Overview

Brooke E. Niedecken advises and represents clients in a broad range of labor and employment law matters, including both traditional labor law matters, as well as employment litigation and counseling. Her extensive experience in the public sector, as well as her in-house experience, provides her with invaluable perspective in representing clients, which include both private and publicly traded companies, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Because of her experience and depth of knowledge, she is also co-chair of the firm’s Labor Practice where she helps guide firm strategy in this area.

Brooke appears regularly before state and federal courts and federal, state, and local agencies. She has extensive experience in matters involving the following:

  • The National Labor Relations Act
  • The Labor Management Relations Act
  • Title VII and state discrimination and harassment laws
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • Unfair competition and trade secret laws

As a part of Brooke’s labor law practice, she assists global companies in developing labor relations strategies and human resource policies, and provides guidance both to employers who wish to remain union-free or who need to manage their union-represented workforce. She has successfully assisted employers with organizing campaigns across the country in a wide variety of industries including higher education, manufacturing, retail, automotive, and real estate.  In addition, Brooke regularly litigates unfair labor practice charges, and pre and post-election litigation matters. Brooke also counsels employers on strategic considerations relating to collective bargaining and labor relations and serves as principal spokesman for management in labor contract negotiations and has extensive experience in labor arbitration matters.

Brooke also provides preventative employer training and counseling to ensure legal compliance and in order to avoid litigation and to prepare for litigation when it is unavoidable. She regularly advises on day-to-day labor, employment and personnel matters and has helped employers draft employee handbooks and policies and develop employee incentives and programs. She has also served as temporary in-house counsel for two national companies where she oversaw labor and employment matters.

Prior to joining Littler, Brooke was an assistant city attorney for the City of Columbus where she focused on union-related matters. While attending law school, she served as an aide to Professor Morgan Shipman and an extern to the Hon. James L. Graham.

Brooke currently serves as Littler's Associate’s Committee representative for the Columbus, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky offices, helping to guide and manage the offices’ associates.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Labor and Employment Law Section

American Bar Association

Member

Labor and Employment Law Section

Columbus Bar Association

Member

Labor and Employment Law Section

Ohio State Bar Association

Member

Human Resources Association of Central Ohio

Member

Ohio Women’s Bar Association

Member

Women Lawyers of Franklin County

Former Member, Board of Trustees

CASA of Franklin County

Former Member

The Childhood League Center

Former Member

Junior League of Columbus

Books & Book Chapters

  • The Developing Labor Law, American Bar Association, contributing editor

Speaking Engagements

The NLRB Today: A Conversation with NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo

Littler Executive Employer Conference

May 5, 2022

NLRA Fundamentals: An Interactive Labor Law Primer

ABA 15th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference

November 10, 2021

Interpreting Employment and Labor Law During a Global Pandemic: COVID-19

The Food Industry Association Webinar

October 5, 2021

What to Expect from the Biden NLRB General Counsel and Board

Littler 2021 Virtual Executive Employer Conference

May 4, 2021

2021 Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

Client Webinar

February 25, 2021

Will He Be the “Strongest Labor President”? The Expected Impact of a Biden Presidency on Labor Policy, the NLRB, and Employers

January 26, 2021

If Unions Can’t Succeed Through Traditional Organizing Tactics, What Else Will They Try?

Ohio Regional Employer Conference

October 10, 2019

Labor Law Update: The Trump Board – Impact of the Changing of the Guard at the NLRB and What It Means for Non-Union and Union Employers

HRACO & Littler Program

July 19, 2019

2019 Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

CO-ACC & Littler Sponsorship Program

June 13, 2019

Traditional Labor Symposium: What Union and Nonunion Employers Need to Know About Today's Unions and Employer Obligations Under the NLRA

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 8-10, 2019

2019 Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

Columbus, OH

February 21, 2019

The New National Labor Relations Board: Changes, Observations and Current Issues

February 9, 2018

2018 Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

Columbus, OH

February 1, 2018

Education

  • J.D., The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 2005With Honors
  • B.S., Bowling Green State University, 2002summa cum laude

Bar Admission

Ohio

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan