Firms To Watch: Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s employment team is jointly headed by New York-based Jyotin Hamid and Mary Beth Hogan offering broad experience in conducting sensitive investigations for its clients across a range of sectors.
Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP is experienced in acting for clients in litigation, with particular expertise within the retail, financial services, and manufacturing industries. Bill Martucci, the chair of the firm’s litigation and policy practice, is a key contact in Kansas City.

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) in United States

ArentFox Schiff

ArentFox Schiff is headed by Michael Stevens in Washington DC, who has extensive experience in employment litigation and traditional labor law issues. The firm has particular expertise in the fashion and retail industries, with experience advising several high-profile brands on employment matters such as COVID-19 related issues, arbitration, and collective bargaining. Other sector experience includes parking, construction, higher education, and hospitality. Other key names include John Zaimes, a highly experienced litigator based in Los Angeles, Robert Carrol in San Francisco, and Linda Jackson in Washington DC. Lauren Schaefer in Boston is also an experienced associate in Boston who possesses key skills in discrimination and sexual harassment.

Practice head(s):

Michael Stevens


Other key lawyers:

John Zaimes; Robert Carrol; Linda Jackson; Lauren Schaefer; Henry Morris


Testimonials

‘Henry Morris is responsive and takes time to understand the unique needs of his clients.’

Key clients

Choice Hotels International


Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts


Microsoft Corporation


CACI, Inc.


Cision Ltd.


Jacmar Foodservice Distribution


The Sun Valley Group


Work highlights


  • Advising Microsoft on an independent inquiry into Microsoft’s policies and procedures on gender discrimination and sexual harassment issues and issuing a public transparency report.
  • Represented Jacmar, a leading independent food service distributor and parent company of Shakey’s USA, in an NLRB representation election matter involving Teamsters Local 630 before both the NLRB and the DC Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals.
  • Represented CACI in its action against a former executive for misappropriation of trade secrets and violation of fiduciary and confidentiality obligations.

BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler‘s practice is well experienced in industries such as professional services, healthcare, consumer goods, and financial services, with recent work including advising Amazon.com on discrimination issues and assisting Polsinelli with a restrictive covenant matter. Amy Traub, the firm’s national labor and employment group chair, is particularly experienced in advising clients on the management side of employment law matters and is based in New York. The firm is noted for its expertise in discrimination matters, as well as its experience in both class and collective and single-plaintiff claims, employee misclassification matters, and trade secret issues. Other notable names include Houston-based Mark Temple for complex employment litigation, Kevin Shaughnessy in Orlando for class action and government-initiated litigation, and Cleveland-based Gregory Mersol for class action matters.

Practice head(s):

Amy Traub


Other key lawyers:

Mark Temple; Kevin Shaughnessy; Gregory Mersol


Key clients

Amazon.com, Inc.


Polsinelli, PC


NES Global, LLC


Holder v. A&L Homecare, et. Al


Health Care Corporation


Magellan Health, Inc.


Hamilton Ryker IT Solutions, LLC


Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie‘s ‘impressive’ team is jointly headed by Michael Brewer in San Francisco and William Dugan in Chicago, with the firm able to provide the full gamut of employment advice and representation both nationally and internationally. The team are experienced in providing assistance to clients in a variety of sectors, with recent work in the entertainment, media, healthcare, and financial services industries. Other key team members include Robin Samuel in Los Angeles, who has particular expertise in cross-border employment issues, and New York-based Krissy Katzenstein, who specializes in representing clients in class and collective actions involving systemic discrimination.

Practice head(s):

Michael Brewer; William Dugan


Other key lawyers:

JT Charron; Remy Snead; Robin Samuel; Krissy Katzenstein


Testimonials

‘Baker McKenzie is able to handle all our legal needs, from labor law to contract law and all in between. The people are what keeps us coming back.’

‘William Dugan , JT Charron, and Remy Snead are the individuals we work with at Baker McKenzie. Not only is their expertise in employment law impressive, but they know our business and give us the feeling that our business success is a priority. Their response time and communication are highly valued.’

Key clients

MM Enterprises USA LLC


ViacomCBS


Anschutz Entertainment Group


Work highlights


  • Represented MedMen on seven counter-claims MedMen filed against its former Chief Financial Officer.
  • Represented ViacomCBS in employment class/collective action lawsuits filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida and in a 25 Plaintiff age discrimination case in the US’ District Court for the Central District of California.
  • Representing Anschutz Entertainment Group, LA Arena Company and LA Live Theater in a long-running wage class action filed by a former employee seeking millions in damages for a class of non-exempt employees who work at Crypto.com Arena and Microsoft Theater.

Dickinson Wright PLLC

The team at Dickinson Wright PLLC is jointly headed by trade secret and non-compete expert Joshua Burgener in Nashville, and Brian Johnson in Lexington. The firm provides assistance to clients on the whole spectrum of employment issues, including whistleblower claims, wage and hour cases, discrimination issues, and traditional labor work. Recent advice includes assisting First Class Valet Inc on COVID-19 related employment issues and representing Standex International Corporation in non-competition litigation. Key contacts include Timothy Howlett and Kathryn Wood in the Detroit office, Reid Estes in Nashville, and William Thacker in Ann Arbor.




Practice head(s):

Joshua Burgener; Brian Johnson


Other key lawyers:

Timothy Howlett; Kathyrn Wood; Reid Estes; William Thacker


Testimonials

Deeply knowledgeable about current labor law and is active in several different types of businesses and organizations that have collective bargaining agreements.

Working with Dickinson Wright has been far more direct and efficient than when we worked with a different firm that did not have as much hands-on experience with negotiating.

We work with William Thacker. He responds quickly to our inquires and gets back to us with needed information in a very timely manner. He is not dismissive of our concerns and works to find alternative scenarios for us to consider.

Key clients

P.A.M. Transport, Inc.


ADEBCO, Inc, d/b/a Lane Hauling & Excavating


TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.


First Class Valet, Inc.


Service Steel (Van Pelt Corporation)


Standex International Corporation


Multisales Nashville, Inc.


Carhartt, Inc.


The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan


Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.


Domino’s Pizza LLC


Work highlights


  • Represented P.A.M. Transport (“PAM”) in a case filed by two African-American plaintiffs who claim they were discriminated against by mainly their African-American manager.
  • Representing ADEBCO, Inc. in a wage and hour class action filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Representing TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C. in a wage and hour class action filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

DLA Piper LLP (US)

Marc Katz heads DLA Piper LLP (US)’s practice from Dallas, and has a special focus on unfair competition and trade secret litigation. The practice is known for its experience in dealing with the full spectrum of employment matters such as wage and hour litigation, class action work, discrimination matters, and COVID-19 requirements for employers. Other key names within the practice include New York-based Mary Dollarhide and San Diego-based Julie Dunne for wage and hour class actions, Brian Kaplan and Joseph Piesco in New York for extensive litigation experience, and Kim Askew in Dallas for experience in matters relating to discrimination and harassment. Steven Taeusch joined the San Francisco office from Goodwin in March 2022 and brings particular expertise in wage and hour matters.

Practice head(s):

Marc Katz


Other key lawyers:

Joseph Piesco; Mary Dollarhide; Taylor Wemmer; Garrett Kennedy; Kim Askew; Julie Dunne; Steven Taeusch


Testimonials

‘The team has deep subject matter expertise, is highly responsive, cost-effective, and quite diverse.’

‘I have worked extensively with Joseph Piesco, who is highly experienced and is a go-to source of advice for me due to his practical and thoughtful approach to problem-solving.  He is also highly responsive.  The team has extensive knowledge in a wide range of employment issues and is particularly helpful as it relates to CA employment laws and issues. The team keeps apprised of new regulations and recent case law that may impact employers.’

‘Mary Dollarhide and Taylor Wemmer have taken the time to understand our business and how we operate as a company and provide us with practical advice that is appropriate for our company’s culture.’

‘The New York City based team is super practical and level headed.’

‘Joe Piesco has an easy going manner that makes him effective counsel for sticky employment matters.’

‘Garrett Kennedy is a smart, articulate lawyer whose unflappable demeanor bring sanity and reliability to our cases.’

‘Very seasoned labor and employment lawyers.’

‘Kim Askew is excellent attorney.  She is a lawyer with great expertise in labor and employment.’

Key clients

Fresh Delmonte Produce


7-Eleven, Inc.


TPC Group


Best Buy


Kyriba


Smith & Wesson


The Shipyard


Red Hydrant


Array


Tavistock Freebirds (Freebirds World Burrito)


Work highlights


  • Represented he Human Rights Campaign & The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), one of the most prominent organizations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and equality, in a high-profile race discrimination lawsuit.
  • Represented one of the world’s preeminent luxury hotel, gaming, retail, and entertainment businesses in employment-related litigation.
  • Represented New York University in a putative class action brought by a student plaintiff seeking a refund of tuition and fees due to NYU’s transition to remote learning in Spring 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

Boutique firm Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. is headed by David Garland in New York and prides itself on labor and employment being a core pillar of the firm’s practices. The firm has particular expertise in the juncture between employment and healthcare, with recent work in this sector including representing clients in wage-hour class action, whistleblower, and restrictive covenant matters. Other industry experience includes higher education, financial services, retail, and hospitality, with work spanning the entire spectrum of employment matters. Notable names include Los Angeles-based Michael Kun, the leader of the litigation team, and Paul DeCamp, the co-chair of the national wage and hour practice group and leader of the practice in Washington DC. Also in Los Angeles, Jonathan Brenner specializes in advising clients on high-level, sensitive employee separations and reductions in force.

Practice head(s):

David Garland


Other key lawyers:

Michael Ferrell; Nathaniel Glasser; William Milani; Jeremy Brown; Millie Warner; Elizabeth Torkelsen; David Poppick; Deborah Cannavino; Jonathan Brenner; Michael Kun, Paul DeCamp


Testimonials

‘The team has deep experience across a broad range of labor dispute scenarios and works pragmatically to adapt to the particular standards and requirements of our business. Further, there is always good access to senior team members who are responsive and efficient.’

‘David Poppick has given very strong counsel from a deeply experienced background over many years. Debbie Cannavino is also attentive to client needs and pragmatic in her approach to problem solving and finding a workable compromise with litigants. Liz Torkelsen has also worked very hard with a keen eye for detail and consistency notwithstanding demanding deadlines and complex cases.’

‘Mike Ferrell and Nathaniel Glasser were very knowledgeable in their respective fields. They were very attentive to our needs and always responded to our inquiries in a timely manner. They were professional and extremely easy to work with.’

Fisher & Phillips

Boutique firm Fisher & Phillips is headed by Todd Ewan in Philadelphia and Suzanne Kelly Michael in Seattle. The firm’s significant experience focusing solely on labor and employment matters gives the team extensive expertise assisting in issues such as nationwide class actions, defending complex litigation cases, defending employers in high-profile OSHA cases, and putting together employer compliance programs. The firm is noted for its work in industries such as healthcare, aviation, and logistics and shipping. Kevin Hess joined the firm's Columbus office in October 2022 from Steptoe & Johnson PLLC and brings his experience in workplace health and safety, while Stephanie Reynolds joined in September 2022 and brings her litigation experience to the firm’s San Diego office.

 

Practice head(s):

Todd Ewan; Suzanne Kelly Michael


Other key lawyers:

Kevin Hess; Stephanie Reynolds


Testimonials

‘The tight attention to and capability around ensuring subject matter expertise and practical guidance, with both legal and project management capabilities designed to both advise, but also assist with practical solutions, whether investigations, audits, training, or litigation support.’

Key clients

Restaurant Law Center


American Airlines, Inc.


34 Floor Hospitality L.L.C.


Encino Motorcars


United Airlines


Work highlights


  • Represented Amicus Curiae in drafting an amicus brief in support of the Viking River v. Moriana decision pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Represented a medical doctor at trial in an action alleging nine causes of action against him including hostile work environment and retaliation.
  • Represented American Airlines in the trial and appellate courts in a high-stakes retaliation and disability discrimination lawsuit.

Ford & Harrison LLP

Boutique firm Ford Harrison LLP is headed by Allen McKenna in Charlotte, who has experience on issues relating to union campaigns, collective bargaining, arbitrations, and trials before the National Labor Relations Board. The firm is particularly known for its experience in the full spectrum of labor and employment disputes, including non-compete and trade secret matters. The firm’s clients include both domestic and international companies from industries such as aviation, healthcare, restaurant, and retail, with recent standout work including defending a hospital in a discrimination case.

Practice head(s):

Allen McKenna


Key clients

Delta Air Lines


Mohawk Industries


Turner Enterprises


AFLAC, Inc.


Publix Super Markets, Inc.


Denny’s Inc.


United Airlines


MassMutual


International Paper


CommScope, Inc.


National Healthcare Corporation


Forward Air


The ServiceMaster Company


RaceTrac Petroleum


Terminix International Company, LP


American Airlines


HD Supply


ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital


Work highlights


  • Represented public schools as plaintiffs against a claim brought by cisgender female high school athletes challenging Connecticut policy that allows transgender female high school athletes to participate in female track events.
  • Represented a mining company against a suit brought by Plaintiff alleging claims of disability discrimination under the ADA claiming Defendant’s drug testing policy violated the ADA.
  • Represented a heathcare provider against a claim brought by a former employed physicians alleging a breach of his employment contract and a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, seeking damages in excess of $3m.

Greenberg Traurig LLP

The labor and employment practice at Greenberg Traurig LLP, lauded by clients as ‘first class‘ and ‘creative‘, is co-led by employer-sponsored arbitration program specialist James Boudreau in Philadelphia and experienced litigator Naomi Beer in Denver. The firm has extensive experience acting on wage and hour lawsuits, discrimination matters, wrongful termination, whistleblower, and litigation prevention issues, as well as expertise acting for clients throughout the country. In San Francisco, Charles Thompson is a key contact for collective action litigation. Jonathan Sulds in New York is experienced in wage and hour matters, while Wendy Johnson Lario in New Jersey specializes in representing employers in discrimination and wrongful termination litigation.

 

Practice head(s):

James Boudreau; Naomi Beer


Other key lawyers:

Charles Thompson; Jonathan Sulds; Wendy Johnson Lario; Ellen Bronchetti; Justin Keith; Katie Molloy


Testimonials

‘The San Francisco practice led by Chuck Thompson is one of the finest and most responsive groups I have worked with. They are innovative, creative and knowledgeable about dealing with labor issues. Chuck and his colleagues are streamlined and efficient.’

‘Chuck Thompson is experienced, seasoned, and very realistic. In our business you need to get labor issues resolved immediately. I always feel like Chuck and his entire team have our backs!’

‘Pragmatic, swift and clear in advice and actions to achieve the best results for the client.’

‘Justin Keith and Katie Molloy have excellent knowledge, the ability to support in multiple states/time zones, amenable character and clarity on billing.’

‘You get first class, highly responsive labor law advice. If you are in any sort of jam or need an ultra-quick answer or review, this is your firm.’

‘Justin Keith is unparalleled in responding to urgent labor-law matters and guiding companies on difficult labor-law issues, ranging from lockouts to NLRB investigations. He is extremely efficient and quick, without any compromise on quality.’

‘I have only ever worked with Ellen Bronchetti but she is a brilliant, seasoned, practical, savvy labor lawyer whom I would hire again in a heartbeat if I needed help. She is an excellent partner to have in the thick of any labor dispute.’

Key clients

CVS


Medtronic


National Freight Industries


Hornblower Group


TCW


Chico’s FAS


City of Atlanta


YRC


Envoy Air


U.S. Foods


Ocean Properties


Work highlights


  • Represented Hornblower Group’s subsidiary Hornblower Yachts, in securing an appellate victory.
  • Represented Medtronic in two Fair Credit Reporting Act class actions – the first case was dismissed first case for lack of standing and the second case settled at court-ordered mediation after plaintiff dropped class allegations.
  • Represented the City of Atlanta in securing the dismissal with prejudice of a former City of Atlanta executive’s claims that she was paid less than her Black colleagues due to her race.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

The team at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is jointly headed by Emily Burkhardt Vicente in Los Angeles, who is experienced in high-stakes employment litigation and taking class actions to jury trial, and Washington DC-based Kevin White, who has a particular expertise representing clients from the energy and retail industries. The team is highly experienced in collective and class actions, discrimination claims, wage and hour matters, trade secret disputes, and harassment allegations. Other key contacts include Washington-based Ryan Bates, who specializes in complex employment litigation, and Michele Beilke in Los Angeles who is particularly experienced in employment arbitration. The team in San Francisco includes Michael Brett Burns, who focuses on class actions and other complex litigation.



Practice head(s):

Emily Burkhardt Vicente; Kevin White


Other key lawyers:

Ryan Bates; Michael Beilke; Michael Brett Burns


Jackson Lewis P.C.

Boutique firm Jackson Lewis P.C. is headed by Kevin Lauri of the New York office and is able to advise on the full spectrum of employment matters, including arbitration proceedings, class action cases, harassment and discrimination matters, and trade secret issues. 2022 saw the firm establish two new practice groups last year to further benefit employment work – a dedicated trials and appeals group, co-led by Donald English and formed to exclusively deal with multi-jurisdictional cases and significant class actions, and the ESG practice group, led by Laura Mitchell. The firm has experience within a wide variety of industries such as retail, automotive, technology, and transportation, with prominent clients within the healthcare, pharma, and higher education industries in particular.

Practice head(s):

Kevin Lauri


Other key lawyers:

Donald English; Laura Mitchell; Clarisse Petersen; Scott Ruygrok; Jina Lee


Testimonials

‘Donny English, managing partner of the Baltimore office, manages an integrated team to address the wide breadth of issues that arise in my organization of 25,000+ employees; is responsive; balances legal and practical advice based on his keen awareness of the industry and practice area; implements fair and reasonable billing practices; ensures a constant channel of communication between his team and mine; and adds significant value by being available to address matters as they arise which often minimizes the risk at hand.’

‘The Jackson Lewis team is highly knowledgeable, responsive, and practical.’

‘Clarisse Petersen – highly responsive, detail-oriented, cheerful personality (helpful when dealing with a high volume of disputes), and very thorough and thoughtful in her explanations.’

‘Scott Ruygrok is highly responsive, knowledgeable in all 50 US states, deep institutional knowledge of our company, and great sense of humor.’

‘Jina Lee is highly responsive, extremely hardworking, and very knowledgeable.’

Key clients

Pfizer


Wal-Mart Inc.


DaVita Inc.


GEICO


Exxonmobil


Verizon


BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC


Advance Auto Parts, Inc.


Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.


Johns Hopkins University


Jones Day

Jones Day is jointly led by complex litigation specialist Matthew Lampe in New York and Elizabeth McRee in Chicago, who is particularly experienced in representing employers in multi-plaintiff and representative actions. The practice is able to cover a wide array of labor and employment matters in part due to its sizable team across multiple offices and multiple practice areas, and is also noted for its work in wage and hour cases, discrimination actions, trade secret matters, mass arbitrations, and whistleblower claims. Recent work includes class action defense in the aviation industry, arbitration work in technology, and discrimination and harassment work in the hospitality industry. Notable team members include Michael Gray in Chicago, noted for his expertise in complex class actions, multi-plaintiff discrimination lawsuits, and restrictive covenant issues, and Thomas Chiavetta in Washington DC, who has particular experience representing clients in the transportation industry.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Lampe; Elizabeth McRee


Other key lawyers:

Michael Gray; Thomas Chiavetta


Testimonials

‘Jones Day has the strongest all around team of L&E lawyers that I have ever worked with – they are commercial, sensible and understand our needs and appetites for risk.’

‘Tremendous expertise across their offices, deep talent among partner and associate groups and responsible staffing and billing, with most matters billed 80/20 associate/partner.’

Key clients

Ecolab, Inc.


International Business Machines Corporation


McDonald’s Corporation


CITGO Petroleum Corporation


Reynolds American, Inc.


Blackstone Group


Bloomberg L.P.


CSX Corporation


BNSF Railway Company


American Airlines Group


Chevron Corporation


SkyWest Airlines


D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P


Verizon


United Airlines Inc.


Work highlights


  • Represented McDonald’s in a class action against McDonald’s Corporation, McDonald’s USA, and franchisee defendants alleging systemic sexual harassment under Title VII and the Michigan Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act on behalf of a class of over 100 women employees at franchisee’s restaurant based on joint employer, agency and apparent agency theories of liability.
  • Represented a group of four former employees who sought a declaratory judgment that the class action waiver and individual arbitration provision in IBM’s separation agreement violated the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) provisions of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
  • Represented Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and two supervisory Center employees in an eight-day jury trial against allegations that all three defendants were liable under Title VII, and both the New York State and City Human Rights Laws for sexual harassment and retaliation.

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

The team at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is led by New York-based Mark W. Lerner , who utilizes his experience as a former federal prosecutor to assist clients in litigation. The firm is experienced in several sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and private equity, but is particularly active within real estate, with recent work in this sector including assisting Douglas Elliman in a class action pending in the Superior Court of the State of California. Contacts at the firm also include Jessica Taub Rosenberg , a former Assistant District Attorney with significant experience litigating for senior executives and employers, and Joshua Fulop, who is experienced in all types of employment-related disputes before both federal and state courts.



Practice head(s):

Mark W. Lerner


Other key lawyers:

Joshua Fulop; Jessica Taub Rosenberg; Douglas Elliman


Testimonials

‘Deep knowledge of employment law.’

‘Josh Fulop is extremely thorough and results driven.’

Key clients

Yellow Corporation


Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan


Douglas Elliman


XPO Logistics


Bregal Partners


Northwell Health


Lumen Technologies/CenturyLink Communications


GXO Logistics


DRAVIER


Marc Fischer Footwear


Waterfall Asset Management


Charles B. Wang Community Health Center


JDS Development Group


Saw Mill Capital


Glazer Capital


Work highlights


  • Represented Yellow Corporation in numerous cases involving claims of discrimination and harassment, wage and hour violations, PAGA actions, breach of contract and defamation nationwide.
  • Represented Northwell Health Hospitals, NYC’s Lenox Hill Hospital and a MD in litigation and injunction matters.
  • Represented Douglas Elliman, one of the largest real estate brokerage firms in the U.S., in all of Elliman’s employment related litigations, administrative claims and disputes across the United States.

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

The team at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is headed by Mark Konkel in New York, who has extensive experience in employment litigation and arbitration. The firm is particularly known for its work in the healthcare industry, with recent work including advice to Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center on discrimination claims and COVID-19 related employment issues. The team is also experienced in assisting clients with collective, single, and class-action lawsuits, as well as internal investigations and class certification issues. Other key contacts in the New York office are Barbara Hoey and Blythe Lovinger, while Kimberly Carter is located in the Los Angeles office.



Practice head(s):

Mark Konkel


Other key lawyers:

Barbara Hoey; Blythe Lovinger; Kimberly Carter


Testimonials

‘Accessibility to the labor practice group is seamlessly coordinated by the firm. In the absence of my organizations principal contact unemployment war matters in almost any situation I can be immediately channeled to an expert that can handle a matter that has developed without warning and get sound strategic advice’

‘Our principal point of contact is Barbara Hoey on all labor matters and employment matters that affect the organization that I am associated with. Barbara’s 30 years of experience in employment law and labor matters is unique in today’s environment. Her win record with administrative agencies including state and federal court is legendary. It’s refreshing to be able to make a 15 minute call to discuss a possible exposure and get sound direction to ensure that the initial strategic moves to respond to the issue at hand will set the stage for a course of action that minimizes the probability of litigation and ensures a position that can withstand third-party review within any appropriate venue or jurisdiction.’

‘Kelley Drye has served our healthcare entity for several years; they have expertise in the nuances of this business. The firm and partners at Kelley Drye always take into consideration that we are a not-for-profit, mission driven operation and are mindful of utilizing our resources in the most efficient way.’

Key clients

Collibra, Inc.


AKRF, INC.


Cushman & Wakefield Inc.


White Star Investments LLC


Whitebox Advisors LLC


Silver Fin Capital Group LLC,


Brown Gibbons Lang & Co.


Balyasny Asset Management L.P.


Swarovski AG


Saks Fifth Avenue


Boutiques Longchamp USA


The Ralph Lauren Corporation


AFLAC


ADP, Inc.


Albemarle Corporation


The Walsh Group


WTEC Energy


NYU Langone


Maimonides Medical Center


Brown Gibbons Lang & Co.


Work highlights


  • Defeated claims pursued by an individual—and the New York State Department of Labor itself—against a major U.S. insurer that independent insurance agents were improperly classified as contractors rather than employees.
  • Won complete summary judgment in favor of a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm to defeat claims of alleged violations of a consulting agreement.
  • Won outright dismissal of all age discrimination claims pursued by a former employee against a prominent national investment banking and financial advisory services firm with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP‘s team is headed by Esra Hudson from Los Angeles and benefits from offices in California, Washington DC, Illinois, and Massachusetts, giving the firm nationwide presence and expertise in key jurisdictions. Sector focuses for the team include retail, entertainment, healthcare, finance, and insurance, with the practice handing the entire spectrum of employment issues, with recent work including representing Del Taco LLC in class action and arbitration matters, representing H&M in a wage and hour case, and defending American Multi-Cinema, Inc. in a PAGA representative action. Key contacts include Deborah Kelly in Washington DC, Andrew Satenberg in Los Angeles for wage and hour actions, and Sharon Bauman in San Francisco, who has a particular specialism in acting for clients in the healthcare industry.

Practice head(s):

Esra A. Hudson


Other key lawyers:

Deborah Kelly; Andrew Satenberg; Sharon Bauman


Key clients

Del Taco LLC


H&M


American Multi-Cinema, Inc.


Handy Technologies, Inc.


Blue Shield of California


Activision Blizzard, Inc and Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.


The Jewish Federation


Kyriba Corp.


Seaport Global


Citizens Business Bank


Work highlights


  • Representing Blue Shield of California, the third-largest health insurer in the state, in several putative class actions and PAGA actions alleging wage-and-hour claims.
  • Advising Activision Blizzard and Blizzard Entertainment n employment issues and counsel and representing them in employment litigation.
  • Represented fast-food franchise Del Taco in a state-wide class action regarding meal and rest periods and overtime payments.

Mayer Brown

Leadership of Mayer Brown‘s employment team is split between Ruth Zadikany in Los Angeles, who is experienced in high-stakes complex litigation, and Chicago-based Andrew Rosenman, who recently secured wins for clients in restrictive covenant and wage and hour cases. The practice utilizes the firm’s extensive international network to advise clients on the full spectrum of employment issues with both national and cross-border elements, with particular expertise in defending clients in wage-and-hour class and representative actions. The practice also has significant experience in discrimination claims, trade secret matters, and restrictive covenant issues, with recent successes including the acquisition of a temporary restraining order in a breach of restrictive covenants case.


Practice head(s):

Andrew Rosenman; Ruth Zadikany


Other key lawyers:

Maritoni Kane; Joseph Seliga


Testimonials

‘Mayer Brown provides high-quality pro bono legal services in the area of labor and employment disputes. They are incredibly responsive and knowledgeable and have helped us with a number of labor issues.’

‘Maritoni Kane and Joe Seliga have worked with us directly. They are both incredibly helpful and smart. They have shown dedication to our work and helped us resolved several important issues within our organization.’

Key clients

Foster Farms


Homepoint Financial


Cushman & Wakefield


Work highlights


  • Represented Foster Poultry Farms in a wage and hour class action lawsuit encompassing thousands of putative class members who work at Foster Farms facilities.
  • Represented Homepoint Financial in a lawsuit against three former employees and their new employer alleging breach of fiduciary duties, breach of contract, and misappropriation of trade secrets arising out of the solicitation of Home Point’s employees to terminate their employment and theft of company information.
  • Represented a technology company in a sensitive investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor in connection with alleged wage and hour violations regarding purported off-the-clock work performed by several hundred service technicians.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP

The team at McDermott Will & Emery LLP focuses on employment litigation and compliance, with the firm offering clients advice on wage and hour cases, both class and single-plaintiff actions, executive compensation disputes, and discrimination work. Michael Sheehan leads the team from Chicago and has a specialty in trade secrets. Julie McConnell continues to develop her partner-level practice. Ellen Bronchetti and Ron Holland left the firm in October 2022.

Practice head(s):

Michael Sheehan


Other key lawyers:

Russell Hayman; Ethan Townsend; AJ Kritikos; Timothy Hoeffner; Michelle Strowhiro; Chris Braham; Christopher Foster; Maria Rodriguez; Rachel Cowen


Testimonials

‘The team they have assembled in my matters included those who specialize in the local courts or the specific areas of substantive expertise needed in every specific case.’

‘Russ Hayman has a white-collar background but he is a fierce cross examiner in any case. He takes preparation seriously, and it shows. Mike Sheehan has an easy, unflappable demeanor, but he is whip smart and brilliant in the courtroom. Ethan Townsend is a fantastic Delaware lawyer, who you want to have next to you in the courtroom there. AJ Kritikos is a brilliant young lawyer with a promising future. Tim Hoeffner knows the accounting industry as well as anyone, and I trust his advice implicitly.’

‘The employment law team is amazing, diverse, capable and collaborative. I trust them implicitly. Smart, practical, advice.’

‘The team is practical, accessible, responsive and great scholars. They’ve learned our business and provide advice proactively. Michelle Strowhiro, Chris Braham, Chris Foster, Maria Rodriguez and Rachel Cowen.’

‘McDermott’s employment litigation practice is excellent. They are among the firms we consider when we think of staffing the most significant employment litigation matters. They are aggressive and creative in looking at the larger strategic considerations. And they are sensitive to cost issues.’

‘Rachel Cowan is an exceptional employment litigator, committed and responsive, expert and creative strategically. She is one of the most thoughtful, analytical litigators in the field.’

‘Extremely pragmatic, practical and easy to follow advice. Provides the right level of commercial / market gut check, legal acumen and market intel / data.’

‘Chris Foster was a phenomenal partner guiding us through some very stressful times at the company. He was able to build a rapport with not just me and the legal team but also the c-suite as the circumstances necessitated. Wonderful partner and no one else I’d rather work with during terse union campaigns!’

Key clients

Apple


Aspen Dental


BDO


Circle K


CityMD (Summit Health)


HBO


Netflix


SeaWorld


Verizon


Walt Disney


Work highlights


  • Representing Circle K in a case concerning allegations that the company’s stores have breached the Americans with Disabilities Act.

McGuireWoods LLP

McGuireWoods LLP has significant experience defending clients in nation and state-wide class actions brought under the FLSA, state wage and hour laws. The practice is particularly well-versed in trade secret litigation, whistleblower cases, non-compete litigation and international employment law matters. Los Angeles-based Sabrina Beldner heads the team and has expertise in high-stakes employment discrimination and traditional labor matters. Christopher Michalik, operating out of Richmond, represents management in union campaigns and counsels clients on employment policies.

Practice head(s):

Sabrina Beldner


Other key lawyers:

Christopher Michalik


Key clients

Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc.


Dominion Resources, Inc.


International Paper Company


Alliance Source Testing, LLC


Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.


General Dynamics


Imerys


PGA Tour, Inc.


Phillips Electronics North America


GROWMARK, Inc.


Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP continues to exhibit its expertise in the labor and employment space, with the team’s work covering the entire spectrum of issues such as class actions, discrimination matters, and trade secret misappropriation. The practice is led by Grace Speights in Washington DC and David McManus in New York, and has particular expertise in advising clients within the financial services space, with other industry experience including insurance, retail, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. Key names include Philadelphia-based Michael Banks and Sarah Bouchard, who specialize in litigation and internal investigations respectively. Anne Marie Estevez in Miami is a key name for defending clients in complex class and collective actions, while Samuel Shaulson, who splits his time between Miami and New York, has a particular expertise for complex litigation. In New York, Lincoln Bisbee is experienced in litigating whistleblower claims, while Melissa Rodriguez advises clients on the full gamut of labor and employment matters.

 


Practice head(s):

Grace Speights; David McManus


Other key lawyers:

Michael Banks; Sarah Bouchard; Anne Marie Estevez; Samuel Shaulson; Lincoln Bisbee; Melissa Rodriguez


Key clients

Alliant Insurance Services Inc.


Amazon


Aramark


Bank of America


Bank of New York Mellon Corp.


Best Buy


Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc.


BioClinica


Delta Air Lines Inc.


Deutsche Bank


Franklin Templeton


Gates Corp.


General Motors


Home Depot


JPMorgan Chase


McDonald’s Corporation


MetLife


Morgan Stanley


Northwestern Mutual


Novo Nordisk Inc.


Pacific Maritime Association


Saint-Gobain


Toyota Motor North America


Triad National Security


Work highlights


  • Secured dismissal of all claims brought against Franklin Templeton alleging race and gender discrimination and defamation in a case filed by the “Central Park Karen” who was terminated following her encounter with a Black birdwatcher.
  • Defended challenges to employers’ COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other policies, defeating motions for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions seeking to enjoin vaccine requirements, prevent employers from terminating employees who refused to comply with vaccine mandates and were not granted accommodations, and block companies’ mask and testing requirements.
  • Represented Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. in seven actions filed in the Southern District of West Virginia on January 10, 2022 alleging various FLSA and state law claims.

Morrison Foerster

Morrison Foerster's team is headed by Eric Tate in San Francisco, whose 'outstanding' expertise in trade secret matters and restrictive covenants is lauded by clients, and Tritia Murata in Los Angeles, who possesses extensive experience in wage and hour class actions and PAGA cases. The firm handles national and international work and specializes in acting for tech companies, with recent work including acting for F5 Networks on a breach of loyalty matter, with further strength in the retail, manufacturing, and life sciences sectors on issues such as trade secrets misappropriation and investigations.


Practice head(s):

Eric Tate; Tritia Murata


Testimonials

‘Eric Tate and his team are top notch. They have competition, trade secrets, and investigations expertise that really adds value for my company. They can collaborate across the firm for expertise on class action, white collar, etc… I appreciate the team’s diversity.’

‘Eric Tate has outstanding experience and gives excellent advice. He’s that rare high end lawyer who is practical and to the point.’

Key clients

F5


Alticor/Amway


AROA Biosurgery Limited


Clorox Company


eBay


FLYR


JBS Carriers, Inc.


Kroger


McDonald’s Corp


PagerDuty


Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation


Ralphs Grocery Company


Soundcloud


Visa


Wells Fargo & Company


Work highlights


  • Represented Ralphs Grocery Company in LaFace v. Ralphs Grocery Company, and secured a complete defense victory in the first suitable seating case to go to trial since the California Supreme Court’s decision in Kilby v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
  • Represented in a wage-and-hour class action filed in September 2019 in Los Angeles Superior Court, on behalf of a leading manufacturer and distributor of nutritional supplements and personal care and home care products.
  • Represented Amway in a PAGA representative action alleging independent contractor misclassification of independent business owners selling Amway products directly to home consumers.

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright is praised for its ‘strategy, organization, and fresh perspective’, with the team headed by Shauna Johnson Clark in Houston, who is skilled in providing preventative advice, litigation support, and guidance for workplace investigations. The team’s recent case load has included a particular focus on discrimination matters, with support for retaliation claims, employment termination, and wage and hour issues also provided to clients. The team’s industry experience spans energy, financial services, telecoms, and healthcare.


Practice head(s):

Shauna Johnson Clark


Other key lawyers:

Kimberly Cheeseman; Jesika Blanco


Testimonials

‘The team’s expertise is employment and labor litigation. The practice is unique in their style and approach. The team has had successful experience at the Supreme Court and the team has had great wins for us.’

‘I greatly value the partners and associates strategy, organization, and fresh perspective on the law.’

‘While other large firms have perhaps 1-2 employment attorneys at the firm, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP has a robust and experienced labor and employment team who are leaders in this area of law. This is a team that regularly goes to trial on employment issues and wins, taking their expertise past typical advice and counsel to being true litigators.’

‘Shauna Clark stands out as an experienced counselor, advocate and trial attorney. Her expertise in taking plaintiffs’ depositions has often led to immediate settlement or a summary judgment win. Kimberly Cheeseman is a partner who has a depth of knowledge and expertise in all areas of employment law. Additionally, senior associate Jesika Blanco serves as a great main point of contact in a case who knows her cases in and out.’

Key clients

Helix Energy Solutions, Inc.


Chevron


EOG Resources, Inc.


Ovintinv


Valero Energy


Waste Management


Frost Bank


AT&T Corporation


Shell Chemical LP


Exxon Mobil Corporation


O'Melveny & Myers LLP

The team at O'Melveny & Myers LLP is particularly experienced in matters within the aviation industry, with clients including American Airlines, Marriot International, and Southwest Airlines. The practice is co-headed by Apalla Chopra in Los Angeles, who is noted for her work in sensitive internal investigations, and Eric Amdursky in Silicon Valley, who regularly represents high-profile clients in complex litigation. Other industry experience includes work within the media, retail, sports, and healthcare sectors. The team also cover whistleblower and retaliation matters, PAGA claims, class action lawsuits, COVID-19 workplace issues, and arbitration, with clients complimenting the firm’s work as ‘excellent’. Susannah Howard is a key name within San Francisco, with great expertise in wage and hour disputes and discrimination matters.


Practice head(s):

Apalla Chopra; Eric Amdursky


Other key lawyers:

Susannah Howard


Testimonials

‘They are excellent at handling high-stakes employment litigation and achieving excellent results.’

‘Eric Amdursky is one of the best and most skilled employment attorneys I have worked with.’

Key clients

American Airlines


Anywhere Real Estate


Arise Virtual Solutions


Better Mortgage


CSU Board of Trustees


Envoy Air Inc.


Franklin Resources, Inc.


Korn Ferry International


Marriot International


Portland Trailblazers


Riot Games


Southwest Airlines


Twentieth Century Fox


Twomagnets


Trader Joe’s


World Class Distribution, Inc.


Zum Services


Work highlights


  • Represented the Portland Trail Blazers in conducting a neutral review of a sensitive, high-profile matter organization around workplace environment by non-player executives.
  • Represented Twentieth Century Fox in high-profile litigation against Netflix, with industry-wide ramifications.
  • Represented Zum Services, an emerging growth student transportation company known by some as the “Uber for Kids” due its recent industry disruption based on its superior technology, in a trade secret misappropriation case filed in San Francisco Superior Court by a competitor, First Student, Inc.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

The team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is experienced in handling wage and hour class actions, pay equity disputes, discrimination matters, internal investigations, and PAGA claims. Head of the team Julie Totten, who splits her time between Sacramento and San Francisco, is highly experienced in complex litigation and compliance matters, and advises clients such as Pinterest and Spotify. Notable names in New York include Mike Delikat, who is experienced in sensitive internal investigations and is the founder of the firm’s whistleblower task force, and Lisa Lupion and Jill Rosenberg, who specialize in internal investigations and discrimination claims respectively. In Silicon Valley, Jessica Perry is especially proficient at advising clients in the technology, financial, and retail industries, while Julia Riechert advises notable companies in the tech space. In the same office, Lynne Hermle is experienced in complex discrimination and wage-and-hour class actions, particularly in retail and technology. Senior associate Mark Thompson in New York is a key contact for employment litigation.


Practice head(s):

Julie Totten


Other key lawyers:

Mike Delikat; Lisa Lupion; Jill Rosenberg; Jessica Perry; Julia Riechert; Lynne Hermle; Mark Thompson


Key clients

Microsoft


Twitter


Oracle


Sephora


Morgan Stanley


Williams-Sonoma


PIMCO


Spotify


Hofstra University


The Related Companies


JP Morgan


Nomura


GitHub


Carta


US Foods


Barclays


Deutsche Bank


Alcon


Pinterest


Splunk


Synopsys, Inc.


Sony Interactive Entertainment


Delta Dental


Zendesk


Holland & Knight


BlackRock, Inc.


American Express


Bank of the West


Paul Hastings LLP

Paul Hastings LLP continues to impress with recent work including PAGA and discrimination advice for Google, assistance to AT&T for class action and wage and hour matters, and work on several whistleblower lawsuits. The team’s experience also extends to arbitration, trade secret cases, pay equity disputes, and complex litigation. The practice is headed by Los Angeles-based Elena Baca, whose expertise includes defending class action lawsuits, disputes involving high-level executives, and representing clients in arbitrations. Felicia Davis, also based in Los Angeles, has recently defended significant pay discrimination cases for clients such as Google and The Walt Disney Company. In New York, Patrick Shea is recognized for his experience in employment litigation. Barbara Brown advises clients on pay equity and discrimination issues from Washington DC, while Jeffrey Wohl in San Francisco boasts a strong record of defeating high-stakes class action claims. New York-based Sara Tomezsko was promoted to partner in February 2023.

Practice head(s):

Elena Baca


Other key lawyers:

Sara Tomezsko; Felicia Davis; Jeffrey Wohl; Barbara Brown; Patrick Shea


Testimonials

‘The partners are exceptional. They work together seamlessly and without ego. It’s the joy of watching people who are truly great at what they do — they elevate legal practice to an art form.’

‘The L and E group are the very best in the field.  They engage deeply in all aspects of litigation.’

‘As defendants and eventual counterclaimants our case has moved rapidly. The PH team was able to come in, learn, and successfully defend multiple motions and a TRO. They incorporated our preferences at a rapid and impressive rate.’

Key clients

Google/Alphabet, Inc.


Microsoft Corporation


The Goldman Sachs Group L.P.


Meta


Intel Corporation


GlaxoSmithKline plc


AT&T Inc.


Caesars Entertainment


Activision Blizzard, Inc.


ESPN


United Continental Holdings Inc.


The Walt Disney Company


American International Group


Work highlights


  • Representing Google, and parent company Alphabet, in a number of significant dispute matters over the last 12 months.
  • Represented AT&T in a putative class action pregnancy discrimination case pending in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
  • Secured a Rule 12 dismissal of a putative class action race discrimination case brought under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

Proskauer Rose LLP

Proskauer Rose LLP maintains its strong position at the top of the labor and employment space, with recent work including advising Rockefeller University on a significant discrimination dispute. Neil Abramson heads the practice in New York and leverages his experience in complex collective bargaining disputes, while Anthony Oncidi leads in Los Angeles and assists clients in the entertainment space. Other key names include Boston-based Mark Batten and Elise Bloom in New York, co-heads of the class and collective actions group. The New York office also includes Keisha-Ann Gray, who is complimented for her work in discrimination and harassment matters, and Michelle Annese, who regularly appears before federal and state agencies for clients. The practice’s employment litigation team was bolstered by the hire of Greg Knopp from Akin in February 2023.

Practice head(s):

Neil Abramson; Anthony Oncidi


Other key lawyers:

Mark Batten; Elise Bloom; Keisha-Ann Gray; Michelle Annese; Greg Knopp


Testimonials

‘Receiving unexpected legal action always feels like a punch to the gut. Having a trusted practice you can turn to makes a world of difference. Mark Batten at Proskauer is a calm and trusted rock in an otherwise turbulent situation.’

‘Mark Batten is a gifted attorney whom I have great respect and admiration for. Mark’s calming presence helps diffuse even the most intense situations. It speaks volumes that he is well-liked and respected on both sides of the table. Mark has the gift of explaining complex legal situations in a way that is easy to understand without belittling the person he is speaking with. He’s a great listener and a trusted source.’

Key clients

Mount Sinai Health System, Inc.


CGI Federal Inc.


Via Transportation


Rockefeller University


Viacom International Inc.


National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences


The Aerospace Corporation


Cedars-Sinai Health Systems/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center


Arrowhead Products


GrubMarket Inc.


Creative Artists Agency (CAA)


Honeywell


Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority


Patriarch Partners LLC


Reed Smith LLP

Reed Smith LLP handles a diverse range of disputes including affirmative action, pay equity, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour matters. The team also has capabilities in matters relating to putative collective actions, job reassignment disputes and whistle-blower investigations. Practice head Tyree Jones has expertise in several industries such as transportation and healthcare. Richmond-based Betty Graumlich routinely advises on matters involving the Americans with Disabilities Act. Casey Ryan, operating out of Pittsburgh, represents employers in harassment, retaliation and discrimination cases.


Practice head(s):

Tyree Jones


Other key lawyers:

Betty Graumlich; Casey Ryan


Testimonials

‘The Reed Smith labor and employment team is phenomenal in building litigation avoidance and mitigation strategies that are practical and executable for clients while providing timely and responsive counsel when it matters most.’

‘Betty Graumlich is stellar at focusing on the needs of the client, and provides the proper amount of legal analysis and practical guidance while balancing the overall financial exposures relative to the level of effort provided by the firm to mitigate legal expenses.’

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

The ‘very efficient and effective’ team at Seyfarth Shaw LLP continues to be highly regarded for its experience in defeating class certification and for its successes in wage and hour cases. The team, headed by large-scale class actions and multi-plaintiff cases expert Laura Maechtlen in San Francisco, is able to draw on its national team to work on cases across the country, and is experienced in a variety of industries including healthcare, hospitality, energy, and retail. Camille Olson, valued by clients for her ‘incredible experience’ as a complex litigator, is based in Chicago and is a co-chair of the firm’s national complex litigation practice group. Also in Chicago is Noah Finkel, who has a particular specialism in representing clients in collective or class action matters, as well as advising and litigating on class action waivers in arbitration agreements. Sacramento-based Coby Turner is a key contact for compliance counseling. Gerald Maatman, Jr. left the firm in September 2022. Gary Friedman arrived from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in February 2024.

Practice head(s):

Laura Maechtlen


Other key lawyers:

Ray Baldwin; Chrissie Constantino; Lynn Kappelman; Ariel Cudkowicz; Camille Olson; Robert Stevens; Ben Briggs; Annette Idalski; Linda Schoonmaker; Noah Finkel; Coby Turner; Gary Friedman


Testimonials

‘I worked with Ray Baldwin and Chrissie Constantino. Under Ray’s leadership, they were a very efficient and effective team in responding to a Fair Labor Standards Act class action complaint.’

‘Lynn Kappelman & Ariel Cudkowicz – great partners and collaborators who are super responsive and help me find the best solution to thorny problems. Emily Miller – super associate who takes great care and attention to detail to managing our matters.’

‘Camille Olson is the best attorney I have ever worked with. I appreciate her incredible experience, but I also value her wisdom and the common sense advice she provides when I ask.’

‘Bob Stevens – amazing relationship manager who learns our business and is able to provide thoughtful counsel that matches our business goals.’

‘I thoroughly trust Ben Briggs, my primary contact. Then when I have an issue in any part of the country, Ben often brings on someone with expertise in actually talking to the people on the other side of the matter that are just as trustworthy and capable. The team listens to my goals in each, individual matter and go after them from what I really think is a place developed from my point of view. All this while Ben maintains contact and continues to learn about and support my overall strategy for the types of matters we work on across the country.’

‘Team leader Annette Idalski is a very experienced and serious litigator and advocates hard for her clients. She is always professional, and knows the law.’

‘The tight attention to and capability around ensuring subject matter expertise and practical guidance, with both legal and project management capabilities designed to both advise, but also assist with practical solutions, whether investigations, audits, training, or litigation support.’

‘Linda Schoonmaker knows our business, is very efficient, and seeks practical resolutions of disputes.’

Key clients

Allstate Insurance Company


Hyatt


Delta Airlines


Nike, Inc.


Prudential Insurance Company of America


Tesla


UnitedHealth Group Incorporated


US Foods, Inc.


The Walgreen Company


Wells Fargo Bank


Work highlights


  • Successfully defeated a motion for preliminary injunction brought by eight named plaintiffs on behalf of approximately 230 employees, challenging the denial of their exemptions from a health care system’s vaccine mandate.
     
  • Successfully represented an international hotel company in a wage and hour lawsuit involving the issue of whether or not the client was required to immediately pay accrued vacation and paid time off wages to its employees when they were furloughed at the outset of the COVID 19 pandemic.
  • Obtained a landmark ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on behalf of a broker of door-to-door sales services that established the standard for joint employment in Massachusetts.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is known for its experience in wage and hour claims and handling litigation and is headed by Kelly Hensley Los Angeles and Jonathan Stoler in New York. The team is experienced in industries such as healthcare, retail, financial services, transportation, fashion, and hospitality. Recent work includes obtaining a defense verdict for the University of Southern California in a sexual assault and retaliation case, and acting on Groupon’s behalf for a trade secrets and non-compete case.

Practice head(s):

Kelly Hensley; Jonathan Stoler


Testimonials

‘Paul Cowie is our primary relationship partner and I wish all of my outside counsel were as knowledgeable and responsive as him. His deep expertise and clear and practical recommendations have been invaluable in urgent employment matters. I have recommended him to all of my in-house colleagues at peer companies and made sure to engage him again when I moved companies.’

‘The firm and the team members we deal with are exceptional, remarkably responsive and truly dedicated to their clients. They are always available to us, taking a business-minded approach to addressing issues and meeting our needs.’

‘Kevin Cloutier and Mikela Sutrina are exceptional attorneys who are remarkably responsive, caring and dedicated.’

‘SM offers incredibly empathetic client service, and is always looking for ways to make in-house counsels’ lives easier. They are strong advocates and especially nimble on their feet, including in mediation settings. They are true partners that share in the team wins and losses.’

‘Paul Cowie takes particularly detailed ownership over relationships with his clients, and ensures that associates on his team get the proper recognition, visibility, and work opportunities.’

‘The attorneys I work with focus heavily on labor and employment matters, especially on non-compete and non-solicitation clauses. They are much more experienced and are better at oral argument and writing than the opposing parties.’

‘Kevin Cloutier, Mikela Sutrina and Matt Tobias have been outstanding. Extremely intelligent, experienced and use creative approach to allow for exceptional results.’

Key clients

Lyft, Inc.


In-N-Out Burger Corporation


Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.


University of Southern California


Dale Poe Real Estate Group


CommonSpirit Health


Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona, LLC


Groupon Inc.


Strong Home Mortgage, LLC


NAV Consulting, Inc


Work highlights


  • Secured a complete dismissal of all claims against Lyft, Inc. and an individual defendant driver on an anti-SLAPP motion with an award of fees against the plaintiff.
  • Successfully represented client in an appeal in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case involving non-compete agreements for truck drivers.
  • Represented Knight-Swift Transportation in a 51-plaintiff independent contractor wage and hour action that was resolved at mediation.

Vedder Price

The team at Vedder Price is headed by Elizabeth Hall in Chicago, who has a particular specialism in employment issues relating to COVID-19 including return-to-work matters, employee safety, remote working environment management, and managing leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The practice is experienced in representing employers at both state and federal level, as well as before administrative agencies and arbitral forums. Alex C. Weinstein is a key contact in Chicago for trade secret matters, while Candice Zee is a noted name for traditional labor issues in Los Angeles.

Practice head(s):

Elizabeth Hall


Other key lawyers:

Candice Zee; Sherry Skibbe


Testimonials

‘The two things that I appreciate most about the Vedder Price team is their responsiveness and their billing practices. They are consistent in their efforts to respond to inquiries and requests very quickly – faster than most other outside counsel with whom we work. Even if they have to step back and research and answer, they usually are able to do so and come back with an answer pretty quickly. They are also sensitive about their billing, not stacking too many lawyers on a matter and not overbilling. They have kept their rates reasonable.’

‘I am going to call out Candice Zee and Sherry Skibbe in particular for being a terrific team. If we send a request to both of them, one of them invariably gets back to us within a few hours, and faster if we need it. We trust their advice and their competency to handle nearly any matter we throw at them.’

Key clients

University of Chicago Medical Center


Cresco Labs Inc.


Vulcan Materials


Ferrara Candy Company


Satellite Healthcare, Inc.


BakeMark, Inc.


AAR Corp.


Graymont Limited


Option Care Enterprises, Inc.


Signode Industrial Group LLC


California Pizza Kitchen, Inc.


Canvas Worldwide


International Vitamin Corporation


OpenText, Inc.


Sonendo


Square Enix


University of Southern California


Madden Corporation


Adventist Health


Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

The team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is based in New York and headed by John Barry, a first-chair trial lawyer with extensive experience advising companies on trade secret and restrictive covenant matters. The team are adept representing in class action litigation, trade secret issues, restrictive covenants, discrimination claims, and wage and hour cases. Recent work included a successful injunction on behalf of client Ascential in a trade secrets dispute.  Nicholas Pappas departed the firm in October 2022. Counsel Ami Zweig departed in September 2022. Gary Friedman left the firm in February 2024.


Practice head(s):

John Barry


Key clients

Sterling Jewelers


Goldman Sachs


Marsh McLennan


Apollo Management


Discovery Communications (n/k/a WB Discovery)


Ascential


Community Brands


Ralph Lauren Corp.


Talen Energy


Lendlease


Schindler Elevator


Inmar Intelligence


Work highlights


  • Resolved a massive, multi-hundred million dollar Title VII sex discrimination class action against Sterling Jewelers, after years of litigation that yielded several important judicial rulings on class arbitration.
  • Represented a global investment bank in connection with allegations brought by a female Managing Director claiming gender, pregnancy and parental discrimination in the firm’s decision not to promote her to Partner, as well as a related arbitration.
  • Selected over several top-ranked firms to represent Community Brands, a leading provider of cloud-based software, in a massive, complex California wage and hour class action brought by a leading national class action law firm.

Winston & Strawn LLP

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s employment group is headed by Michael Roche from Chicago, who has extensive experience in complex employment and benefits litigation as well as employment counseling. The firm’s recent work includes achieving a well-publicized equal-pay settlement for players of the United States Women’s National Team in a wage discrimination action. Other notable names include Jason Campbell in Los Angeles, who is experienced in wage and hour class actions. Monique Ngo-Bonnici departed the firm in March 2022.

Practice head(s):

Michael Roche


Other key lawyers:

Jason Campbell


Key clients

Abbott Laboratories


Accenture


Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.


Cook’s Children’s Health Care System


C.R. Bard, Inc.


LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton


United States Women’s National Soccer Team


Work highlights


  • Achieved a landmark equal-pay settlement on behalf of current and former United States Women’s National Team soccer players, who have accused the United States Soccer Federation of wage discrimination based on gender.
     
  • Serving as longstanding national labor and employment law counsel for LVMH, providing labor and employment services for all of its U.S. affiliates (approximately 40 companies).
  • Representing Accenture in virtually all of its employment litigation as well as providing advice and counsel to the company on all aspects of employment law.