Employment Litigator Robert S. Whitman Joins Seyfarth Shaw in New York

New York, NY (December 18, 2006) - - Seyfarth Shaw LLP, one of America’s leading full service law firms, announced that Robert S. Whitman has joined the firm as a Labor and Employment partner in its New York office. Whitman was formerly a partner with Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP.

Whitman specializes in wage-hour matters, discrimination litigation, ERISA litigation and restrictive covenant disputes.  His background includes experience in collective and class action suits and as lead counsel in employment arbitrations, with a particular emphasis in the financial services industry.  He has also handled many restrictive covenant disputes, including those involving non-compete and non-solicitation obligations.  Whitman began his legal career as a Law Clerk to the Honorable J. Edward Lumbard of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He also served as a Trial Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice and as employment counsel in the U.S. Senate.

Rob is a well-credentialed employment lawyer whose expertise in a range of labor law matters, including ERISA litigation and wage/hour issues, complements the firm’s successful bench of attorneys who specialize in aspects of employment law that meet the needs of our national clients,” said Jeremy P. Sherman, chair of Seyfarth Shaw’s Labor and Employment Practice.  “His deep background as a litigator in the financial services industry is an additional strength, and I am pleased to welcome him to the practice and partnership."

Seyfarth Shaw has one of the most widely known management labor and employment practices in the United States.  With over 300 attorneys dedicated to labor and employment law, the firm offers a sophisticated level of experience and expertise on virtually any labor and employment issue arising in any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction.  The firm’s national roster of labor and employment attorneys has deep knowledge in the full range of discrete labor and employment areas, including employment discrimination class actions, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) disputes, wage and hour collection and class actions, workplace safety and health suits, California labor code class actions, traditional labor litigation and employee disloyalty suits, among others.  The firm represents management at every level of National Labor Relations Board proceedings, from handling unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB regional offices to arguing cases before the Board in Washington.

“Rob’s solid background in numerous employment law issues is an obvious asset to the firm’s recognized national practice,” stated Lorie E. Almon, co-managing partner of Seyfarth Shaw’s New York office. “Our New York office has more than doubled in size over the past year with the welcome integration of talented attorneys like Rob joining the firm.”

Whitman received his B.S. from Cornell University in Industrial and Labor Relations and earned his J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an editor of the Michigan Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.  He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and several United States Courts of Appeals and District Courts. Whitman has recently received a 2006 Cornerstone Award from Lawyers Alliance for New York in recognition of his pro bono work on behalf of not-for-profit organizations throughout New York City. 

"Seyfarth Shaw is an ideal fit for me, both culturally and professionally,” said Whitman. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to help our growing New York office and become part of such a team-oriented and entrepreneurial firm.”

Seyfarth Shaw has over 700 attorneys located in nine offices throughout the United States including Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento as well as Brussels, Belgium.  Seyfarth Shaw provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of  business transactions, labor and employment, employee benefits and litigation.  The firm’s practice reflects virtually every industry and segment of the country’s business community. Clients include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, newspapers and other media, hotels, health care organizations, airlines and railroads. The firm also represents a number of federal, state, and local governmental and educational entities.  For more information, please visit www.seyfarth.com.

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