Current Employment Position(s)

Associate

Lawyer Overview

Jim Urban has broad experiences in labor, employment, and employee benefits law. In the area of employment discrimination, he has defended employers in state and federal courts as well as before administrative agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, against claims of gender, race, national origin, and disability discrimination. Jim also has counseled employers on employment discrimination issues that typically arise in the workplace.

In the area of traditional labor law, Jim has defended employers against, and prosecuted on behalf of employers, unfair labor practice charges filed before the National Labor Relations Board. He has represented employers in labor arbitration proceedings involving issues of collective bargaining agreement interpretation. He has pursued injunctive relief in federal and state courts on behalf of employers during labor strikes or work slowdowns. He also has extensive experience counseling employers on bargaining obligations, bargaining unit scope issues, and strike-related issues.

In the area of employee benefits, Jim has defended employers in federal court against Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) claims, including claims of unlawful benefit cutbacks. Jim also has counseled employers on ERISA issues related to force reductions and mergers and acquisitions.

Jim has experience drafting and negotiating contracts, including executive employment agreements, noncompete agreements, and severance agreements.

Prior to attending law school, Jim worked as a journalist for 10 years, including stints as a reporter and editor for The Associated Press and as editor-in-chief of Executive Report magazine. He's also freelanced for The New York Times, United Press International, and Reuters News Service, among other news organizations. In 1998, he co-authored The Power of Pittsburgh, a book published by the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce that chronicled the transition of the Pittsburgh regional economy from heavy manufacturing to high-technology.

Areas of Practice

• Labor & Employment

Representative Cases

• Andrako v. U. S. Steel Corporation, Case No. 07-CV-1629 (W.D. Penn.) , (2009)
• Baum v. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Case No. 3:07-CV-0090 (W.D. Pa. 2009)
• Sandifer et al. v. United States Steel Corporation, Case No. 2:07-CV-00443-RLM-PRC (N.D. Ind.) , (2009)
• Albright et al. v. CTS Reeves Frequency and CTS Corporation, CV 02-0262 (M.D. Pa 2002)
• Bernard L. Haertjens v. CBS Corporation and Westinghouse Pension Plan, 00-CV-1690 (W.D. Pa. 2001)
• Bishop v. PCS Administration (USA), Inc. et al., Case No. 05-5683 (N.D. Ill. May 23, 2006)
• Carole A. Kennedy v. National City Bank of Pennsylvania, Civil Action No. 03-1977 (W.D. Pa. 2003).
• CBS Corporation v. Ryder, No. GD 98-650 (Allegheny County Ct. Com. Pl. 2000)
• Charlina Williams v. R.H. Donnelley, No. 01-CIV-0107 (S.D.N.Y. 2002), affirmed, 368 F.3d 123 (2d Cir 2004)
• Estate of Donald Egan, Sr. v. Westinghouse Pension Plan, CBS Corp., Viacom Inc., Westinghouse Benefits Access Center and Connecticut General Life Insurance Co., CA No. 3:03-CV-0035 RLY - WGH (S.D. Ind. 2003)
• Frances Caracciolo v. Bell Atlantic — Pennsylvania, Inc., Case No. 00-272-J (W.D. Pa. 2003), No. 03-4472 (3d Cir. 2004)
• Gary G. Stauffer v. Bell Atlantic — Pennsylvania, Inc. and Steve Moore, Case No. 01-CV-2892 (E.D. Pa. 2002), affirmed, No. 02-1598 (3d Cir. 2003)
• John M. Barrett, et. al. v. Viacom, Inc., Successor by Merger to CBS Corporation, f.k.a. Westinghouse Electric Corporation, No. 04-0608 (W.D. Pa. 2004)
• Joseph E. Hrason v. CBS Inc., f.k.a. Westinghouse, Inc., No. 03-0187 (W.D. Pa. 2003), Interlocutory Appeal Denied, Case No 04-8004 (3d Cir. 2004)
• Margaret Bond, et al. v. National City Bank of Pennsylvania, Case No. 05-681 (W.D. PA., 5/17/05)
• Mueller, et al. v. CBS Corporation, No. 99-1310 (W.D. Pa. 2003)
• Nick J. D'Amico, Cliff Hollihan, Joseph G. Muto and Kevin Beam v. CBS, Inc., f.k.a. Westinghouse, Inc., CA No. 00-2495 (W.D. Pa. 2001), affirmed 297 F.3d 287 (3d Cir. 2002)
• Sherill, et al v. Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless
• Tobie Bickle v. William Seiberling and CitiFinancial, No. 4:02 CV 0031 (M.D. Pa. 2003), affirmed, No. 03-1798 (3d Cir. 2004)
• Verizon New Jersey Inc. v. IBEW Local 827, Civ. Action No. 02-3851 (D.N.J., 2002)
• Westinghouse Government Services Co. v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, No. GD 99-20635 (Allegheny County Ct. Com. Pl. 2000)
• American Arbitration Association Case Concerning Employer’s Ability to Set Lunch Schedule
• Labor Arbitrations Involving the IBEW and CWA
• Union Unfair Labor Practice for Disciplining Acting Supervision

West Practice Categories

Collective Bargaining, Labor Arbitration, Labor Disputes, Labor Law, Labor Legislation, Labor Relations Boards & Proceedings, Unfair Labor Practices, Unions, Wage & Hour Laws, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania

Education

• Duquesne University

Address

500 Grant Street, Suite 4500
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2514

Phones

1.412.394.7906 (Business Phone)

Faxes

1.412.394.7959 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.jonesday.com