Mark T. Wassell, Esq. - Erie, PA

Trusted Labor and Employment Legal Counsel in Erie

Mark T. Wassell, Esq. is a distinguished shareholder at Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. (Knox Law), one of northwestern Pennsylvania's premier and most historic law firms, established in 1958. Based in downtown Erie on West 10th Street, attorney Wassell leads the firm's labor and employment practice group, counseling private corporations, public sector employers, municipal authorities, and regional school districts across Pennsylvania and Ohio. When organizations encounter workforce disputes or regulatory audits, choosing to hire an employment lawyer with comprehensive management-side experience is critical to preserving corporate integrity and preventing crippling financial liability. Attorney Wassell graduated from Allegheny College in 1979 and earned his Juris Doctor from the Cleveland State University College of Law in 1984. Bringing more than four decades of seasoned counsel, he blends pragmatic human resources advice with tenacious courtroom advocacy before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.

Comprehensive Management-Side Employment Services

Attorney Wassell represents employers across the complete spectrum of workplace regulations, helping organizational leaders maintain legal compliance and resolve labor conflicts:

• Workplace discrimination and harassment defense: Defending businesses and public employers against claims involving Title VII, age discrimination (ADEA), disability discrimination (ADA), and sexual harassment before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC).
• Wrongful termination claims: Safeguarding employers against retaliatory discharge allegations, whistleblower lawsuits, and common-law breach of implied contract claims.
• Wage and hour compliance: Auditing overtime classifications, exempt vs. non-exempt status determinations, tip pooling, and minimum wage policies under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Pennsylvania wage payment laws.
• Collective bargaining and union negotiations: Serving as chief labor negotiator for school boards, municipal governments, and industrial manufacturers, structuring durable collective bargaining agreements.
• Labor arbitrations and grievance proceedings: Advocating for management in grievance disputes, employee termination hearings, and interest arbitrations before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
• Executive contracts and non-compete agreements: Drafting enforceable non-disclosure, non-solicitation, and restrictive covenant agreements, as well as executive compensation packages.
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) administration: Guiding human resource professionals through intermittent leave management, disability accommodations, and attendance policy enforcement.

Proactive Human Resources Audits and Policy Development

Preventative legal guidance is the cornerstone of attorney Wassell's practice. He regularly conducts internal workplace audits, reviews employee handbooks, and delivers interactive supervisory training on topics such as effective performance evaluations, lawful hiring processes, and social media policies. By identifying vulnerabilities before formal charges are filed, he helps clients implement legally defensible workplace standards that minimize liability and foster productive employee relations.

Consult with Mark T. Wassell at Knox Law

If your enterprise needs to consult an experienced employment attorney in Erie to navigate union organizing, resolve a contentious discrimination charge, or draft executive employment covenants, Mark T. Wassell delivers steady and authoritative guidance. Contact Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. on West 10th Street in Erie to schedule a confidential legal consultation for your organization.