Best Lawyers in America for Labor Law - Management

Leslie Abbott is a partner in the Los Angeles Employment Law Department of Paul Hastings LLP, where she has practiced since 1991. She previously served as Global Employment Law Department Vice Chair-West Coast, and Chair of the Los Angeles Employment Law Department. Her practice includes the representation of employers in all aspects of employment law. Ms. Abbott is Chair of the firm’s PAGA Practice Group. She focuses her practice on defending complex class, collective and representativ...

Michael Abcarian is the managing partner of the Dallas office of Fisher Phillips. In addition to national recognition as an elite labor lawyer, Michael is an exceptional defense trial lawyer with a track record to prove it. Michael represents employers in many complex lawsuits, some with “bet the company” and/or precedent-setting implications. These have included class actions and multiple-plaintiff cases. He often surprises clients with early, knock-out wins even when lengthy tri...

Nadine Abrahams is office managing principal of the Chicago, Illinois, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She represents management in employment cases in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Nadine was a partner with another prominent national labor and employment firm. She previously was senior counsel for the Employment Litigation Division of the City of Chicago Law Department. She has been based in Chicago her entire career and has extensi...

Sheila Willis is committed to finding practical, real world solutions to her clients’ employment law needs. She represents companies—large and small—as they navigate employment issues related to hiring, discipline, investigations, employment discrimination, unemployment, and other related issues. Sheila provides guidance to higher education institutions on Title IX Compliance and investigations She has extensive experience providing compliance advice to federal contractors o...

Ms. Acken focuses her practice in labor and employment law. She has defended numerous companies in gender, race and disability discrimination cases in state and federal court. Ms. Acken also has wide-ranging experience representing both public and private entities in EEOC claims, wage payment/overtime, wrongful termination, Davis-Bacon, and state and federal leave issues. She also currently serves as the Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Acken was ...

Mary Anne Ackourey is one of FMG’s founding attorneys and is a Partner in the Atlanta office. She is nationally known employment attorney and has been recognized by both Chambers USA and Super Lawyers. She also has handled a number of high-profile cases for educational institutions and public employers. Ms. Ackourey has represented employers throughout the country and her experience includes trying to verdict multiple federal jury trials, bench trials and arbitration cases. She also has...

George Adams is a partner in the Louisville office, where his practice is exclusively devoted to advising, assisting and representing employers with labor and employment law challenges. George has helped employers defend against union organizing campaigns, unfair labor practice charges and grievances. He defends employers in state and federal courts against lawsuits alleging sexual harassment, unlawful discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violations and violations of the Family and Medi...

Mark Adams is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He represents employers in all types of employment matters. For more than 30 years, Mark has represented employers in disputes before federal and state courts and regulatory agencies. Drawing on the depth and breadth of his experience, he counsels employers on the development of effective human resources policies, procedures, and strategies for complying with federal and state labor and employment laws. He also works with b...

JoJo Adams is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He focuses his practice on discrimination, harassment, and other employment-related litigation. JoJo has extensive experience in employee and supervisor training related to workplace conduct issues and litigating wage-and-hour collective actions. He also has experience in unfair labor practice litigation against unions and in collective bargaining negotiations. JoJo also provides daily employment advice to clients in public...

Brad Adler is the Practice Group Leader over FMG’s national Labor & Employment Practice Section and also serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Adler is a nationally recognized labor and employment lawyer that has represented employers in a diverse range of labor and employment matters in more than 26 states across the U.S. His labor and employment practice fully encompasses the issues that employers may face in managing and interacting with employees, including employm...

Stephanie L. Adler-Paindiris is a principal in the Orlando, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and serves as co-leader of the firm's Litigation practice group. Admitted to the United States Supreme Court and federal courts throughout the country, Stephanie defends class and collective actions on behalf of employers and provides legal advice and counsel to help her clients navigate today’s legal and business workplace challenges. ...

Mr. Agraz has experience helping a broad spectrum of clients with union, safety and health, and employment challenges. He represents clients in diverse industries during union organizing attempts and litigation before the NLRB. Additionally, he guides management through occupational safety and health compliance inspections and represents management exclusively in litigation before OSHA and other administrative agencies. He works with top company officials and first-line supervisory staff to b...

Joseph Y. Ahmad, a founding partner in the Houston law firm of AZA, is a lawyer for executives and has been recognized nationally as one of the best lawyers in his field. He represents executives in a variety of matters, including breach of contract, trade secrets, covenants not to compete, breach of fiduciary duty and other matters. He was elected to the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, an elite group of the country’s leading judges and civil trial lawyers. He has been se...

Kristin has been practicing law in Florida for over 27 years and focuses her practice on employment litigation and compliance and commercial litigation. She serves as counsel to a broad range of clients, public and private, in both federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies, and alternative dispute resolution forums. Kristin represents local, national, and international businesses, management, and individuals in employment-related matters including discrimination and ...

Todd Aidman devotes his practice to working with companies on a broad range of labor and employment matters. He is experienced in complex and class action litigation and regularly practices in the trial and appellate levels of federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies such as the EEOC and DOL. Todd defends companies in a broad range of employment and labor disputes, including cases involving allegations of age, race, national origin, disability, sex discrimination, sexual a...

Named a top attorney in his field, Ben joined the firm Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLP in 1999. He became a partner in 2008. Always willing to “go the extra mile,” this avid cyclist and runner has been known to join clients in a bike ride or marathon. This philosophy has earned him the respect of clients, peers and even opposing counsel. Strong Support for Municipalities Ben advises cities, townships, counties and public officials throughout Ohio on all labor and emplo...

Nan Alessandra represents employers in both the public and private sectors in the defense of discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims for age, gender, disability, race, religion, national origin, and other protected categories. Her litigation experience includes the defense of EEOC and other administrative charges filed through the various federal and state court agencies, as well as defense of legal claims filed at both the judicial level, as well as through the arbitration process....

Lori B. Alexander has extensive experience representing companies throughout Connecticut in a range of labor and employment matters, including: Complex employment litigation Discrimination claims Wrongful discharge Retaliation cases Labor arbitrations Administrative charges Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefits litigation Employment arbitrations Other disputes between employers and employees She represents clients in state and federal courts and before the Equal Employment Opportun...

Neil M. Alexander is a shareholder at Littler Mendelson in the Phoenix office and serves as Co-Chair of the Contingent Workforce Practice Group. He is a trial attorney who regularly defends companies against claims involving: Wrongful termination Unfair competition and trade secret violations Non-competition agreements Whistleblower and retaliation Harassment and discrimination Title VII The Age Discrimination in Employment Act The Americans with Disabilities Act The Family and Medical Leave ...

Scott Allen is a principal in the Miami, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Since 1998, Scott’s legal career has been dedicated to counseling and defending employers in employment-related matters and counseling on behalf of management. He has been with Jackson Lewis since 2001. Scott represents a broad range of management clients in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals concerning all types of employment litigation, including claims of discrimination on the basis of a...

Meg Alli has focused her practice on the representation and counseling of management concerning the umbrella of employment laws and regulations affecting corporate clients, not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions. She has defended employers, schools and colleges in state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitration proceedings. Meg has also served as select counsel for employment practices liability insurance carriers and represented employers in wage/hour lit...

William Altman practices in the areas of labor, employment, and benefits litigation on behalf of private and public sector employers. He has extensive experience representing employers in cases involving anti-discrimination laws, whistle-blower and retaliation actions, ERISA actions, non-competition agreements, trade secrets, fiduciary duty actions, and class actions. William defends employers in state and federal courts and before state and federal agencies. He has particular experience defe...

Ms. Amalfe is listed among the region’s leading employment lawyers by the Best Lawyers® , Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business , and New Jersey Super Lawyers . As Chair of the firm’s Employment & Labor Law Department, Ms. Amalfe manages lawyers across three of five Gibbons offices, overseeing legal, administrative, and business development functions for one of the firm’s most active business units, with clients among the world’s be...

Joe Ambash is the managing partner of the Boston office. His practice includes all aspects of employment law, including labor-management relations, employment discrimination and wrongful discharge litigation, and preventive labor relations. He also has an extensive practice training managers in all areas of employment law compliance. Joe represents management in a broad range of industries, including health care, higher education, financial services, retail, media, sports and state and local ...

Brett M. Anders is a principal in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He exclusively represents management in workplace law, including counseling and litigation. Brett routinely advises clients regarding day-to-day employment issues, such as employee discipline and discharge, disability management issues, reductions-in-force and restrictive covenants. He also regularly conducts training programs for employers on a variety of employment-related topics, such as perfor...

Jessica DeBono Anderson is a Partner in the Orlando, Florida office. Since 2008, Ms. Anderson has represented management in employment litigation before state and federal courts in Florida and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Florida Commission on Human Relations, Department of Labor and other administrative agencies. Ms. Anderson has experience litigating issues such as employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, overtime and unpaid wages, leave and ...

Kathleen M. Anderson, a partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, has been an advocate for businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the country for over 15 years. Ms. Anderson, who focuses her practice on litigation and employment law, has been recognized in the Best Lawyers in America® , Who’s Who in American Law® , and Indiana Super Lawyers®. Ms. Anderson’s litigation practice covers the full spectrum of litigation services, including pre-litigation counseling; risk and litigation management; a...

Michelle Anderson represents employers in all aspects of employment law in both state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies. Her practice focuses on representing employers against claims of unlawful discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, violations of leave and disability laws, and wage and hour related issues. Michelle also litigates and advises employers on issues arising out of employee defection, including the prosecution and defense of claims involving non-com...

Nick Andrews concentrates his practice on the representation of management in matters related to labor and employment law. Nick is adept at advising clients facing complex employment law issues, including disputes related to allegations of harassment, employment discrimination, and wage and hour violations. He has appeared on behalf of employers before state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations ...

Craig Annunziata is the managing partner of the Chicago office and a partner in the Tampa office. He represents management in employment-related disputes. The majority of his practice is before federal and state courts and alternative dispute forums throughout the United States. He also defends management against charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and related state agencies. A significant portion of his practice is devoted to counseling management, prio...

William J. Anthony is a strategic advisor to employers on complex employment law issues and litigation matters. His thoughtful, practical and legal approach to creatively addressing his clients' needs makes him a valuable resource to them. Will focuses his labor and employment practice on class, collective, and multiparty actions, including a broad spectrum of federal and state law wage and hour claims. He has successfully defended against actions alleging misclassification of independent con...

Rick is a civil litigation attorney. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987, at which time he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a systems acquisition officer at the Ballistic Missile Organization at Norton Air Force Base until 1992 and last served as the Reentry Systems Launch Program Acquisition Logistics Manager. Upon separation from the Air Force as a captain, Rick attended t...

Martin W. Aron is a principal in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C.; where he has served as the litigation manager. For more than 35 years, he has represented employers in all facets of labor and employment matters. Marty has significant jury trial, bench trial and arbitration experience and is one of approximately two percent of the attorneys in the state who are certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney. He regularly litigat...

George R. Arrants, Jr. focuses his legal practice in the areas of Corporate and Transactional and Employment and Labor and Taxation. He has extensive experience in his practice areas as well as a thorough knowledge of his clients' businesses and unique legal needs. While simultaneously protecting their business interests from unintended or unexpected legal consequences, he efficiently and effectively identifies and pursues the best options and/or solutions to their employment or business-rela...

Anne Knox Averitt has extensive experience in labor and employment matters and commercial litigation. She works in the Birmingham office and represents clients of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses in a number of industries, including retail, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, communications, construction, and financial services. She also handles cases before arbitrators, administrative law judges, and federal and state court ju...

Elena Baca is the Global Chair of the Paul Hastings Employment Law Department and leads a diverse group of more than 80 lawyers in 10 offices around the world. Ms. Baca is a first-chair litigator who regularly navigates high-stakes litigation, conducts sensitive investigations and advises C-suite executives and corporate boards on compliance and regulatory issues involving human capital. In her role as practice Chair, Paul Hastings’ Employment Department has anticipated and led the resp...

Campbell Badger leads the firm’s Labor Relations Sub-Group, the largest collective bargaining practice group in Northern New England. For over 28 years, Campbell has dedicated his practice to labor and employment law; he represents public and private employers, and Tribal Nations and their enterprises, in all aspects of labor, employment, and labor relations matters. He represents employers at the bargaining table negotiating for both initial and successor contracts; before administrati...