Edwin J. Seda-Fernández
Shareholder - Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Department
Mr. Seda-Fernández's active practice encompasses counseling and representing clients in all areas of labor, employment, and business related immigration law. A substantial element of his practice consists of representing management in union campaigns, negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, labor arbitration, and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Mr. Seda-Fernández also defends vigorously but judiciously employers in wrongful discharge, employment discrimination, benefits, and wage and hours claims in Puerto Rico and federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Mr. Seda-Fernández has extensive experience in counseling employers in workforce reductions, business reorganizations, and employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions. He has lectured extensively before commercial and professional associations, including the Puerto Rico Manufacturing Association, the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, the Council on Education in Management, the National Business Institute, the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association, the Program for Professional Development of the University of Puerto Rico and the Association of Labor Relations Practitioners. He has also taught courses in Labor Law and Jurisprudence, Collective Bargaining, and Labor Relations at the Business Administration Faculty of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. Mr. Seda-Fernández is admitted to the Puerto Rico bar, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Areas of Practice
- Labor & Employment Law
Bar Admissions
- Puerto Rico, 1989
- U.S. District Court District of Puerto Rico, 1990
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1990
Education
- Boston College Law School, Newton, Massachusetts
- Juris Doctor - 1988
- Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Master of Education - 1983
- University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
- Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) - 1978
Published Works
- I.R.C.A. and Employment Discrimination, 6-1 Factum 10 , 1992
- I.R.C.A. and Employment Discrimination, 6-2 Factum 7, 1992
- Fundamentals of Employment Discrimination Law, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2008
- Wage and Hour Law Update, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2007
- Human Resources Policies That Prevent Lawsuits, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2007
- Wage and Hour Law: Answers to Everyday Questions, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2006
- Puerto Rico Wage and Hour Regulations and Recent Developments, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2005
- Basic Wage and Hour Law in Puerto Rico, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2004
- Fundamental Issues in Puerto Rico Human Resources Law, National Business Institute, 2004
- Employee Privacy Rights in the Puerto Rico Workplace, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2003
- Be E-Ware: Avoiding E-Mail and Internet Policy Pitfalls in Puerto Rico, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2003
- Fundamental Issues in Puerto Rico Human Resources Law, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2001
- Basic Business Immigration Law for Puerto Rico Employers, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2000
- Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims Under Puerto Rico Law, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 2000
- Employee Privacy Rights in the Puerto Rico Workplace, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 1999
- Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims Under Puerto Rico Law, (Co-Author), National Business Institute, 1997
Representative Cases
- Serrano-Mojica v. El Conquistador Resort and Golden Door Spa, F. Supp. 2d, 2010 WL 1992575 (D. Puerto Rico)
- Velez-Padro v. Thermo King de Puerto Rico, Inc., 585 F. 3d 441 (1st. Cir. 2009)
- Cachola-Bonilla v. Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 577 F. Supp. 2d 566 (D.P.R. 2008)
- Gastronomical Workers Union Local 610 v. Posadas de Puerto Rico Associates, Inc., 544 F. Supp. 2d 89 (D.P.R. 2008)
- Lupu v. Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa, 524 F.3d 312 (1st. Cir. 2008)
- Gastronomical Workers Union Local 610 v. Dorado Beach Hotel Corporation, et al., 476 F. Supp. 2d 99 (D.P.R. 2007)
- Colon Vazquez v. El San Juan Hotel & Casino, 483 F. Supp. 2d 147 (D.P.R. 2007)
- Velez-Padro v. Thermo King de Puerto Rico, Inc., 465 F.3d 31 (1st. Cir. 2006)
- Aguiar Carrasquillo et al. v. Agosto Alicea et al, 445 F.3d 19 (1st. Cir. 2006)
- Aguirre Rodriguez v. Little Caesars, 431 F. Supp. 2d 205 (D.P.R. 2006)
- Velez-Rivera et al. v. Agosto Alicea et al., 437 F. 3d 145 (1st. Cir. 2006)
- Velez Rivera v. Agosto Alicea, 334 F. Supp. 2d 72 (D.P.R. 2004)
- Plumey-Cruz v. Westinghouse Electric Corp., 2002 WL 31664747, cert. denied, 540 U.S. 824 (2003) (1st Cir. 2002)
- Quinones Irizarry v. TLD de PR, 217 F. Supp. 2d 194 (D.P.R. 2002)
- Viera Aviles v. Suiza Dairy Corp., 206 F.R.D. 338 (D.P.R. 2002)
- Posadas de Puerto Rico Associates, Inc. v. NLRB, 243 F. 3d 87 (1st Cir. 2001)
- Wyndham International, Inc., 330 NLRB No. 110 (2000)
- Vera v. Williams Hospitality Group, Inc., 73 F. Supp. 2d 161 (D.P.R. 1999)
- Le Rendezvous Restaurant, 323 NLRB No. 66 (1997)
Classes/Seminars
- Impact of Recent Decisions of the Courts, The Administration of Human Resources (PR Chamber of Commerce), 2010
- 6th Congress of Labor Law, Genetic Information Non Discrimination Act of 2008, Interamerican University School of Law, 2009
- Employment Offer, Office of the Dean for Graduate Studies Affairs, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 2009
- Settlement Agreements and General Releases, Association of Labor Relations Practitioners, 2009
- Litigation: How to Avoid and Defend Employment Suits, 23rd Annual Convention & Trade Show, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, 2009
- Fundamentals of Employment Discrimination Law, National Business Institute, 2008
- Litigation: How to Avoid & Defend Employment Suits, 22nd Annual Convention & Trade Show, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, 2008
- Human Resources Policies That Prevent Lawsuits, National Business Institute, 2007
- Collective Bargaining and Labor Arbitration, SHRM, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Student Chapter, 2007
- 5th Congress of Labor Law: Moderator; Privacy Rights in the Workplace, Interamerican University School of Law, 2007
- Moderator and Panelist, Recent Developments in Employment Law 2007, Council on Education in Management, 2007
- Wage and Hour Law Update, National Business Institute, 2007
- How to Prevent Claims in the Workplace, PR Manufacturers Association, 2007
- Puerto Rico FMLA Update 2006: Moderator and Panelist, Council on Education in Management, 2006
- Puerto Rico Workers' Comp. Update 2006: Moderator and Panelist, Council on Education in Management, 2006
- Wage and Hour Law: Answers to Everyday Questions, National Business Institute, 2006
- Moderator and Panelist, Employment Law Update 2006, Council on Education in Management, 2006
- Panelist: Labor Legislation and New Models of Adjudication, Mediator of Labor-Management Conflicts Week, 2006
- Puerto Rico Wage and Hour Regulations and Recent Developments, National Business Institute, 2005
- Puerto Rico Personnel Law Update 2005: Moderator and Panelist, Council on Education in Management, 2005
- Best Practices for Managing a Reduction in Force, SHRM Convention, 2005
- Law 80, Just Cause and Progressive Discipline, SHRM, East Region, 2005
- Basic Wage and Hour in Puerto Rico, National Business Institute, 2004
- Fundamental Issues in Puerto Rico Human Resources Law, National Business Institute, 2004
- Labor Legislation I & II, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2004
- Be E-Ware: Avoiding E-mail and Internet Policy Pitfalls in Puerto Rico, National Business Institute, 2003
- Employee Privacy Rights in the Puerto Rico Workplace, National Business Institute, 2003
- Recent Developments in PR Labor Law Legislation, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2003
- Discharge and Retaliation in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2003
- Tort Claims in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2003
- Legal Aspects of Business Communication, Business Administration Faculty, University of PR, Rio Piedras, 2002
- Legal Aspects of Conduct Outside of the Workplace, PR Chamber of Commerce, 2002
- Labor Arbitration in Puerto Rico, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2002
- Benefits, Leaves and Employment Reservations, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2002
- Advanced Seminar on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2002
- Privacy Rights in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2002
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Workshop, Government Development Bank, 2002
- Fundamental Issues in Puerto Rico Human Resources Law, National Business Institute, 2001
- Advance Seminar on American With Disabilities Act, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2001
- Investigation of Sexual Harassment Complaints, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2001
- Privacy Rights in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2001
- Privacy Rights in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2000
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 2000
- Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims under Puerto Rico Law, National Business Institute, 2000
- Employee Privacy Rights in the Puerto Rico Workplace, National Business Institute, 1999
- Fundamentals of Employment Discrimination, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 1999
- Recent Labor Legislation, PR Manufacturers Association, 1998
- American With Disabilities Act, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 1998
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Program for Professional Development of the University of PR Law School, 1998
- Puerto Rico's Labor Legislation, PR Bar Association, 1997
- Legal Aspects of Communication in the Workplace, Business Administration Faculty, University of PR, Rio Piedras, 1997
- Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims under Puerto Rico Law, National Business Institute, 1997
- Recent Developments in Labor Law and its Caselaw, PRO-BONO, Inc., Puerto Rico Bar Association, 1997
- Puerto Rico's Labor Legislation, PR Manufacturers Association, 1996
- Latest Tendencies in Employment Law, PR Chamber of Commerce, 1996
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, William Hospitality, Inc. properties, 1996
- Personnel Law Update 1995: Family and Medical Leave Act, Council on Education in Management, 1995
- Personnel Law Update 1994: The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, (IRCA) (Council on Education in Management)
- Family and Medical Leave Act, PR Chamber of Commerce
- Puerto Rico Public Service Personnel Law, PR Central Office of Personnel Administration, 1993
- Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, IRCA, Sponsored by Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the PR Chamber of Commerce, 1992
- Wages, Salaries & Mandatory Decrees, PR Manufacturers Association, 1991
- ERISA & COBRA, PR Manufacturers Association, 1990
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Puerto Rico Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
Past Employment Positions
- Goldman Antonetti & Cordova, Associate Attorney, 1992 - 1995
- Jimenez Graffam & Lausell, Associate Attorney, 1991 - 1992
- Fiddler Gonzalez & Rodriguez, Associate Attorney, 1988 - 1991
Languages
- Spanish
- English
