Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Labor and Employment

Terri C. Davis is an Attorney and Senior Vice President at Shuttleworth. She focuses her practice in Employment Law and Litigation, including employment related litigation, commercial litigation, product liability, and the handling of administrative trials, including utilities cases and workers compensation. She advises employers on employment matters, and assists with policy review and development, as well as handling of investigations and complaints, both internal and before civil rights co...

Brian D. Balonick advises his clients in all aspects of labor and employment law, including traditional labor, employment discrimination, and trade secret litigation. He helps clients avoid litigation by developing preventive strategies to remain in compliance with labor, employment, and wage and hour laws. He provides on-site training programs to assist employers in creating an issue-free workplace. When employers find themselves facing employment litigation, Brian has assisted them in any a...

Jonathan B. Allison is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jon practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kathleen McGinley is a principal and the office litigation manager of the Baltimore, Maryland, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She is an experienced litigator and represents private and public sector employers in all areas of employment law. Kathleen provides compliance advice and preventative training to employers, including the development and establishment of essential employment policies and handbooks to address multi-state needs. She also counsels employers on real-time, complex employment ...

Blake J. Burgan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Blake J., who practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Blake J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

M. Reid Estes, Jr. has nearly 40 years of experience as a trial lawyer and has served as trial counsel for numerous Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the restaurant, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, construction, health care, and other industry sectors, and during his career has handled nearly every conceivable type of case from tort claims, to theft of trade secret, covenant and contract breach, commercial litigation, and “bet the company” cases. He has significant class ac...

Kenneth Smith is a dedicated attorney practicing in civil litigation, advocating for companies and employers across a broad spectrum of their business needs. His practice areas include insurance defense , general civil litigation , labor and employment , and intellectual property law. Licensed in Ohio and all federal courts within the state, Mr. Smith has successfully represented clients in various legal settings including trials, arbitrations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proceedi...

Brian Carnie focuses his practice on representing management in litigation and counseling matters involving labor and employment law. Based in Shreveport, Louisiana, he works with employers across a wide range of industries to address workforce challenges that affect daily operations, compliance, and long-term business objectives. At Kean Miller , Brian provides practical legal guidance designed to help employers plan for, anticipate, and respond to both routine and unexpected human resources...

Amanda DeMatteis represents individuals in litigation, particularly employment, personal injury, and workers’ compensation. She represents employees in both state and federal courts in a wide variety of employment matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination (on the basis of pregnancy, sex, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion or national origin), sexual harassment, defamation, retaliation, and hostile work environment. Amand...

As the managing partner of the Atlanta office, Bert Brannen mentors attorneys in the Atlanta office and helps them serve the Firm’s clients. Bert advises employers on a wide variety of union-related matters and assists them with the administration, negotiation, mediation and arbitration of collective bargaining agreements. He also counsels employers who want to remain union-free with training, preventive strategies and counter-organizing educational campaigns. Bert helps employers avoid...

Darrick McDuffie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Darrick, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Darrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lori F. Winland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Lori F., who practices law in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lori F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Litigation Walter’s litigation work has been primarily in the civil area -- commercial disputes of all types, including trade secrets, real estate agreements, products liability, defamation claims, First Amendment access actions, business and employment contracts, non-competition provisions, wrongful termination suits, and discrimination and harassment cases. He has litigated numerous cases in the state and federal courts throughout the United States, including cases in Pennsylvania, Ne...

Scott Evan Simmons focuses his practice on employment litigation and preventative counseling in the firm's Labor & Employment practice. Mr. Simmons regularly counsels clients on a wide range of employment-related topics, including wage-and-hour compliance, hiring, termination and creation and modification of general personnel policies. He also has significant experience defending a wide variety of employment-related lawsuits in front of a variety of employment-related forums, including st...

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. ...

Nicola Prall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Immigration Law and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Nicola, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicola is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.