Washington, D.C. (Oct. 6, 2008) -- Littler Mendelson, P.C. (Littler), the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm representing management, today announced the addition of six accomplished attorneys from Ford & Harrison LLP to its Washington, D.C., office. The group includes members of Ford & Harrison’s airline and railway labor relations practice as well as several employment litigators and traditional labor attorneys. Littler’s newest attorneys are reconnecting with former colleagues Shareholder Helene J. Wasserman and Associate Meghann Barloewen, who joined the firm’s Los Angeles office earlier this year from Ford & Harrison.

“We are very privileged to have such a notable group of attorneys join Littler Mendelson,” said Marko Mrkonich, president and managing director of Littler. “Their depth of experience with the federal Railway Labor Act, traditional labor and employment law, and litigation reinforces the overall strength of our firm’s practice groups. It also enables us to provide our clients with an even higher level of service and understanding to enhance their competitive edge and further their business objectives.”

With this addition, the firm’s Washington, D.C., practice increases to 29 attorneys. Littler is pleased to welcome the following former Ford & Harrison attorneys:

Peter J. Petesch, shareholder, served as managing partner of Ford & Harrison’s Washington, D.C., office. He handles labor and employment matters for the airline industry and others including retail, service and hospitality. His practice includes litigation under the Railway Labor Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, FMLA, Title VII, the ADEA, Sarbanes-Oxley, and AIR 21. He also works with airlines on union avoidance, collective bargaining, arbitrations, AIR 21 whistleblower claims, and strategic advice.

He counsels, litigates and trains on disability and leave matters and on whistleblower matters under Sarbanes-Oxley. He has successfully defended employers in individual and class-based cases before federal courts and agencies, as well as state courts. He has also represented the Society for Human Resource Management as an amicus participant in four employment law cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kevin M. Kraham, shareholder, began his career in employment and labor law with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an investigator, law clerk, and administrative judge. He has since dedicated his legal practice to representing clients in labor arbitrations, collective bargaining negotiations, equal employment counseling and training, and employment litigation before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. He continues to serve as a mediator for the EEOC’s Washington Field Office.

Kraham’s airline and railroad experience includes representation proceedings and carrier interference cases before the National Mediation Board; federal court litigation with unions under the Railway Labor Act; system board of adjustment and public law board arbitrations; collective bargaining negotiations, including initial contracts, concession bargaining, and merger agreements; and advice regarding contract administration. He has served as counsel to, or a member of, various employer negotiating committees. Kraham's clients include airlines, government contractors, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Jay Sumner, shareholder, focuses on traditional labor law, and he specializes in collective bargaining and handling representation matters for a wide variety of employers. His experience includes addressing positive employment and union-related issues, including collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, election campaigns, proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and other labor agencies in the United States and Canada, and guiding clients through myriad labor and employment issues associated with business restructuring.

From an industry perspective, Sumner is a member of the firm’s Health Care and Hospitality Practice Groups and represents employers in a wide variety of other industries including Government Contracting, Warehouse and Distribution, Manufacturing, Printing, Security and Corrections, Freight Transportation, Construction, and Higher Education.

Alison N. Davis, shareholder, represents management in employment and labor law.  She  has extensive experience litigating and counseling employers on a number of employment issues, including OFCCP compliance issues, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, race, national origin, age, gender and disability discrimination, wage and hour practices, Service Contract Act, FMLA, USERRA, the Railway Labor Act, and wrongful termination claims.  Davis represents clients in a variety of industries, including airlines, schools, not-for-profit organizations, government contractors, insurers, home healthcare agencies and hotels. 

Earlier in her career, Davis served as Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment at the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and Vice-President & Assistant General Counsel with Zurich North America.

Jeffrey Sun, associate, represents employers in both labor and employment matters, including equal employment opportunity counseling and employment litigation under various federal and state employment statutes, including Title VII, ADA, and ADEA.

Katherine Hoekman, associate, represents employers in both labor and employment matters such as equal employment opportunity counseling and employment litigation under various federal and state employment statutes, including Title VII, FMLA, RLA, and ADEA. She also counsels employers in employee benefit matters—including drafting, developing, and implementing qualified retirement plans—and is currently pursuing her Certificate in Employee Benefits from Georgetown University Law Center.

In its Los Angeles office, Littler welcomed Shareholder Helene J. Wasserman and Associate Meghann Barloewen. Wasserman counsels employers of all sizes in day-to-day employment relations issues such as hiring, discipline and termination of employees; downsizing; workplace violence; and compliance with all state and federal employment laws. Barloewen specializes in employment litigation and devotes her practice to defending employers in a broad range of employment matters, including wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour. Both attorneys were previously with Ford & Harrison.

About Littler Mendelson

With more than 750 attorneys and 45 offices in major metropolitan areas nationwide, Littler Mendelson is the largest law firm in the United States devoted exclusively to representing management in employment, employee benefits, immigration and labor law matters. The firm's client base ranges from Fortune 500 companies to small-business owners. Established in 1942, the firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential cases and labor contracts in the nation's history. For more information, visit www.littler.com.