Kenneth Allyn Sprang

Kenneth A. Sprang is the managing member of Washington International Business Counsel, LLP, a boutique full-service Philadlphia and DC law firm, dedicated to providing business clients outstanding service at reasonable cost. Mr. Sprang counsels and represents both domestic and international clients  regarding a wide range of corporate, business and transactional matters, as well as in labor and employment and commercial real estate issues.  Over the course of his 40 plus year career, Mr. Sprang has practiced with both large and small firms, as well as serving as in house counsel for Fortunees and as general counsel to smaller companies. 

Mr. Sprang began his career with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a large, multi-national firm. Subsequently, he served as in house counsel in  the legal departments of Calgon Corporation, a former subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., and Cyclops Corporation, a Fortunety steel manufacturer.  Later, Mr. Sprang founded legal departments and served as in-house general counsel for several start-up and other privately-held companies, including a hospital and a web-based company.  Mr. Sprang has also spent several years as a full-time law professor, and later taught property law and a labor seminar as an Adjunct Professor at Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Sprang provides startup and mature clients counsel and representation in corporate governance; negotiation, drafting, and review of contracts, real estate documents, and other instruments; licensing, intellectual property matters; mergers and acquisitions; and federal and state regulatory compliance. He current serves as outside general counsel to several companies both domestic and international.

Mr. Sprang also brings to his clients special expertise in commercial real estate and labor and employment law. He represents employers and executives in traditional labor relations matters, as well as in wage and hour, employment discrimination, HR, employee benefits, OSHA, and other issues related to employment.  In addition to representing clients in all aspects of U.S. labor and employment law (including specific state laws), he has served on the senior staff of the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board and taught the subject for many years. He is the author or co-author of several books and articles on labor and employment law and alternative dispute resolution.  More recently he has co-authored a book on cyber security.

Illustrative clients include, a New York B to B lending company, real estate developers, several IT companies, multiple startups, an importer and wholesaler of consumer products, a manufacturer of isostatic presses, an Australian company with unique technology for disposal of nuclear waste, a Midwest finance company and a company involved in the importing of commodities from Asia and elsewhere.  His pro bono endeavors are focused on children and small businesses.  He formerly served on the  Board of Directors of Kidsave International (), an organization that helps move children in the U.S. and Colombia out of foster care and into adoptive families.  Through Kidsave, in 2006 Mr. Sprang and his wife Carol adopted their now 25 year old son Christopher from Columbia.  In addition, Mr. Sprang has served on the Board of and as General Counsel to Boys to Men International, which provides programs to support adolescent boys in the transition to adulthood. He currently volunteers with the Philadelphia Bar VIP Program.

Areas of Practice

Business and corporate law, e.g., new companies, NDAs, transactions

Corporate governance and compliance

Labor relations (including collective bargaining and arbitration)

Employment law

Federal and state employment regulation, e., FLSA, FMLA, WARN

Business transactions

Commercial real estate acquisitions, sales and financing

Regulatory compliance

Recent Presentations

"The DOL's New Guidelines for Distinguishing Between Independent Contractors and Employees," CLE Presentation, National Academy of Legal Education, New York (2022)

“Exculpatory Clauses,” CLE Presentation for National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (2010)

“Incorporating in the First State:  Successfully Navigating Delaware Corporate Law,” CLE Presentation for National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (2009)

“Buy Sell Agreements: Planning for the Unforseeable Future,” CLE Presentation for National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (2009)

“Drafting Complex Indemnification Provisions: Keys To Mitigate Risk,” CLE Presentation for National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (2009)

“Paid Time Off Policies: Strategies to Prevent Abuse,” CLE Presentation for National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (2009)

“Drafting Indemnification Provisions in M&A,” CLE Presentation for National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (2009)

“COBRA Subsidy under ARRA,” Presentation for ASC Technologies of New York, Inc. (2009)

“Contract Drafting: Reps & Warranties, Covenant & Conditions,” CLE Presentation for National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (2009)

Panel, “Proactively Managing Electronic Discovery: Challenges for Small Law Departments,” ACC 2008 Annual Meeting

Panel, “Demystifying Trade Secrets,” ACC Annual Meeting (2008)

Panel, “A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep:  Things Every Small Law Department General Counsel Needs to Know,” Georgetown Corp. Counsel Institute (2008)