Johan Lubbe

  • Shareholder
  • U.S. Practice Co-Chair, International Employment Law Practice Group
  • New York
jlubbe@littler.com
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Johan Lubbe is consistently recognized as a leading international employment lawyer. In 2017 and again in 2018, Who's Who Legal recognized Johan as the foremost Thought Leader in employment law in the U.S. (In both years he was ranked as #1 out of a select group of leading thought leaders in employment and labor law.) Johan has been described as “one of the nation’s most prominent employment lawyers,” “a go-to name on cross-border issues,” “esteemed within the marketplace,” and “highly regarded for his work in supply-chain management and data privacy matters on a global scale and is well known for his ability to handle complex and sensitive matters.”

Johan provides strategic advice and counseling to multinational employers on a wide range of global employment law, labor relations – including issues related to global supply chain management, international labor standards compliance, human resources, and data privacy matters. He regularly advises foreign companies doing business in the U.S. on the requirements of U.S. workplace law and labor relations issues. Johan represents companies in various industries including airlines, banking, engineering, financial services, high tech, manufacturing, oil and gas, nonprofits and retail. He is a frequent speaker on workplace law and data privacy issues and the author of numerous publications.

In June 2013, Johan testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee about labor issues in Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza building collapse. He has advised the retail industry regarding the European labor union Accord and the American Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.

Johan has guided U.S. multinational employers on the intricacies and compliance requirements of multiple-jurisdiction employment and labor law matters, such as:

  • Global mobility policies and secondment agreements
  • Global employee handbooks, codes of conduct, hotlines and HR policies, including anti-bribery
  • Multi-country audits of workplace laws and practices, and strategic compliance advice
  • Executive hiring and employment contracts, terminations and related negotiations
  • Data privacy laws affecting global Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and other cross-border HR data transmissions
  • Employment and labor law issues pertaining to cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, reductions-in-force, and office closings, including information and consultation obligations with employee representatives and works councils 
  • Cross-border trade union matters, including corporate campaigns and complaints with the OECD
  • Global supply chain management and compliance

Johan frequently represents employers in proceedings in court, government agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board, concerning discrimination, whistleblowing, retaliation, non-compete and unfair labor practice matters. He also represents employers in arbitration hearings involving “just cause” discharges under collective bargaining agreements with unions and the termination of executives under employment contracts. He counsels employers regarding compliance with their obligations under the array of workplace laws.

Originally from South Africa, Johan previously practiced law there and is fluent in Afrikaans. He continues to collaborate with attorneys in South Africa as well as other African nations, to provide multinational clients with a single point of contact for assistance with labor and employment matters on the continent.

Credentials & Recognition

Speaking Engagements

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – Global Workplace Policy Development and Implementation: Traps and Challenges for the Unwary

  • May 5, 2022
  • Littler Executive Employer Conference

The Compliance Issues that Arise When U.S.-based Employees Just Want to Do Their Jobs… Remotely from Overseas

  • May 5, 2022
  • Littler Executive Employer Conference

International Employment Law Update - Trends and Critical Developments

  • December 12, 2019
  • Lorman Education Services - Webinar

Workplace Bullying – Understanding the Increased Risks

  • December 13, 2018
  • Clear Law Institute - Webinar

Life After May 25th, 2018 - Living with GDPR

  • November 1, 2018
  • Pharmaceutical Human Resource Association - International Benefits Committee Meeting, Princeton

Protecting Corporate and Intellectual Property Including Restrictive Covenants

  • October 9, 2018
  • IBA Annual Conference, Rome, Italy

Workplace Bullying – Understanding the Increased Compliance and Liability Risks

  • October 2, 2018
  • Lorman Education Services - Webinar

Don’t Be the Last to Know! Get a Handle on These Global Workplace Trends

  • May 3, 2018
  • Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

Preparing for the New EU’s General Data Protection Regulation

  • November 2, 2017
  • NFTC Global Human Resources Conference, Seattle

International Employment Law 2017

  • June 7, 2017
  • PLI Seminar, New York, NY

Outsourcing: A Global Onslaught on the Use of Independent Contractors

  • May 11, 2017

Global Mobility and Employment Agreement

  • June 9, 2016
  • 2016 PLI International Employment Law Conference, New York, NY

Incentivizing Talent

  • May 24, 2016
  • IBA Global Entrepreneurship Conference, Barcelona, Spain

Drilling Into the Oil and Gas Industry - Employment Law Compliance

  • April 14, 2016
  • IBA Annual Employment and Discrimination Law Conference, Mexico City, Mexico

Whistleblowing - Landmark to Global Compliance in 2016

  • January 28, 2016
  • The Knowledge Group, New York, NY

Additional Thought Leadership

Non-Compete Covenants in Latin American Jurisdictions - Enforceability Challenges and Drafting Suggestions in Latin American Briefings

  • April 2016
  • ACC Docket

Whistleblowing in the EU: New Trouble for Multinationals Trying to Comply with Both EU Law and US’ SOX

  • April 2006
  • ACC Docket
  • Association of Corporate Counsel
  • James Beyer

Employment Issues in International Mergers and Acquisitions in the United States

  • March 2005
  • IBA Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee Newsletter

Managing Expatriate Employees: Employment Law Issues and Answers

  • Winter 2000
  • Journal of Employment Discrimination Law

Books & Book Chapters

The new EU’s general data protection regulation – Is your company ready?

  • Global HR Practitioner Handbook
  • Lisbeth Claus, Editor-in-Chief
  • 2018

Labour Law

  • Globe Business and Law
  • 2011
  • International Labor and Employment Laws
  • Bloomberg BNA, 4th edition, Chapter Author
  • 2014
  • Business Transfers and Employee Rights
  • McMullen, J., Butterworths, Chapter Author
  • 2005

Let us know how we can help you navigate your particular workplace legal issues.