Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law - Individuals
State
Raymond J. Carey was a highly respected and skilled advisor, trial lawyer, negotiator, and retired partner in the Labor and Employment Practice of Foley & Lardner LLP. He has over 30 years of experience wisely counseling employer representatives within all industries concerning the diversity of human resource and labor relations issues that affect the workplace. During his more than 30 years of practice, Mr. Carey has successfully defended employers and their management representatives ag...
Joni champions the rights of employees in cases involving wrongful termination, discrimination , harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower issues , fueled by a passion for giving a voice to the oppressed within the workplace. As an exceptional advocate for her clients is Joni consistently demonstrates her ability to truly understand her clients unique situations through authentic listening. Joni takes the time to truly understand each client’s unique situation and objectives, crafting ...
Derek Bishop is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Individuals and Employment Law - Management. Derek practices law in Seattle, Washington Best Lawyers has recognized Derek Bishop since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Derek Bishop is held by other lawyers.
Amanda Biondolino is a Florida employment lawyer who represents employees in workplace disputes involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, whistleblower claims, accommodations, medical and military leave, unpaid wages, noncompete, severance agreements, and employment contract issues. She advocates for workers throughout Florida in litigation, arbitration, mediation, administrative proceedings, and civil service hearings. Drawing on her prior experience rep...
Mark E. Schreiber focuses his practice on cybersecurity, data breach response and global privacy coordination. He advises entities facing cross-border data protection, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Privacy Shield and related issues, strategic decisions, cyber assessments and investigations. Mark has led numerous multi-national and cross-border matters, including those involving data breaches, data transfer and credit card/PCI matters. He has advised senior management, boards,...
Founding Partner On January 16, 2025,, Gary Gwilliam received the first ever, Legend of The Law, Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Alameda Contra Costs Trial Lawyers Association. Gary Gwilliam is considered one of the best consumer trial attorneys in the state. His reputation and skill in representing seriously injured plaintiffs is well known. He has tried over 180 jury cases, of which almost 150 were plaintiff civil personal injury cases. He has handled major cases in every area o...
Deborah R. Willig has served as Willig, Williams & Davidson’s managing partner since the firm’s founding in 1979. A determined advocate for workers, Deborah has focused her practice on labor relations and employment law since 1976. As a labor and employment attorney, Deborah has been involved in representing a wide range of labor unions including teachers, and non-professional public school employees, public health, social, and recreation workers, firefighters, teamsters and o...
Rodney A. Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Employment Law - Individuals. Rodney A. practices law in Charleston, West Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Rodney A. Smith since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Rodney A. Smith is held by other lawyers.
Stuart M. Katz is a principal of Cohen and Wolf and Chair of the firm's Litigation Group. He is also a member of the firm's Employment & Labor and Physicians' Practices Groups. Mr. Katz is highlighted in Chambers USA (2017) for the "superb quality of his counsel and representation." He represents employers of all sizes in defending discrimination and harassment suits and litigating restrictive covenant, breach of contract, business tort and wage claims. Mr. Katz also represents profession...
Robert Friedman practices in the area of ERISA, employee benefits and executive compensation. Since 1996, he has been the head of the firm's national Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and ERISA Practice Group. Mr. Friedman is also co-chair of the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) Practice Group. His clients include private, non-profit and governmental employers. He is a frequent speaker on employee benefits, ERISA fiduciary matters and pension and tax planning. Mr. Friedman’...
Allyson L. Belovin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Individuals and Labor Law - Union. Allyson L. practices law in New York, New York Best Lawyers has recognized Allyson L. Belovin since 2022. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Allyson L. Belovin is held by other lawyers.
Christopher W. Weller Sr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Civil Rights Law, Employment Law - Individuals, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Christopher W. practices law in Montgomery, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Christopher W. Weller Sr. since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. Th...
Barbara A. Robb and her partners pioneered the firm’s nationally-ranked executive advocacy practice which focuses on the legal needs of executives, professionals and select businesses in sophisticated employment matters. In 2017, Chambers USA once again named Ms. Robb as a Leader in the Field of Labor & Employment, Mainly Plaintiffs Representation. According to Chambers, she can handle "complex situations and short timeframes" with "the most amazing intellectual horsepower." Clients...
Mary Jo Kennedy leads the Employment practice group. With a focus on employment law, Mary Jo has successfully represented employers in defense of employment and discrimination claims in administrative proceedings before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) and in state and federal courts. She has also successfully represented employers in state court on wage and hour claims. Mary Jo regularly advises employers on personnel and wage and hour issues, reviews and drafts per...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
