Scott has been representing employers on labor and employment matters in Minnesota since 1987. His labor practice is focused on assisting employers who are experiencing organizational efforts, facing unit determination hearings, conducting labor negotiations, strike planning and dealing with unfair labor practices in both the private and public sector.
He is also experienced in labor arbitration on grievances and in interest arbitration. Scott’s employment law practice focuses on providing advice on the application of state and federal law to particular employment situations, preparing personnel policies and affirmative action plans, drafting employment agreements, severance packages and releases, performing investigations, advising on discipline situations and defending employers on claims for violation of any federal or state laws related to employment.
He is among the leading labor attorneys in the State of Minnesota on matters affecting local government and nonprofit agencies and is labor and employment law counsel for the League of Minnesota Cities. Scott is the author of a treatise on the Minnesota Public Labor Relations Act available on the Minnesota League of Cities website and editor of the Minnesota Public Employer Labor Relations Association newsletter. He is a member of the metro area chief labor negotiator’s roundtable. He is a frequent lecturer on labor and employment topics. Scott is also the City Attorney for St. Francis and Becker.
Scott presented a free webinar hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities. This webinar titled “City Employees and Off-Duty Conduct” took place on Thursday, July 12th. Click here to view the webinar in its entirety and to download the transcript and slideshow from the event.
Current Employment Position:
Shareholder
Board of Directors
Areas of Practice:
Affirmative Action – Employer
Collective Bargaining
Employment Contracts – Employer
Employment Discrimination – Employer
Employment Law – Employer
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – Employer
Labor Arbitration
Labor Disputes
Labor Law
Labor Relations Boards & Proceedings
Municipal Employment – Employer
Sexual Harassment – Employer
State, Local & Municipal Law
Unfair Labor Practices
Wage & Hour Law
Bar Admissions:
Minnesota, 1987
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1988
Education:
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, 1987
B.S., University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, 1984, cum laude
Honors and Awards:
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™
Additional Qualifications:
Minnesota Statewide ADR Rule 114 Neutral Roster
Published Works and Presentations:
Co-Author, League of Minnesota Cities HR Manual: Chapter 5 Labor Relations
Co-Author, Retiree Health Insurance: The Aftermath of Mower County, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education. Public Sector Labor Law, October, 1992
Negotiated Settlement Agreements, MPELRA Summer Conference, August, 1998
Strike Planning, MPELRA Winter Conference, December, 1998
Recent Court Decisions, LMC First Annual Conference on Labor Relations, January 1999
National Labor Relations Act 101, Mid America Community Action Association, May 1999
Especially for Cities With Unions, League of Minnesota Cities, Annual Conference, June 1999
Author, Court Decisions on Mandatory Subjects of Bargaining, Minnesota Cities, July 1999
Mandatory vs. Permissible Subjects Of Bargaining., Joint LMC, IPMA, MPELRA Sumer Conference, August 1999
Contract Language – Best Practices What Works Well and What To Avoid, MPELRA Summer Conference, August 1999
Maintaining Exempt Status, Minnesota Payroll Association, September 1999
Mandatory vs. Permissible Subjects of Bargaining, LMC Winter Conference, November 1999
Fair Labor Standards Act, An Overview, State of Minnesota 2000
What is Grievable? What is Arbitrable?, MPELRA Summer Conference, August 2000
Implementing Flexible benefits in a Union Environment, MPELRA Winter Conference, December 2000
Who Can Perform Strikers’ Work?, MPELRA Summer Conference,
August 2001
New Developments, MPELRA Summer Conference, August 2001
Recent Developments in Employment Law, Minnesota Job Service
Employer Committee Fall Conference, October 2001
Labor Law Basics, Anoka County Law Clerks and Court Reporters continuing education, January 2002
Elements of Discipline, Joint LMC, IPMA, MPELRA Winter Conference, February 2002
Military leave Requirements, Joint LMC, IPMA, MPELRA Winter Conference, February 2003
Minnesota Public Sector Labor Relations Association 101, Presentation to City of St. Paul Managers, July 2003
Dealing with Layoffs, Joint LMC, IPMA, MPELRA Summer Conference, August 2003
Negotiating Benefits Where There is a Reduction in the “Aggregate Benefit Level”. League of Minnesota Cities Magazine, January 2004
Submitting Written Briefs. Minnesota Public Employer’s Labor Relations Association Winter Conference, February 2004
Ground Rules in Negotiations. Minnesota Public Employer’s Labor Relations Association Summer Conference, August 2004
Interest Arbitration Awards and Interesting Cases. Minnesota Public Employer’s Labor Relations Association Winter Conference, February 2005
Fitness for Duty. Co presenter with Jeff Jacobs. Minnesota Public Employer’s Labor Relations Association Summer Conference, August 2005
Ask the Experts panel. Minnesota Public Employer’s Labor Relations Association Summer Conference, August 2005
Relief from the Employment Reference Blues?, In Brief, Fall 2005
Employment Separation Issues, Minnesota City Attorneys’ Conference, January 2006
Hot Topics, Minnesota Public Relations Employer’s Labor Relations Association Winter Conference, January 2006
Hot Topics, Marshall Human Resources Association, March 2006
Potpourri of Reimbursement and Compensation Practices that Expose the County to Risk, Minnesota Counties Human Resources Association, March 2006
Recent Developments. Minnesota Public Employer’s Labor Relations Association Summer Conference, August 2006
Recent Developments, Co-presenter with Julie Fleming Wolf. Minnesota City Attorneys’ Conference, January 2007
25 Tough Questions and Their Answers, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2007
Fitness for Duty Mental Health Exams, Public Sector Labor and Employment Law, January 2008
Confidential and Supervisory Employees – How to Make Your Case and Fight Back, Minnesota Public Relations Employer’s Labor relations Association Winter Conference, February 2008
Off Duty Misconduct in the Public Sector, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2008
Fitness for Duty Mental Health Exams, Minnesota Public Relations Employer’s Labor Relations Association Summer Conference, September 2008
Articles by Scott M. Lepak:
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Anoka County Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
Pages and Links