Keahn N. Morris

Keahn Morris is a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm's San Francisco office and is a team leader of the firm's national Traditional Labor Law Team.

Areas of Practice

Keahn represents clients across the country in court, in negotiations, and in proceedings before federal and state administrative agencies. Keahn's practice encompasses labor/management relations, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) unfair labor practice and representation proceedings, single plaintiff and class action litigation, and labor-related advice for mergers, acquisitions, startups, reorganizations, and development projects. Keahn is an experienced trial lawyer, having represented employers in 75+ trials and arbitrations before judges, arbitrators, and various administrative agencies. Keahn's clients range from Fortune 100 companies to non-profits. He represents clients in numerous industries, including healthcare, aerospace and defense, energy, entertainment, media, technology, food and beverage, hospitality, sports arenas/entertainment venues, retail, transportation, the "gig" economy, manufacturing, building and construction, and cannabis.   

Labor Advice and Litigation

Keahn has extensive experience across the entire union/labor field. He has successfully handled some of the largest, most complex labor/management relations disputes and issues confronting employers, including their response to evolving economic, legal, and political change, as well as employee relations unrest generated by this change.

Keahn represents employers at the bargaining table and in strategic support roles for first and successor collective bargaining agreements. He has negotiated hundreds of labor agreements with unions and union councils in nearly all industries, including high-stakes collective bargaining agreements, industry-wide contracts, project labor agreements (state, county, and local level), community workforce and training agreements, labor peace agreements, and political alliances with labor organizations when desirable to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Keahn also has extensive experience providing employers with strategic representation related to union organizing campaigns and "corporate campaigns." He has guided employers of all sizes through complicated labor relations issues involving union elections, union decertifications, lockouts, rapid response tactics to economic warfare (e.g., strikes, pickets, and boycotts), and other high pressure union events by nearly all of the major unions in the U.S., as well as many grass roots employee associations, spin-offs from the major U.S. unions, and union-backed "coalitions" and "worker centers."

Keahn has broad experience representing employers in arbitration, proceedings and litigation related to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the Railway Labor Act (RLA), and state labor relations laws. He represents clients in proceedings before the NLRB, National Mediation Board (NMB), and state labor relations boards (e.g., Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB)). Keahn is an expert on labor preemption, labor injunctions, and union boycotts, and has successfully sued unions on behalf of employers for engaging in illegal labor activity, including recently obtaining a decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is now a leading case concerning illegal boycotts and hot cargo agreements under the NLRA.

Business Acquisitions, Restructuring, and Development Projects 

Keahn provides strategic advice on labor-related issues that arise in the context of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, startups, downsizing, reorganization, relocation, turn-around work, and development projects. He regularly works with corporate clients to guide them in structuring transactions to minimize risk and maximize the value and success of those transactions from a labor, employment, and employee benefits perspective. This includes transaction planning, due diligence, deal documentation, managing actual or potential labor agreements, re-negotiation of labor agreements, pre- and post-closing integration activities, and ensuring employees easily transition from one employer to another. Keahn regularly collaborates with leading mergers and acquisitions corporate lawyers, private equity firms, developers, and management consultants on such engagements.

Employment Advice and Litigation

Keahn represents employers in employment actions before state and federal trial and appellate courts and arbitrators. He litigates disputes involving wage and hour class actions, Private Attorney Generals Act (PAGA) actions, whistleblowing, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, unfair competition, and related claims. Keahn represents clients before federal and state administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor (DOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), California Civil Rights Department (CRD), and California Labor Commissioner's Office/Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), and other human rights commissions and labor agencies. 

Keahn also provides strategic advice to in-house legal counsel, labor relations professionals, human resources leaders, and business associations on employment-related risk management, including conducting effective workplace investigations, workforce planning, employee recruiting and hiring practices, harassment prevention and investigation, wage and hour compliance, pay equity, employee mobility, and employee discipline/terminations.

Honors

Northern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2014-2020

Articles

Labor and Employment Law Blog Posts

• "In With the 'Old,' Out With the 'New': Second Trump Administration Will Usher in Significant Changes at the EEOC, DOL and NLRB," November 14, 2024

• "Mandatory Captive Audience Meetings Are Banned in California in 2025," October 4, 2024

• "NLRB Will No Longer Approve Employer Proposed Consent Orders," August 26, 2024
• "California Assembly Committee Revives State’s Captive Audience Meeting Ban," August 22, 2024

• "The NLRB Implements Its Fair Choice – Employee Voice Final Rule – Effective September 30, 2024," August 19, 2024

• "Texas Judge Enjoins NLRB From Proceeding Against SpaceX, Casting Further Doubt on NLRB’s Constitutionality," July 30, 2024

• "The NLRB Must Apply Its Prior Standard for Protected Employee Outbursts and Abusive Speech," July 19, 2024

• "U.S. District Court Grants 10(j) Injunctive Relief and Requires Employer to Bargain With Union That Lost Secret Ballot Election," May 17, 2024

• "NLRB Finds GW Hospital Failed to Bargain in Good Faith in Reversal of Vacated Decision," May 13, 2024

• "Cannabis Operator Challenges California State Statute and Regulations Requiring Labor Peace Agreements," May 7, 2024

• "NLRB General Counsel Issues New Memo Further Expanding Penalties for Unfair Labor Practice Violations," April 19, 2024

• "Judge Issues First Post-Cemex Bargaining Order Despite Employer Winning Union Election," October 20, 2023
• "Pair of Board Decisions Significantly Limit Employers’ Power to Act Unilaterally and Past Practice Defense," September 13, 2023

• "NLRB Expands Scope of What Is Considered Protected Concerted Activity in Workplaces," September 6, 2023

• "Newly Created NLRB Rules Drastically Change the Process for Unions Seeking Recognition of Most Private Sector Employees in the U.S. and Substantially Limits Employee Voting in Secret-Ballot Election," August 30, 2023

• "NLRB Adopts Volatile New Standard for Evaluating Work Rules," August 4, 2023

• "SCOTUS Issues Decision Allowing State Court Lawsuit Against Union for Property Damage Caused During Labor Dispute," June 19, 2023

• "NLRB Overturns Standard for Independent Contractor Status Under the NLRA," June 15, 2023

• "NLRB General Counsel Announces Employee Non-Compete Agreements Violate the NLRA," June 12, 2023

• "Back to Normal, Almost – NLRB General Counsel Issues Updated Guidance on Suggested Manual Election Protocols and Push for Manual Elections by the NLRB," June 7, 2023

• "…But Words Will Never Harm Us? The NLRB Restores Precedent Protecting Abusive Workplace Speech by Employees While They Are Engaged in Protected Concerted and Union Activities," May 12, 2023

• NLRB General Counsel Issues Memo Updating Prosecutorial Priorities," May 3, 2023

• "NLRB General Counsel Releases Memo Concerning Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Clauses in Severance Agreements Post-McLaren," March 23, 2023

• "We Can Now Add Civility and Secrecy to the List of Things Money Can’t Buy: NLRB Rules Non-Disparagement and Confidentiality Clauses in Severance Agreements Unlawfully Restrain and Coerce Employees," February 23, 2023

• "SCOTUS Hears Oral Argument on Whether NLRA Preempts State Court Lawsuits Against Unions for Property Damage Caused During Labor Disputes," January 20, 2023

• "NLRB Provides Off-Duty Contractor Employees With Property Access to Engage in Section 7 Activity," January 4, 2023

• "NLRB Confirms a Return to Union Gerrymandered Bargaining Units," December 16, 2022

• "Caught on Video No More? NLRB General Counsel Releases Memo Urging Board to Curtail Employer Use of a Variety of Surveillance Technologies in Workplace," November 7, 2022

• "NLRB Revisits Union Dues Checkoff Rule," October 10, 2022

• "NLRB Releases Proposed Joint Employer Rule Rolling Back Trump-Era Standard," September 6, 2022

• "Union Election Petitions on the Rise, Total Number of FY21 Petitions Eclipses in First Three Quarters of FY22," July, 15, 2022
• "NLRB General Counsel Seeks to Reinstate Radical Standard for Union Recognition and Restrict Employer Free Speech During Corporate Organizing Campaigns," April 18, 2022
• "NLRB General Counsel Will Ask the Board to Find That Captive Audience Meetings Violate the NLRA," April 8, 2022
• "NLRB to Decide Whether Misclassification Is Standalone Violation of the NLRA," March 31, 2022
• "NLRB General Counsel Issues Memorandum on Increased Inter-Agency Coordination, Collaboration," February 11, 2022
• "NLRB Rings in the New Year by Inviting Briefing on Multiple, Far-Reaching Standards Impacting Employers," January 19, 2022
• "NLRB Foreshadows a Return to Union Gerrymandered Bargaining Units," December 28, 2021
• "California Legislature and Governor Approves New PAGA Carve-Out," November 8, 2021
• "NLRB General Counsel Issues Memos Calling for New Harsher Penalties for Unfair Labor Practice Violations," September 22, 2021
• "NLRB General Counsel Sets an Agenda to Reverse Trump-Era Board Policy," August 19, 2021
• "Scabby Survives Another Trip to the NLRB: Board Reaffirms Rat-and-Banner Displays Targeting Neutral Businesses Are Permissible," July 26, 2021
• "SCOTUS Decision May Force Reversal of California Laws Sanctioning Union Trespass," June 25, 2021
• "New Administration, New Direction as Acting NLRB General Counsel Rescinds 10 General Counsel Memos and Reverses Course on Neutrality Pacts With Unions," February 3, 2021
• "NLRB’s Division of Advice Determines Certain Workers in the Cannabis Industry Are Exempt From Federal Labor Law," January 29, 2021
• "EEOC Takes a Shot at COVID-19: Unvaccinated Employees Can be Excluded From the Workplace," December 18, 2020
• "GC Finds Merit in COVID-19 Related ULP Cases in GC Memo 20-14," September 22, 2020
• "Neutrality and Labor Peace Agreements – When Its Unlawful for an Employer to Be “Too Neutral” as to Union Organizing Under the NLRA," September 16, 2020
• "The Board Weighs In on the COVID Mail Ballot Controversy," September 1, 2020
• "Board Announces Intent to Issue New Rules Eliminating Disclosure of Certain Personal Information and Requiring Absentee Ballots for Those on Military Leave," July 29, 2020
• "Sticks and Stones…The NLRB Rethinks Its Position on Abusive Workplace Speech by Employees While They Are Engaged in Protected Concerted and Union Activities," July 23, 2020
• "NLRA “Advice” All Employers Should Consider in a COVID World," July 23, 2020
• "AFL-CIO Sues the Board Over New Rules – AGAIN," July 17, 2020
• "Will the NLRB GC’s “Suggested” Manual Election Protocols Matter?," July 10, 2020
• "Board Invites Briefs and Signals a Possible Shift in Its Contract Bar Rules," July 10, 2020
• "Judge Jackson Explains the Basis for Her Invalidation of the Board’s Election Regulations," June 19, 2020
• "The NLRB Reacts to Court’s Eleventh-Hour Partial Injunction of the Agency’s New Election Rules," June 2, 2020
• "Why, How and When Katz May “Trump” an Expired CBA When It Comes to Making Unilateral Changes — The Relationship Between MV Transportation and Raytheon Network," April 23, 2020
• "Keep a Lid on It – The Trump NLRB Reaffirms Employer Ability to Enforce Investigative Confidentiality Rules," April 22, 2020
• "Labor Issues Concerning COVID-19 and Government “Stay at Home” Orders", March 20, 2020
• "NLRB Reinstates Broad Deferral of Discrimination Cases to Arbitration, Overruling the Obama Board's 2014 Decision in Babcock & Wilcox," January 2, 2020
• "Employers May Now Forbid Employees Using Co. Email for Protected Concerted Activities, Forbid Employees from Discussing On-Going Workplace Investigations, and Cease Checking Off Union Dues," December 20, 2019 
• "Christmas Comes Early for Employers at the NLRB — New Election Procedures That Give Employers a Greater Opportunity to Mount Legal Challenges to Election Petitions and to Effectively Campaign Against Unionization," December 13, 2019 
• "AB 1291 Forces California Cannabis Companies To Sign “Labor Peace Agreements” With Unions, But Statute May be Unconstitutional," October 23, 2019 
• "An Employer’s Bargaining Table Complaints as to Poor Business Conditions Is Not a Claim of Poverty Entitling a Union to Business Sensitive Information," September 16, 2019 
• "More Good News From The Board: NLRB Scraps The Clear And Unmistakable Waiver Standard For The Contract Coverage Test When Deciding Unilateral Change Cases," September 11, 2019 
• "Employers May Not Have To Retain Racists, Sexists and Belligerently Disobedient Employees After All-The NLRB Appears Ready To Rethink Its Positions On Controversial Discipline-Related Doctrines," September 11, 2019
• "The NLRB Nixes Union Gerrymandering And Establishes A Three Step Test For Voting Unit Determinations," September 11, 2019 
• "The NLRB Rules That Employers May Bar Union Representatives From Their Property Even Though They Have Allowed Other Third Parties To Engage In Civic, Charitable Or Commercial Solicitations There," September 10, 2019 
• "An Employer’s Erroneous Announcement To Employees Declaring Them Independent Contractors Does Not, Standing Alone, Violate The NLRA," September 5, 2019 
• "The NLRB Holds That Employers May Implement Class Waivers in Response to Class Claims and Discipline Employees Who Refuse to Sign Them," August 15, 2019
• "Breaking with Tradition, The Current NLRB is on a Rulemaking Tear: Election Procedures, Recognition Bar, and 9(a) Collective Bargaining Relationships," August 13, 2019
• "The NLRB Confirms that Intermittent Strikes in Furtherance of the Same Goal are Unprotected," August 1, 2019
• "The NLRB Just Made It A Little Easier For Employees To Get Rid Of Their Union," July 16, 2019 
• "Which Are They? Independent Contractors Or Employees? Navigating The Conflicts Between State And Federal Law," July 2, 2019 
• "NLRB Limits Duty to Bargain Over Disciplinary Actions," June 28, 2019 
• "NLRB Limits Union Access Rights to “Public Spaces” of Employers," June 17, 2019 
• "It’s OK to Be Different- NLRB Rules That Union Represented Employees Are Not Entitled to Midterm Bargaining Over Same Paid Holiday Granted to Non-Represented Employees," June 6, 2019 
• "The NLRB Continues To Chip Away At Individual Protected Concerted Activity," April 23, 2019 
• "It’s Perfectly Clear Once Again— NLRB Limits “Perfectly Clear” Successor Exception," April 9, 2019 
• "NLRB’s Division of Advice Gives “Advice” As to the Application of Boeing — When a Work Rule/Employment Agreement is Facially Valid Under the NLRA in Union and Union Free Workplaces," March 22, 2019 
• "NLRB Issues Important Decision Regarding What Constitutes “Protected Concerted Activity” in Union and Union-Free Environments Under Federal Labor Law," January 17, 2019
• "Labor Board Back to Five Member Composition – What Obama-Era Precedent Is Next on the Chopping Block?," April 26, 2018
• "NLRB Asks D.C. Circuit to Revive Review of Joint Employer Standard Under BFI; Hy-Brand Decision Vacated Following NLRB Ethics Official’s Report," March 2, 2018
• "Considering Offering Severance Pay in Exchange for Certain Post-Employment Obligations? Think Again," February 20, 2018 
• "Striking A New Balance – The NLRB Abandons the Lutheran Heritage Test and Devises a New Standard for Assessing the Facial Validity of Neutral Work Rules," December 15, 2017 
• "NLRB Overrules Browning-Ferris Joint Employer Standard," December 15, 2017 
• "New Labor Board May Kill “Quickie Election” Rule; Requests Public RFI," December 13, 2017
• "New Labor Board GC Signals Overturning Obama-Era Rulings, But Anticipated Vacancies and Recusals Create Uncertainty," December 8, 2017 
• "House Approves Save Local Business Act – Bill To Overturn Controversial Joint Employer Ruling," November 8, 2017 
• "5 New Laws: California Governor Approves Employee-Friendly Laws," October 13, 2017 
• "Committee Approves Save Local Business Act – Redefining Joint Employer Liability," October 5, 2017 
• "Save Local Business Act Introduced in the House," September 19, 2017 
• "NLRB Orders Union To Drop Unlawful Grievance, to Dismiss Suit Seeking to Compel Neutral Employers to Arbitrate Grievance and to Pay The Employers’ Legal Fees and Defense Costs," June 5, 2017

Healthcare Law Blog Posts

• "California Superior Court Judge Orders Department of Public Health to Make Names and Personal Home Addresses of Approximately 180,000 Health Care Workers Available to SEIU; Union Organizing Activities Likely to Spike,"  May 17, 2018

Cannabis Law Blog Posts

• "SCOTUS to Consider Whether California Unconstitutionally “Takes” Private Property When It Compels Agricultural Employers to Grant Union Access to Private Property," November 19, 2020

• "AB 1291 Forces California Cannabis Companies To Sign “Labor Peace Agreements” With Unions, But Statute May be Unconstitutional," October 22, 2019

Real Estate, Land Use, & Environmental Law Blog Posts

• "Labor Development Impacting Developers, Contractors, and Landowners," May 22, 2019

Books

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• California Association of Health Facilities – Labor Law Update, San Diego (July 2023)
• California Association of Health Facilities – Labor and Employment Laws Impacting the Long Term Care/Skilled Nursing Industry, Webinar (January 2022)
• California Association of Health Facilities – Labor & Employment Update: Part 1 and Part 2, Webinar (September 2021)
• California Association of Health Facilities – Labor Law Update, Webinar (March 2021)
• California Association of Health Facilities – 2021 Labor and Employment Law Update, Webinar (January 2021)
• California Association of Health Facilities – Labor Law 101: Emerging Laws and Trends, The Legal Implications of COVID-19, Webinar (July 2020)
• California Association of Health Facilities – Possible Reclassification of Certain Job Descriptions Due to AB 5, Webinar (July 2020)
• National Retail Federation Committee on Employment Law – Millennials and Unions, San Francisco (April 2019)
• California Association of Health Facilities – Union Relations in the Healthcare Industry, Palm Springs (November 2018)
• Labor & Employment Law Update, Fall 2017 Seminar Series, San Francisco (October 2017)
• California Labor and Employment Law Update, California Association of Health Facilities Summer Conference, Long Beach (July 2016)
• Breakfast With Your Labor Lawyer, Spring 2017 Seminar Series, Palo Alto (May 2017)
• California Labor and Employment Law Update, California Association of Health Facilities Spring Legislative Conference, Sacramento (March 2016)
• Surveying the New Labor Law Landscape: A Rocky Road Ahead, San Francisco (May 2015)
• California Labor and Employment Law Update, California Association of Health Facilities Spring Legislative Conference, Sacramento (March 2015)
• Labor Roundtable: The New Joint Employer Standard Under the NLRB, San Francisco (December 2015)
• Labor Seminar Breakfast Series, New Developments Under the NLRB, San Francisco (December 2014)
• California Breakfast Series: California Workplace Law Update, San Francisco (December 2013)

Events

Memberships

American Bar Association - Committee on Practice and Procedure Under the NLRA

Bar Association of San Francisco

California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF)

California Bar Association