ATLANTA (May 6, 2019) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has added William C. Vail, Jr. as Special Counsel in its Atlanta office. Vail previously spent seven years at Kindred Healthcare and Kindred at Home. He most recently served as Division Vice President and Deputy Chief Litigation Officer of Kindred at Home, the nation’s largest home health and hospice provider.
“Will brings a strong understanding of the issues and challenges facing healthcare employers, along with in-depth knowledge of how governing boards operate across the industry,” said L. Traywick Duffie, Littler’s Office Managing Shareholder in Atlanta. “Additionally, the insights gleaned from his time as an in-house counsel for the largest post-acute healthcare provider in the country, combined with his previous law firm experience, will greatly benefit our clients as we continue to expand the firm’s robust healthcare practice.”
At Kindred, Vail advised on employment law compliance across a wide range of areas, including wage and hour, employee benefits, leave administration and disability accommodation, and federal procurement and contract regulations. He has resolved employment disputes across the country involving such issues as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and breaches of noncompete agreements. Vail also has extensive experience conducting internal investigations, drafting employment agreements, policies and handbooks, performing due diligence for employment matters, and managing integration initiatives in mergers and acquisitions.
“I’ve known Will for a long time and have always enjoyed working with him as a client at Kindred,” said Angelo Spinola, shareholder in Littler’s Atlanta office and a core member of the firm’s Healthcare Practice Group. “His knowledge of the unique ways that employment laws and government regulation impact the companies in the healthcare sector, particularly home care providers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, is important for our clients navigating such a highly regulated industry.”
“Having worked closely with Littler for several years, I’ve seen firsthand that it is the gold standard for labor and employment law,” Vail said. “The scope of Littler’s experience across the healthcare industry, combined with the firm’s ability to counsel and defend healthcare employers in an efficient manner on the full range of issues involving the workplace, is unmatched in the industry. I’m excited to work with my new colleagues and to have access to Littler’s robust platform and resources, as well as to be a part of such a forward thinking and innovative law firm.”
Vail received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Kentucky College of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from Washington and Lee University.
About Littler
With more than 1,500 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow.