Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Labor and Employment
State
Rebecca J. Davis is a principal in the Cincinnati, Ohio, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Rebecca has represented national and international companies in all forms of employment litigation proceedings, including single plaintiff and class action litigation, arbitration, and administrative charges. She regularly provides preventative advice and counsel on employer decisions and practices in all phases of the employment cycle, including hiring and interviewing, policy and process development, affir...
Timothy H. Howlett is a Member and the Labor and Employment Practice Leader. Mr. Howlett focuses his practice on labor & employment counseling and labor & employment litigation. He has significant trial experience, including cases defending wrongful termination, race discrimination, disability discrimination, sex discrimination, due process and religious discrimination claims. He has represented clients in labor and employment administrative claims and arbitrations in several states i...
Stephen J. van Stempvoort is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Stephen J. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Stephen J. van Stempvoort 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 Stephen J. van Stempvoo...
Chris Gantt-Sorenson is a shareholder in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Greenville office and serves as the employment law practice team leader, working exclusively with all types of employers, providing advice and counsel and representation when an employee or employees file a claim or a lawsuit. Chris advises employers and human resource professionals on issues that arise in the workplace daily. She defends clients in employment-related claims and litigation before administrative agencies, such ...
Lavern was named FordHarrison's first Talent and Recruiting Partner in 2018. In this new role, Lavern is responsible for recruiting and developing lawyers firm-wide. She will oversee the hiring and on-boarding of new lawyers, manage utilization and workflow, and design and implement talent development initiatives to support the career growth of our lawyers. Lavern concentrates her practice on defending employers in discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, whistle-blower, retaliation, employ...
Melissa A. Dearing is a partner with Rivkin Radler LLP , based in Jacksonville, Florida, and a member of the firm’s Immigration Practice Group. She advises employers on navigating nonimmigrant and immigrant visa processes in support of their workforce needs, with a focus on compliance and strategic planning. Her practice includes representing employers in Employment Law – Management matters related to workforce mobility, as well as Litigation – Labor and Employment issues th...
Margaret L. Behm has earned the reputation as the go-to person in 45 years of representing clients and forging coalitions for change. After beginning her legal career in 1976 at Legal Services if Middle Tennessee, Inc., Behm and Marietta Shipley in 1980 founded Shipley and Behm, the city's first all-woman law firm. “Back then, women just weren’t taken seriously as business owners or lawyers,” Behm says. “I wanted to run my own business and demonstrate that women could ...
Kendra Samson is a partner in Barton’s Nashville office. Kendra advises clients on how to avoid costly litigation, with a practice focused on employment law and commercial litigation. She believes the most effective legal counsel begins with building strong relationships—taking the time to understand a client’s business, their people, and their unique challenges. By investing in that knowledge, Kendra is able to craft practical, business-focused strategies that aim to resolv...
Jon Levine has a national practice focusing on representing employers in all areas of labor-management relations, including litigation before the National Labor Relations Board and in state and federal courts. He also has significant experience with: The National Labor Relations Act Union organizing campaigns Collective bargaining Labor arbitration Title VII The Americans with Disabilities Act The Age Discrimination in Employment Act The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act Jon’s notable succe...
Mr. Draskovic is a Senior Partner with the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP, a member of the firm's Litigation and Labor Departments, and Chairman of the firm's Workers' Compensation Group. Mr. Draskovic practices exclusively in the areas of civil litigation and workers' compensation. His litigation practice consists primarily of defending insurance carriers and businesses from all variety of claims. He has tried cases in both the state and federal courts. His employment ...
Alexis C. Knapp is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Alexis C. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Alexis C. Knapp since 2021. 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 Alexis C. Knapp is held by other lawyers.
Experience Mr. Horton has been trying lawsuits for over 25 years. He primarily practices in the areas of business and commercial disputes, employment law, and real estate cases. Many cases are related to the automobile industry. Bill is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, the foremost national organization to certify trial skills. In business litigation, Bill has tried numerous shareholder disputes, claims of misappropriation of trade secrets, breach...
Aaron A. Clark is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Education Law, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - ERISA and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Aaron A. practices law in Omaha, Nebraska Best Lawyers has recognized Aaron A. Clark since 2013. 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 Aaron A. ...
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.
