Most Highly Regarded Firms: Management Labour & Employment 2011

• July 2011

• Management Labour and Employment

In this section we analyse the findings of our research in greater depth to identify the firms and practitioners who stand out worldwide.

Our research identifies 635 individuals from around the world who have demonstrated both market leading client service and superb labour and employment expertise. 

Littler Mendelson PC receives the largest number of lawyers featured in this edition. A total of 20 individuals are selected across nine states in the US with the firm’s San Francisco office fielding the most inclusions. The “highly knowledgeable” Garry Mathiason has supervised the firm’s attorneys in over 1,000 employment and labour litigation matters and defends clients in wage, hour and discrimination class actions. Margaret Hart Edwards is a “go-to” lawyer for issues relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act and has over 30 years of litigation experience. Wesley Fastiff is regarded as a “legend” and advises clients on all aspects of labour and employment law. John Skonberg is co-chair of the traditional labour law practice group. Interviewees regard him as “highly respected in the field”. Joe Schwachter specialises in litigating matters before the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) and for issues relating to wrongful termination, employment discrimination and sexual harassment.

In Washington DC, the “brilliant” Peter Susser is chair of the firm’s international employment and labour law practice group. He works with multinational clients on the design and implementation of human resources policies and resource issues.

In Chicago, Barry Hartstein “has a wonderful reputation” as a litigator and has defended employers across the US in individual and class action claims, and wage and hour collective actions. Grady Murdock has litigated on an extensive range of issues and contributors acknowledge his “highly respected” counsel. Robert Long advises private equity funds, investment bankers, venture capitalists and financial institutions on complex employment issues that arise in the context of corporate transactions. The “client-focused” James Ferber is managing shareholder of the Columbus office and co-chairs the national labour relations practice group.

In New York, Philip Berkowitz is US practice group leader for the international employment and labour law practice group. Peers regard him as “outstanding” for his practice that includes representing and advising both domestic and multinational clients in contentious and non-contentious issues. The “highly practical” Gerald Hathaway advises corporate clients, private equity funds, investment banks and financial institutions on labour and employment issues relating to transactions and restructurings. Bruce Millman has over 30 years of experience advising employers on business and personnel strategies as well as representing clients in litigation and arbitration.

Charles Powell is based in Birmingham and advises on a broad range of issues that include discrimination, harassment, non-competition and wage and hour litigation. James Patrick Alexander receives particular mention for his “expert” litigation practice.

Ariel Weindling in Los Angeles is regarded as “impressive” and advises international clients on their US employment needs and labour expansion worldwide. Jeremy Roth is the office managing shareholder in San Diego and represents management before state and federal courts and governmental agencies. Terrence Murphy is based in Pennsylvania and advises clients on all labour and employment law-related issues. He recently defended a major life insurer in a nationwide collective action. In Boston, Adam Forman receives mention for his “excellent” labour and employment counsel. Denise Drake is based in Kansas City and represents management in employment lawsuits and has successfully defeated nationwide certification of several wage and hour collective actions.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP receives a total of 16 listings. Six of those included are based in Chicago. Camille Olson is “highly responsive” and is national chairperson of the complex discrimination litigation practice while the “much respected” Bradford Livingston chairs the national labour relations group. Joel Kaplan has significant experience in traditional labour relations law including NLRB cases, collective bargaining, litigation and arbitration. In Los Angeles, Jeffrey Berman is highly nominated for his wage and hour litigation expertise.

In Texas, the “tremendous” Gloria Portela is senior counsel in the Houston office and specialises in the mediation of employment cases particularly complex class actions and wage and hour cases. Peter Chatilovicz is regarded as a “terrific” lawyer and heads the Washington, DC labour and employment group.

In New York, Marshall Babson is a former member of the NLRB and focuses on all aspects of labour relations including litigation, counselling and arbitration. Peter Talibart is head of the London office where he advises major multinationals and financial institutions on strategic cross-border employment issues. Peers regard him as a “first-class” lawyer.

Proskauer Rose LLP has a team of 13 individuals included in the following pages, eight of these lawyers are based in New York. The “top-notch” Bettina Plevan is co-head of the international labour and employment group and class and collective action practice while the “business-oriented” Paul Salvatore co-chairs the labour and employment law department. Lloyd Chinn’s “superb” litigation practice ranges from discrimination and sexual harassment cases to non-competition matters and compensation disputes. Allen Fagin is a former chairman of the firm and represents clients in a range of industries including the telecommunications, transportation, health care, utilities and manufacturing sectors.

Based in New Orleans, Howard Shapiro is seen as a “spectacular” litigator for Employee Retirement Income Security Act issues, while Allan Weitzman is head of the labour and employment team in the Boca Raton office. In Washington, DC the “highly experienced” Lawrence Lorber advises on a full range of labour and employment issues. 

Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP performs excellently in the research with 12 lawyers selected across the US, France and China. In Los Angeles, Nancy Abell is global chair of the firm’s employment law department and represents clients in all employment related-issues. The “legendary” Paul Grossman is one of the most highly regarded lawyers in this edition. He is the general counsel of the California Employment Law Council, an organisation of 50 of the state’s largest employers.

Barbara Brown is the office chair in Washington, DC and specialises in discrimination class actions, issues surrounding promotion, hiring and a broad range of personnel decisions. She is regarded by interviewees as “a wonderful lawyer”. In New York, Erika Collins chairs the firm’s international employment practice and provides strategic advice to multinational employers on their global employment and human resources matters. In San Francisco, Kirby Wilcox is referred to by peers as “one of the best wage and hour and class action litigators” while the “proactive” Paul Cane Jr is co-chair of the firm’s appellate practice. Geoff Weirich is regarded as “excellent” for his expertise concerning discrimination, retaliation and harassment, whistle-blower issues and wage and hour matters.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP fields a total of 11 listings in the US, France and England. In London, Mark Dichter is chair of the firm’s labour and employment practice and is considered a “dean” of the bar. In Philadelphia, the “outstanding” Steven Wall is a managing partner of the firm and focuses his practice on union corporate campaigns and high-profile employment litigation. Timothy O’Reilly advises clients on a variety of matters including collective bargaining agreements, national labour relations, board proceedings and union avoidance campaigns.

In Washington, DC Charles Cohen is nominated for his “top-rate” counsel to senior management while Harry Rissetto has over 35 years of experience in advising clients in the airline, railroad and trucking industries. John Harper II in Houston receives particular mention for his counsel and those that work with him refer to his “outstanding people skills”. 

Heenan Blaikie LLP dominates the results of the research in Canada with 11 lawyers featured. In Montreal, founder and chair of the firm Roy Heenan OC is one of the most highly regarded labour employment lawyers in the world. Clients highly respect his “strategic advice and vast knowledge of local, federal and international labour laws”. Danny Kaufer is a “superb” practitioner and peers note his negotiation and arbitration expertise. Robert Bonhomme is highly nominated for his counsel relating to compensation and benefits matters.

In Toronto, clients choose Brian Burkett for his “first-class experience in federal labour matters and in working with governments”. Clients also highly regard Douglas Gilbert’s “effective advice and advocacy skills and particularly his relationships with union counsel”.

Andrea Zwack is based in Vancouver and is “well-respected” for her expertise in a wide range of areas that include unionisation, collective agreement negotiation, privacy, disability and harassment.

Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC perform well in the research with 10 lawyers listed. In Atlanta, name partner of the firm Homer Deakins Jr is regarded as “terrific” and has handled some of the largest and most highly publicised union elections in the US. Mark Mallery is based in New Orleans and his practice over the past 20 years has included representing clients in complex disputes such as Sarbanes-Oxley whistle-blower claims before the office of administrative law judges.

In Morristown, David Copus is highly nominated for his class and collective action litigation expertise. Richard Mariani advises clients on discrimination and wrongful discharge matters before state and federal trial and appellate courts in addition to administrative agencies. Thomas Barnard in Cleveland is nominated for his “skilful” litigation and arbitration service to clients.

Baker & McKenzie has the greatest geographical breadth in this edition with 10 lawyers listed across eight countries. The “resourceful” Günther Heckelmann advises clients on all employment matters with a particular focus on complex global reorganisations. Christine O’Brien is head of the employment group in London and advises on large scale collective redundancy plans, high-value discrimination claims, restrictive covenants and garden leave clauses. The “well recognised” Carlos Andrés Arturo Dodds is head of the labour practice group in Buenos Aires while Robert Mignin in Chicago receives a large number of nominations for his litigation expertise. Jennifer Van Dale is based in Singapore and clients respect her for her “hard work in achieving difficult internal client deadlines”.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has eight individuals selected from four countries. In Hamburg, Klaus-Stefan Hohenstatt is head of the firm’s global employment, pensions and benefits practice group and specialises in employment law in a restructuring and transactional context. Heinz Josef Willemsen is based in the Düsseldorf office and focuses his practice on the reorganisation, merger and transfer of business units. The “highly responsive” Stefan Köck specialises in employment matters arising from mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, public takeovers and telecoms regulatory issues. In London, Caroline Stroud specialises in discrimination, grievance and disciplinary procedures, equal pay and whistle-blowing.

Six lawyers are selected from Allen & Overy LLP’s offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Brussels. Peers regard Mark Mansell in London as a “fabulous lawyer” who advises on the transfer and takeover of businesses, outsourcing, directors service agreements, dismissals, redundancies and discrimination. The “straight-talking and client-focused” Karen Seward advises financial institutions and global corporates on a variety of strategic employment issues. The “very sharp” Thomas Ubber is head of the German employment practice and advises clients on employment issues that arise out of acquisitions, reorganisations and headcount reductions.

A number of additional lawyers also proved themselves to be leading lights in this field. Gerlind Wisskirchen at CMS Hasche Sigle in Cologne is “a superb lawyer who is well-known and respected by labour and employment practitioners around the world”. She is one of the most nominated lawyers in the research and advises German and foreign multinationals in their national and global operations. In Brussels, Chris Engels of Claeys & Engels provides “first-class” counsel to clients. He specialises in dismissal law, outsourcing, and applicable law issues in an international context. Salvador del Rey of Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira in Madrid is president of the global employment institute of the International Bar Association. His practice covers all aspects on national and international employment law, the prevention of occupational hazards and social security.

Mariann Norrbom at Norrbom Vinding in Copenhagen advises on all aspects of labour law and is nominated by peers and clients for her “business-focused solutions”. In Milan, Franco Toffoletto at Toffoletto e Soci is regarded as a “go-to” lawyer while James Davies at Lewis Silkin LLP in London represents major law firms and companies on a full range of issues that include harassment and discriminations claims. Eduardo Soto Pires at Veirano Advogados is based in São Paulo and clients regard him as “very reliable, fast and client-oriented”.

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