Akin

With a robust offering which encompasses unfair competition, discrimination, and harassment claims, as well as retaliation, wage and hour class actions, and worker classification disputes, Akin is well-equipped to handle the full gamut of labor and employment mandates. The group is regularly turned to by executives and companies from the financial services, media and entertainment, and technology sectors to handle high-profile cases, with a recent notable case being its defense of Vince McMahon in lawsuits brought about by former WWE employee alleging sexual assault. Heading up the department in Washington DC is Bob Lian who has considerable experience representing employers and executives before federal and state courts in litigation arising from restrictive covenants and competitive hiring. In New York, alternative asset management specialist Richard Rabin co-leads the team alongside Jessica Rosenberg, who stands out for her breadth of practice which spans FLSA violation class and collective actions, PAGA actions, and tort claims, in addition to discrimination, retaliation, and harassment, and unfair competition litigation. Laura Smolowe, who joined from Munger, Tolles & Olson in March 2025, spearheads the LA office and brings with her expertise in trade secret litigation, worker classification arbitration, and non-compete disputes.