610.230.2151

Email

Service Focus

  • Counseling and Advice
  • Government Relations
  • Labor Relations
  • Litigation and Trials

Industry Focus

  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Supply Chain
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Overview
Recent Experience
Insights
Credentials
Recognitions
Affiliations

Overview

Rick Grimaldi is the author of FLEX: A Leader’s Guide to Staying Nimble and Mastering Transformative Change in the Workplace. Based on his thirty years of working with employers large and small, Rick’s influential work provides a blueprint for all employers to understand and navigate the incredible changes occurring in the workplace that impact everything from hiring to terminations, and all the issues that occur in between. By combining his labor relations skills, negotiating acumen, and employment counseling experience on behalf of his clients, Rick actively builds strong partnerships as both a legal counselor and trusted business advisor. Rick partners with his clients to help achieve their workplace goals by combining sound practical strategic advice with an understanding that business decisions are never made in a vacuum.

Rick has spent his career defending the interests of businesses around the world, achieving positive results for his clients in major discrimination litigation, union campaigns, collective bargaining and arbitrations, 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.

This 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 and his experience serving the citizens of Pennsylvania as Deputy General Counsel to Governor Tom Ridge and Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

As a co-principal of Fisher Phillips’ government relations subsidiary, FP Advocacy, Rick is also on the front lines of advocating before state and local legislative bodies to develop laws and policies that allow employers to thrive while addressing workplace concerns.

Rick has been named to Best Lawyers in America and is internationally recognized as an outstanding trainer and presenter by both clients and trade associations. He works closely with senior executives and management teams to provide hands-on and practical leadership and respectful workplace training.

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 has a proven track record of assisting companies to successfully navigate and manage their human resource issues.

Recent Experience

Experience

  • Successfully managed a union organizing campaign on behalf of a food products company with distribution in all 50 states in the U.S. and in over 40 countries, that resulted in the company remaining union free.

  • Led a 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.
  • Obtained Defense Verdict in “Sex-Plus” Case
  • Won dismissal of age and disability claims brought against a large retail client.
  • Counseled a large gaming client to victory in a union campaign.
  • Successfully defended a major law firm against a disability discrimination claim by the EEOC.
  • Obtained successful trial result for a large financial industry client.

  • Developed strategy for major retail and hospitality clients resulting in decertification of the unions representing their employees.

  • Achieved a favorable contract for a major health care client who had been at impasse with the union representing its staff.
  • Counsel in successful defense of Unfair Labor Practice Charges alleging multiple violations of the National Labor Relations Act in which the NLRB sought injunctive relief against the employer.

Insights

  • Insights

    10/02/23

    Workplace Law Update: 10 Essential Items on Your October To-Do List

    Cheryl L. Behymer, Steven M. Bernstein, Shannon N. Cahill, Melissa (Osipoff) Camire, Jeffrey M. Csercsevits, Benjamin M. Ebbink, Rick Grimaldi, Krista L. Hurst, Todd B. Logsdon, Todd A. Lyon, Richard R. Meneghello, Joshua D. Nadreau, Jennifer B. Sandberg, Marilynn Schuyler, Shanon R. Stevenson, J. Hagood Tighe, Travis Vance, Spencer W. Waldron, Sheila M. Willis

    Read more 

  • Insights

    09/26/23

    Your 2023 Government Shutdown Playbook: An Essential Guide For Employers

    Steven M. Bernstein, Benjamin M. Ebbink, Rick Grimaldi, Todd B. Logsdon, Shanon R. Stevenson, J. Hagood Tighe, Travis Vance, Sheila M. Willis

    Read more 

  • Event

    Thursday, September 21, 2023 and Tuesday, September 26, 2023

    Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets in the Post-Pandemic World

    Michael P. Avila, Barbara Jean D’Aquila, Michael P. Elkon, Andrew Froman, Rick Grimaldi, Kathleen Laubenstein, Christopher P. Stief, Robert Yonowitz

    Read more 

  • Insights

    09/14/23

    Senate Forum is Next Step Towards Workplace AI Regulation: What Employers Need to Know

    Benjamin M. Ebbink, Rick Grimaldi

    Read more 

  • Event

    06/21/23

    The Return of the Strike: How to Counter Strikes, Pickets & Boycotts

    Todd A. Lyon, Rick Grimaldi

    Read more 

  • Insights

    06/02/23

    Top Workplace Law Stories You May Have Missed from May 2023

    Emily Alvarez, Alba V. Aviles, Steven M. Bernstein, Amanda M. Blair, Ted Boehm, Risa B. Boerner, Suzanne K. Bogdan, Melissa (Osipoff) Camire, Jennifer B. Carroll, Charles S. Caulkins, J. Micah Dickie, Heather Domingo, Benjamin M. Ebbink, Michael P. Elkon, Michael R. Greco, Rick Grimaldi, Rebecca Hause-Schultz, Megan L. Janes, David S. Jones, Sean Kingston, David Klass, Matthew R. Korn, Edwina C. Kye, Courtney Leyes, Jeffrey E. Mandel, John A. Mavros, Mary Grace Miller, Catharine Morisset, Joshua D. Nadreau, Karen L. Odash, Brett P. Owens, Alden J. Parker, Dean L. Petitta, Arthur L. Ramirez, Robin Repass, Christopher P. Stief, Connie Yang, Travis Vance, Alexander A. Wheatley, Kristin R.B. White

    Read more 

  • Insights

    06/01/23

    Many Non-Compete Agreements Violate Federal Law According to NLRB’s Chief Prosecutor: Your Top 7 Questions Answered

    Alba V. Aviles, Steven M. Bernstein, Risa B. Boerner, Michael R. Greco, Rick Grimaldi, Christopher P. Stief

    Read more 

  • Event

    05/16/23

    The Future of Labor Relations: An Immersive Bootcamp

    Rick Grimaldi, Melanie L. Webber, Brian Balonick, Raeann Burgo, Mohamed Barry, Jack O’Connor

    Read more 

  • Event

    02/25/23

    Back in Business – Navigating talent after the great resignation

    Rick Grimaldi

    Read more 

  • News

    02/06/23

    Philadelphia Partner Discusses New Federal Workplace Legislation

    Rick Grimaldi

    Read more 

View All 

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., Villanova University School of Law
  • B.A., magna cum laude, Temple University

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Recognitions

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2018 - 2019, 2021 - 2024)
  • Listed in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, (2007 - 2017)

Affiliations

Professional Activities

  • Board of Directors, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (2013-2017)
  • Board of Directors, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (2007-2013)
  • Member, Pennsylvania Society
  • Lifetime Member, Continental Who’s Who of National Business Leaders
  • Board Member, Secretary, Officer, and Executive Committee Member, Eluna (formerly the Moyer Foundation) (2010-2017)
  • Former Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
  • Former Deputy General Counsel, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge
  • Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Secretary, Officer, Yacht Club of Stone Harbor New Jersey

Community Activities

  • Member, Ambassador, The Moyer Foundation/Eluna

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