FordHarrison LLP, one of the country’s largest management-side labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce that Edward B. Carlstedt has been named office managing partner of the firm’s Tampa office, Buena Vista Lyons has been named office managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office, Eric Su has been named office managing partner of the firm’s New York office, and Johanna G. Zelman has been named office managing partner of the firm’s Hartford office. Ross A. Boughton was also recently announced as the new office managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office. For more information on Ross, visit: http://www.fordharrison.com/RossBoughton.
Ed Carlstedt joined the firm as a partner in 2012 and focuses his practice on trade secret, non-compete and restrictive covenant disputes. He has defended employers in discrimination, harassment, medical leave, wage and hour and other complex litigation matters in state court, federal court, and arbitration proceedings. Ed routinely counsels clients regarding employment issues that arise on a day to day basis and reviews employment and restrictive covenant agreements. Ed served on the Tampa Connection Board of Directors and was the President of the Tampa Gator Club. He is also a Leadership Tampa Bay Alumnus. He earned his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. For more information on Ed, visit: http://www.fordharrison.com/EdCarlstedt.
Vista Lyons joined FordHarrison in 2007 as counsel and is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She concentrates her practice on discrimination, wage and hour, wrongful termination, and breach of contract claims. The employers she represents span a broad range of industries, including the healthcare, airline, logistics, cosmetics, hospitality and financial services industries. She currently serves on the board of directors of a local non-profit organization, Beacon Hill Preparatory Institute, which is dedicated to providing supplemental reading and math programs to youth in economically disadvantaged communities. For the past several years, Vista has been listed as a “Texas Super Lawyer” which is published by Super Lawyers and featured in Texas Monthly magazine. She earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. For more information on Vista, visit: http://www.fordharrison.com/VistaLyons.
Eric Su represents employers in employment disputes before federal and state courts, administrative agencies as well as in arbitrations and is the co-chair of the firm's Construction practice group. He often defends employers in class and collective litigation involving alleged underpayment of minimum wage, overtime and other wage claims. His practice mainly involves representing management in all aspects of labor and employment law, including investigations by federal and state labor departments; Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act and state prevailing wage claims defense; defending and prosecuting restrictive covenant claims; counseling management in all facets of workplace fraud investigations; Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage law claims litigation; collective bargaining negotiations; unfair labor practice charges, union grievances, strikes, pickets, and other union-related issues; defense of union benefit fund compliance audits and underpayment claims; implementation of workplace policies; negotiation of general employment and separation agreements; management of reductions in force; defense of workplace harassment and discrimination claims; and defense of wrongful termination claims. For more information on Eric, visit: http://www.fordharrison.com/EricSu.
Johanna Zelman’s unique background in health and mental care and in public sector work results in highly competent, in-depth and knowledgeable advice and representation for her clients. While she has represented a wide variety of private and public sector employers from various industries, Johanna has specific strength and hands-on experience in the health and mental health fields. Prior to her legal career, she worked for Harvard University’s affiliate hospitals, where she had direct contact with patients being treated for mental health disorders; she also managed large federally and privately funded grants. In addition, she worked at the Center for Children’s Advocacy in Hartford, Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Health Center Department of Community Medicine. Her passion for health care is extremely helpful when handling issues involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act and other behavioral or mental health issues arising in the employment setting. She also has a particular interest in LGBTQ rights. For more information on Johanna, visit: http://www.fordharrison.com/JohannaZelman.