Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Labor and Employment

Travis Vance is dedicated to responsive client service and forming a partnership with companies to help tackle their most difficult and high-profile issues. Having gained a reputation as a professional and aggressive advocate for his clients, Travis has emerged as a thought leader in the field of workplace safety. His writing and interviews are followed closely by experts in the safety arena and have been featured in premiere publications such as Inc., Bloomberg Law, Business Insurance, The W...

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

John Bode concentrates his practice on labor relations and employment opportunity. For more than three decades, John has served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases before state and federal agencies and courts and the National Labor Relations Board. He has extensive experience representing many prominent national, regional and Tennessee employers in union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, arbitrations, strikes, decertification petitions, wage and hour and other state and federal...

Thomas G. Mackey is a principal in the Los Angeles, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He joined the firm in 2002. Tom exclusively represents employers in all types of employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disabilities and reasonable accommodation, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, and matters involving competition and restrictive covenants. Tom specifically focuses his practice on trials and arbitrations. He has substantial jury trial exp...

Gwen concentrates her practice in land use and employment litigation and related advice and counseling. Gwen’s legal excellence and commitment to her clients have been routinely recognized by her peers. Her selection to the The Best Lawyers in America® attests to her distinguished, nationwide reputation in the legal profession. In addition, Gwen is frequently asked to present to lawyers and author chapters on a range of litigation subjects, including effective litigation strategies ...

Adam counsels and defends employers, including manufacturers, health care facilities, food processing plants, energy utilities, and trucking companies. He helps his clients work through challenging management issues and provides options that allow them to accomplish their goals while minimizing exposure. He also defends them against charges filed with the EEOC and Department of Labor, regularly conducts internal investigations, drafts employment agreements, enforces restrictive covenants, and...

Daniel L. Thieme is experienced in all areas of employment relations law. He has particular expertise in the areas of wage and hour law, executive and employee compensation, business sales and restructuring, employee intellectual property issues, employment agreements and policies, and discrimination law. With respect to wage and hour and compensation law, Dan’s experience includes: Wage and hour class action defense Overtime and minimum wage compliance Executive compensation, including...

Román Hernández is a partner in the Portland office of K&L Gates and is a member of the labor, employment and workplace safety practice group. He has particular experience in the defense of employers against claims filed by former, current, and prospective employees for allegations of discrimination, harassment, constructive discharge, wrongful discharge, and for alleged wage and hour violations in both state and federal courts, including class action litigation. He provides...

First and foremost, Teresa is a relationship partner for her corporate clients in the employment defense space, and a very practical "problem solver." She is constantly trying to figure out how to connect her clients to resources that can make their job easier, help them navigate through tricky employment and HR issues, as well as connecting them to the excellent attorneys at Constangy throughout the U.S. In her 19 years of practice as a defense-side employment litigation attorney (all 19 yea...

A graduate of Harvard and Yale, and a four-time Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for employment law, Josh Goodbaum represents Connecticut employees and other civil rights plaintiffs in litigation and negotiation. Josh’s experience as a Connecticut employment lawyer who represents employees runs the gamut, from discrimination (on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, pregnancy, or national origin) and sexual harassment, to wro...

Kristin Ahr is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Individuals, Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Kristin, who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kristin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rachel has been awarded the SuperLawyers Rising Star award in years 2015-2019, an honor bestowed on only 2.5% of attorneys. Rachel was chosen as a member of The Ohio State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy for 2017, which she enjoyed immensely.

Eric Stevens has nearly 30 years of experience representing clients - focusing on healthcare and financial institutions - in labor relations and employment litigation. He represents both union and non-union employers in: Class-action claims under anti-discrimination laws Litigation involving federal and state wage and hour laws Contract negotiations Arbitration Successful union-free election campaigns Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs audits Eric also assists clients with complia...

Terry W. Bonnette 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. Terry W., who practices law in Detroit, Michigan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Terry W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melissa Schilling represents public and private sector employers in labor and employment matters. In that role, she has successfully represented clients in state and federal cases involving a broad range of labor and employment laws, including Title VII, the American with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Melissa also has extensive experience investigating and handling matters filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) and related...

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