Jackson Lewis P.C. > Atlanta, United States > Firm Profile

Jackson Lewis P.C. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 2

Jackson Lewis P.C. covers a full spectrum of ERISA litigation, including defending employers, plan sponsors, plan administrators and fiduciaries in class actions, as well as defending private pension plans across multiple jurisdictions. The team works closely with its colleagues in the Employee Benefits Practice Group to advise clients in all aspects revolving around benefits, plan design and ERISA litigation. Howard Shapiro co-leads the practice with René Thorne, and is a key name in defending bet-the-company litigation, including the defense of defined benefit plans, 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Stacey C.S. Cerrone is the office litigation manager and focuses on the defense of ERISA class actions filed against public and private single employer ERISA plan sponsors and fiduciaries, which is also an area of strength for Lindsey H. Chopin, alongside church and government plan claims. Robert W. Rachal focuses on ERISA fiduciary and benefits matters across the country, alongside covering all types of ERSIA litigation, from ESOP stock overvalue claims to claims that 401(k) fees were excessive. Charles Seemann III is experienced in defending ERISA plans and plan fiduciaries for both public and private companies, and is active in defending large COBRA and ERISA class actions in addition to ESOP litigation. All lawyers mentioned are based in New Orleans.

Labor and employment > Labor-management relations Tier 2

The labor relations practice at Jackson Lewis P.C. enjoys specialist knowledge in the healthcare, energy, transport, manufacturing, retail and media sectors. The group fields a litany of attorneys specialized in union organizing in the workplace. At the head of the practice, Jonathan Spitz and Richard Vitarelli jointly lead from the Georgia and Connecticut offices respectively. Both Spitz and Vitarelli are highly regarded for their assistance to unionized employers with collective bargaining matters. Laura Pierson-Scheinberg is a key name in the San Francisco and Baltimore offices for her focus on traditional labor issues, union elections and unfair labor practice changes. Boston-based Michael Bertoncini is distinguished by his expertise in the healthcare, higher education and arts sectors.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 3

Formed of a group of ‘immigration specialists of the highest caliber’, Jackson Lewis P.C.‘s immigration practice handles non-immigrant and immigrant visas, regulatory compliance assistance, immigration counsel for corporate transactions and immigration policy advocacy. The trio responsible for heading the group consists of Otieno Ombok, who is based in White Plains and specializes in business immigration strategy; Washington DC-based Michael Neifach, who excels in immigration, visa and border security matters and Amy Peck, who is the key contact for employment-based immigration matters in the Omaha office. Notable names in the practice also include Nicola Ai Ling Prall in Raleigh, Meredith Stewart in Boston and John Exner in Los Angeles.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 3

Jackson Lewis P.C. is highly regarded for its work in the vaccine litigation space, with its experience spanning administrative charges, arbitrations and lawsuits. Outside of this, the group handles litigation involving discrimination, wage and hour, class action defense and restrictive covenants. New York-based Kevin Lauri and Orange County's Samantha Hoffman jointly oversee the running of the practice. In the Baltimore office, Donald English is highly regarded for his experience representing employers in the automotive, healthcare, higher education, retail, construction, financial services and technology industries. Patricia Pryor is based in the Cincinnati office and brings significant experience representing and advising employers in federal and state administrative proceedings.

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 4

Jackson Lewis P.C. specializes in day-to-day employment-related issues. Richard Greenberg in New York assists clients on matters from collective bargaining negotiations, to those regarding compliance with state and federal law. In Los Angeles, Susan Groff advises on wage and hour laws, disability and leave management, harassment and discrimination complaints, as well as on investigations, terminations and reductions in force. Tasos Paindiris in Orlando represents clients in class and collective actions. The three co-lead the team.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 5

Jackson Lewis P.C.‘s employee benefits practice group advises its clients in a variety of ways, with a collective skillset that covers the range of plan design, implementation and governance concerns in addition to day-to-day assistance on the ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape, all of which help employers to attract and retain employees. The practice is co-led by Baltimore’s Joy Napier-Joyce and New York’s Melissa Ostrower. Napier-Joyce specializes in both retirement, welfare and compensation plan compliance work as well as dealing with DoJ and IRS audits, while Ostrower focuses on qualified and nonqualified retirement plan administration, as executive compensation compliance. Baltimore’s Kellie Thomas specializes in the review and redrafting of healthcare, retirement and stock option purchase plans, plus ERISA and relevant IRC compliance work.