Washington, D.C. Attorney James L. Banks Joins Seyfarth Shaw’s Labor & Employment Practice

Washington, D.C.  (July 26, 2006) - - Seyfarth Shaw LLP, one of America’s leading full service law firms, announced that James L. Banks has joined the firm's Washington, D.C. office as partner in its Labor & Employment practice.   Previously, Banks was a partner with McGuire Woods LLP.

Banks is a highly experienced and accomplished employment litigator.   He has a full range of litigation experience from employment litigation to commercial litigation to criminal prosecution, and has tried more than 500 bench and jury trials in both state and federal courts.  He has tried cases under a variety of employment statutes including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Virginia Human Rights Act.  His practice also focuses on counseling clients on labor and employment matters, including hiring practices and procedures, compensation issues, discipline and termination of employees, and non-compete agreements.

“Jim is a seasoned litigator with significant confidence and skill at handling complex labor cases and taking them through to trial,” stated Jeremy P. Sherman, chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Group.  “As a former prosecutor and successful trial attorney, his measurable experience in the court room is an asset to our practice group and national client base.  I am delighted to welcome him to the firm.”

Seyfarth Shaw offers clients both nationwide geographic coverage and sophisticated employment law solutions.  The firm’s national roster of labor and employment attorneys have 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.

“Jim is a welcome addition to the Washington office whose considerable experience as a trial attorney in employment matters will considerably strengthen the high level of support we provide our clients in D.C. as well as on a firm-wide basis,” noted Joseph R. Damato, managing partner of Seyfarth Shaw’s Washington, D.C. office.  “Along with his impressive legal accomplishments, he has also devoted a considerable amount of time to public service, illustrating his commitment to the community.  He is a substantive addition to the firm, the practice group and the DC office.”

Banks has a broad background and experience with nonprofit organizations, associations, and in the public sector.  As a former member of the city council and the vice-mayor for the city of Richmond, VA, he has extensive experience in funding and structuring of nonprofit organizations.  Through service on boards of directors of various nonprofit corporations, he has extensive exposure to all issues involving nonprofit organizational compliance.  Banks received his B.A (cum laude) from Gettysburg College and earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School.

“Seyfarth Shaw offers me an exceptional opportunity to broaden my practice in a firm that is national in scope with a cross-practice platform that provides tangible regional support to all attorneys,” commented Banks.  “I am excited to be here and look forward to the future.”

Seyfarth Shaw has over 650 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 labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation and business services.  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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