LABNET - Key Persons
Alan is a partner and one of the founders of Ross, Brittain & Schonberg and has served as President since the firm's inception. In leading the firm's labor practice, Alan is active in both NLRB representation and unfair labor practice proceedings. He is also a key figure in union organizing campaigns and collective bargaining agreement negotiations. In his career, he has handled over 1,000 construction industry jobsite disputes and has negotiated over 100 collective bargaining agreements. Alan has tried numerous labor and related cases in both state and federal courts, as well as in various administrative agencies. As such, he is an avid litigator in all labor-related matters, including the Davis-Bacon Act, the Ohio Prevailing Wage Law, NLRA and the FLSA.
David graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988 with a B.A. in Natural Sciences, and then from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1991, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review. David has been honored for fifteen consecutive years by The Best Lawyers in America for the categories of Labor Law-Management, and Labor and Employment - Litigation. In addition, David has been included for thirteen years in a row in the Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, and was featured as being one of "L.A.'s Top 100 Lawyers" in the Los Angeles Business Journal. David also has received Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating, A/V. David has extensive experience advising management how to establish effective human-resource policies, maintain a union-free workplace, and comply with federal, state, and local laws. On the traditional labor-law front, he represents companies throughout the country in labor-relations matters and is the past Chair of the Labor Lawyers Advisory Committee to the Council for Union-Free Environment. On the employment-law front, David represents companies in state and federal-court litigation, arbitration, and mediation, where he defends employers in single-plaintiff through class-action wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage-and-hour matters, and in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Doreen is a litigator with over 20 years experience. Her employment practice focuses on enforcement of non-competes, deceptive trade practices and trade secrets. She also handles general business disputes.
Kevin M. Norris, Partner, practices labor and employment law with Smith and Smith Attorneys. After graduating from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville summa cum laude in 2000, Kevin clerked for Hon. Charles R. Simpson, III, of the Western District of Kentucky. Since then, he has practiced labor and employment law as well as civil litigation. Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Hanover College in 1995. He is a husband to Emily and a father to two boys. He is also a sometimes soccer coach and carpool driver on the weekends.
Founded by Laura Thalacker and Doreen Spears Hartwell in 2014, Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. provides high-quality, cost-effective legal services to businesses of all sizes in the practice areas of:
• Human Resources Compliance and Strategic Counseling;
• Employment and Labor Law Litigation; and
• Business and Commercial Litigation
Since 1994, Laura Thalacker has represented Nevada employers in all aspects of employment law and human resources. In addition to her litigation practice defending employers in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, Laura serves as a trusted counselor and advisor to her clients on workplace legal compliance and strategy. Laura is a former Chair of the State Bar of Nevada's Labor and Employment Section and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources by SHRM and HRCI.
Ross, Brittain & Schonberg Co., L.P.A. was founded in 1991 on the principle that change in the workplace is inevitable and a practice devoted exclusively to the representation of management in all matters relating to the workplace best serves our clients. While the Firm's present structure evolved in 1991, the founding members have worked together since the mid-1980s offering this same management philosophy to their clients.
Ross, Brittain & Schonberg represents management in all aspects of Labor Law, Employment Law, Workers' Compensation and OSHA matters. Our client base includes a range of large, publicly traded companies, as well as privately held industrial, retail, construction and service companies. Our attorneys and paralegals possess both knowledge and experience in the complex and interrelated areas of labor, employment and workers' compensation law that promotes an all encompassing approach to the full management of workplace issues. We have the depth and experience of a large firm and the cost-effectiveness, attention and creativity of a smaller firm.
Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer, A Law Corporation, represents management in a wide range of labor and employment law matters. With the formation of the firm in 1984, Sy Swerdlow and Ken Florence combined knowledge and experience acquired as partners in major Los Angeles law firms with a commitment to client attention and efficiency, made possible by the firm's more personal environment and small size.
Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer takes great pride in its ability to deliver the highest quality labor and employment law services, blending these services with an approach that is geared to the special needs of each client. These characteristics give the firm a special place in the larger legal community, which also recognizes the experience and talents of the firm's attorneys. Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer is one of a few firms in California to be selected in Best Law Firms® published by U.S. News & World Report (Copyright 2012 Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC) for three categories: Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, and Labor & Employment - Litigation. Martindale-Hubbell also has awarded Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer the highest possible rating of A/V and has included the firm in its Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers.
Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer represents employers in virtually all aspects of labor relations and employment law, including proceedings before federal and state administrative agencies, such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, and all other agencies governing labor relations, job safety, wage and hour administration, and employment discrimination. The firm has extensive experience in collective bargaining and arbitration, which includes actively educating employers regarding the appropriate steps needed to maintain a union-free environment, defend against union organizing campaigns, and maintain a proper relationship with a union.
Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer has an extensive and active federal and state court litigation practice, successfully defending employers in labor and employment litigation, including wage and hour, wrongful discharge, and discrimination actions. In addition, the firm offers comprehensive counseling and planning services, emphasizing a "preventive" approach to avoid problems and minimize legal fees. While the firm's billing rates are fully competitive with top firms in Los Angeles, a strong effort is made to control legal expenses. Regular billing discussions are held with clients before and during the performance of work. Duplication of effort is consciously avoided.
Millicent Sanchez is a former President of Worklaw® Network. As a litigator, Millicent defends employers against discrimination, discharge, and wage/hour actions in state and federal courts, and agencies. She provides day-to-day counseling, conducts training, and speaks frequently on workplace issues, including discipline/discharge, absences, accommodations, wage/hour, layoffs, investigations, handbooks, agreements, independent contractors, trade secrets, violence, union and litigation avoidance. Licensed in California and Hawaii, Ms. Sanchez is recognized by Best Lawyers in America, California Super Lawyers, and has the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating. She is a graduate of UCLA Law (UCLA Law Review), worked with Los Angeles Olympics Organizing Committee, and on multiple legal and non-profit boards.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member Recruiting
OLIVER B. RUTHERFORD, Managing Partner of the law firm of Smith & Smith Attorneys in Louisville, Kentucky has practiced labor and employment law and civil litigation since 2000. His practice at Smith & Smith focuses on labor and employment matters. Mr. Rutherford received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature, cum laude, from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1994 and graduated cum laude from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in 2000. When not practicing law, he is an avid hockey player and golfer.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Exec. Director
Exec. Director: Sally Schmidt, sallyschmidt@schmidt-marketing.com, (952) 767-0115