William J. Simmons has represented employers in a wide variety of labor and employment matters, ranging from nationwide wage and hour class and collective actions to individual lawsuits. He has handled numerous claims alleging violations of state and federal anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation statutes, such as:

• Title VII
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• The Fair Labor Standards Act
• Section 1981
• The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination
• The New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act
• The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act

He regularly defends employers in connection with discrimination charges filed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state administrative agencies around the country, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.

William also has conducted wage and hour hearings before the New Jersey Department of Labor and has handled cases involving many other employment claims, including those in connection with:

• Public policy
• Wrongful discharge
• Defamation
• The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
• The Fair Credit Reporting Act
• The False Claims Act
• Long-term disability benefits governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act

William counsels employers on numerous workplace issues, including managing reductions-in-force, revising personnel policies and procedures, and complying with the ADA, the FMLA, and anti-discrimination laws. He also assists clients with drafting employer handbooks, policies, and procedures.

William works with a diverse group of clients that includes:

• National and local eldercare facilities
• National and regional retailers
• National pharmaceutical companies
• Hospitals
• National staffing agencies

While in law school, William interned for the Honorable Dickinson Debevoise, Senior United States District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey, and for Justice James R. Zazzali, New Jersey Supreme Court. He also served as submissions editor for the Women's Rights Law Reporter and was a member of the Moot Court Board.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

• Member, Labor & Employment Section - American Bar Association
• Member, Litigation Section - American Bar Association
• Pupil, Sidney Reitman Labor and Employment American Inn of Court

RECOGNITION

• Winner, Nathan Baker Mock Trial Competition, 2005 and 2006
• Recipient, Myron Harkavy Prize
• Named, Marquis Scholar
• Named, Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar
• Named, Saul Tischler Memorial Scholar - Rutgers University School of Law
• Order of the Coif