L. Brent Garrett

L. Brent Garrett is a seasoned labor lawyer with 20 years of experience representing employers in complex labor relations matters. Mr. Garrett represents employers across all industries, including construction, healthcare, refining, transportation, manufacturing, hospitality, and retail. He has served as the lead negotiator in over 100 union contract negotiations, including successor bargaining, first contract bargaining, plant closures, and work relocations.

In the construction industry, Mr. Garrett works with many prominent multi-employer associations. He negotiates and advises on developer and project labor agreements, including for clean energy projects; represents associations and contractors in grievance arbitrations and jurisdictional disputes; and is an expert on prevailing wage compliance under both state and federal law. Mr. Garrett also serves as the co-chair of the legal committee for the Southern California Contractors Association.

Mr. Garrett represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board, including in unfair labor practice charges and representational petitions. In addition, Mr. Garrett has in-depth knowledge of both California and federal employment law. For employers with a union presence, Mr. Garrett is uniquely positioned to provide integrated counsel on union-related matters and compliance with California and federal employment law.

In his free time, Brent enjoys spending time with his wife and four young children and visiting their family cabin in Columbia Falls, Montana.

Labor Litigation
Teamsters, Local 396 v. NASA Services, Inc., Case No. 19-55166 (9th Cir. 2020): Successful ruling that an employer had no duty to arbitrate under a labor peace agreement due to a failure of a condition precedent to formation of the labor peace agreement.

Colorado Fire Sprinkler, Inc., v. NLRB, 891 F. 3d 1031 (D.C. Cir. 2018): Holding that an 8(f) bargaining relationship cannot be converted to a 9(a) bargaining relationship based solely on contract language.

California Pacific Medical Center v. SEIU, United Healthcare Workers-West (N.D. Cal. 2007): Successful petition to vacate an arbitration award under a card check and neutrality agreement.

Labor Arbitration
IUOE Local 12 v. AGC San Diego: Successful defense of a contract grievance claiming a violation of the “special shift” language under the Master Labor Agreement. The decision established that a special shift (i.e., night shift) can be implemented when a lane closure is required for worker safety or positioning of materials.

Drywall Supplier v. Teamsters: Successful defense of a subcontractor grievance allowing supplier to utilize non-union drywall tenders for certain scopes of work.

IOUE, Local 12 v. Inspection & Testing Firm: Successful defense of a construction inspection firm against a union claim of alter ego or invalid dual shop.

Labor Negotiation

• Negotiated the closure of a steel mill in the Inland Empire.
• Negotiated the closure of a manufacturing facility in the Inland Empire.
• Served as lead negotiator for a beverage distributor in a master labor agreement including over twenty union locals.
• Served as lead negotiator for acute care hospitals for nurse and service-worker bargaining units
• Negotiated multiple project labor agreements for private work throughout California

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