Howard B. Tarkow
Of Counsel
Overview
Howard Tarkow has practiced law at Maslon LLP for over 40 years. His focus since 1986 has been almost exclusively on issues and concerns for employers in their relationships with their employees, and in their dealings with unions that represent their employees. Howard has obtained favorable results for many of Maslon's business and nonprofit clients in tough employment law lawsuits, administrative complaints, union grievance arbitrations, and collective bargaining. Howard also has assisted Maslon's clients in their efforts to maintain positive employee relations. Howard regularly provided creative interactive training programs for employers and their supervisors, and he has been a frequent speaker at continuing legal education conferences.
Representing clients in workplace law can test Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's famous teaching, "You can disagree without being disagreeable." The clients hire the lawyers to win emotional disputes over perceived fairness and unfairness, and about right and wrong. Complaints about discrimination, arguments over wages and hours, grievances, retaliation, tough positions in collective bargaining, and countless other contentious matters can feature feelings of anger, hurt, indignation, entitlement, and even outrage. The clients want to win, and they expect their advocates to do whatever it takes to get it done. Howard has derived great satisfaction from achieving considerable success for Maslon clients in many cases over the years and doing so without sacrificing civility.
Howard retired from the Maslon partnership at the end of 2017 and has continued to enjoy working part-time at the firm and with his excellent colleagues.
Experience
- Todd v. Ortho Biotech Inc., 949 F. Supp. 724 (D. Minn. 1996), rev'd 138 F.3d 733 (8th Cir. 1998), cert. granted and judgment vacated, 525 U.S. 802 (1998).
- Rhinehart et al. v. S.E. Rykoff & Co. et al., Unpublished (E.D. Cal.). Successful defense of employer in class action under Section 301 of Labor Management Act of 1947.
- Numerous successful defenses of employers in unfair labor practice proceedings before Regional Directors of the National Labor Relations Board.
- Numerous successful defenses of employers in grievance cases decided by arbitrators.
- Numerous successful defenses of employers in discrimination cases before governmental agencies.
Advice and Counsel
- Drafting and review of employer policies and procedures, non-competition agreements, and other employment materials.
- Daily advice to clients needing prompt and practical advice to work through difficult and potentially risky and expensive workplace issues and disputes.
- Workplace training on the prevention of harassment, understanding workplace law, and for employers that prefer to deal directly with employees rather than through unions and other labor organizations.
Honors
Sidney Barrows Lifetime Commitment Award, Twin Cities Cardozo Society, 2016. This award is given annually to one or two senior attorneys or judges in the Twin Cities who exemplify excellence in their practice, community service in the Jewish and general communities, and commitment to lifelong learning.
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2018-2021
Recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment, Minnesota, 2009-2017; cited by Chambers as "wise, measured and widely respected" (2017); and "highly regarded for his versatile labor and employment practice" (2016)
Recognized on Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 1994, 1997-2018 (Minnesota Super Lawyers® is a designation given to only 5 percent of Minnesota attorneys each year, based on a selection process that includes the recommendation of peers in the legal profession.)
AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell®