L. Brent Garrett

Brent Garrett is an experienced labor and employment lawyer with an emphasis on handling complex traditional labor matters. For over 20 years, Mr. Garrett has provided trusted counsel to companies across a variety of industries on sensitive matters of labor relations. He provides value to his clients by seamlessly integrating a thorough understanding of state and federal employment laws with his strategic labor representation, including collective bargaining, grievance handling, and unfair labor practices. 

Mr. Garrett has served as the lead spokesperson in over one hundred collective bargaining negotiations, representing hospitals, educational institutions, trucking companies, refineries, contractors, manufacturers, and distribution companies. He has negotiated labor agreements covering single units, and master labor agreements covering multi-state operations. Mr. Garrett handles all manner of labor negotiations, including first contracts, successor agreements, card-check agreements, labor peace agreements, and negotiations over fundamental business changes, such as plant closures, relocations, and subcontracting.

Mr. Garrett also represents employers in grievance arbitrations under labor agreements. He has successfully defended grievances for unjust termination and allegations of violating collective bargaining agreements. Mr. Garrett also conducts client trainings on the just cause disciplinary standard to ensure defensible employment actions under labor agreements.

Mr. Garrett represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board, including in representational cases and in unfair labor practice charges.

Mr. Garrett has particular expertise in representing signatory contractors in the construction industry. He has negotiated area-wide master labor agreements for several employer associations. Mr. Garrett also negotiates project labor agreements, developer agreements, and contractor specific addenda to MLAs. He has also negotiated project agreements for Class A office towers, industrial buildings, and green-energy projects. 

With regard to Taft-Hartley multi-employer trusts, Mr. Garrett represents management trustees in trustee deadlock disputes, and he provides advice and counsel to management trustees on matters of trust administration.

Mr. Garrett is a leader in the construction industry, serving as a board member of the Southern California Contractors Association (SCCA) and as the chair of SCCA’s Legal Committee. He also serves as outside labor counsel to several prominent construction associations. Mr. Garrett hosts the firm’s annual Labor Relations Conference. 

• LABOR ARBITRATION
  • Defended a contractor association in a class-wide grievance seeking overtime for alleged violations of special shift language in a master labor agreement.
  • Defended an emergency medical services provider in a discharge case involving over 30 employees terminated for submitting fraudulent educational certifications.
  • Defended a large contractor against dual shop claims involving union and non-union related entities.
  • Represented an employer in mandatory interest arbitration for first-contract terms and conditions.
• COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
  • Represented a major hospital system in multiple contract negotiations for registered nurses, service workers, and technical classifications.
  • Represented a petrochemical company in successor negotiations for production operators.
  • Negotiated shutdown agreements for the closures of a steel mill and melt shop.
  • Represented food manufacturers in successor negotiations for production, maintenance, and driver classifications.
  • Represented a trucking company in successor negotiations for driver classifications.
• TAFT-HARTLEY TRUSTEE DISPUTES
  • Represented the management trustees of a major area-wide craft benefit fund in a deadlock dispute over the pursuit of a potential audit claim.
• COURT DECISIONS
  • Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters v. NASA Services, Inc., 957 F.3d 1038 (9th Cir. 2020) Successfully represented an employer in court action to invalidate the terms of a Labor Peace Agreement requiring card check representation, neutrality, and mandatory interest arbitration on a first contract.
  • California Pacific Medical Center v. SEIU, 2007 WL 81906 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 9, 2007), aff'd, 300 F. App'x 471 (9th Cir. 2008) Successful petition to vacate an arbitration award of organizing expenses against a healthcare employer for alleged violations of a card check and neutrality agreement.

Practice Areas

Community & Professional

• American Bar Association, Committee on Practice Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Member
• Southern California Contractors Association, Chair of Legal Committee