NATIONAL – FordHarrison LLP, one of the country’s largest management-side labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce that the firm added seven associates to offices throughout the U.S. including Berkeley Heights, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Spartanburg.
"We're excited that Julia, Emily, Michael, Erin, Carli, Seth, and Jennifer recently joined the firm," said John Monroe, FordHarrison Managing Partner. "They are bright and talented additions to FordHarrison, and undoubtedly, their skills and ambition will enhance our ability to serve clients across many areas."
Julia B. Chang
Senior Associate | (Los Angeles, CA)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Julia worked as an Associate Attorney at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore where she focused on representing non-profit, education, and public clients in a broad range of employment and labor matters. Julia is an experienced labor and employment attorney with a strong background in employment litigation, labor relations, administrative proceedings, and compliance counseling. Her experience includes representing public and private sector clients in all aspects of employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and wage and hour claims. In addition to litigation, Julia has represented public entities in unfair labor practice disputes and grievance arbitrations. Her experience includes matters before the National Labor Relations Board and the Public Employment Relations Board.
Emily E. Costanzo
Associate | (Nashville, TN)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Emily worked as an Associate Attorney at Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan. Emily is an experienced labor and employment attorney who focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters. Emily defends employers in claims involving wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, and workplace misconduct. Emily works closely with her clients to ensure their interests are represented and their litigation needs are fully met.
Michael G Morrison, II
Senior Associate | (Spartanburg, SC)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Michael worked as an associate attorney at McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC where he represented both employers and insurers in employment and workers' compensation matters. In addition to representing clients in cases before state and federal courts, Michael has served as an advocate before the American Arbitration Association and various other administrative tribunals, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Industrial Commission. Earlier in his career, Michael practiced management-side labor and employment law for an international labor and employment law firm in the U.S. Virgin Islands and before that, he represented employees in the Carolinas.
Erin M. Shrum
Associate | (Nashville, TN)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Erin worked as an associate attorney at Howell & Fisher, PLLC. There, Erin defended municipal entities and employees against claims brought under federal and state law. Erin also previously served as a legal aid attorney, where she represented low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and collaborated with local agencies and nonprofits to facilitate public assistance. During law school, Erin interned with the United States Department of Labor and volunteered as a Crisis Intervention Advocate for Michigan State University’s Center for Survivors.
Carli L. Smith
Senior Associate | (Dallas, TX)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Carli worked as an associate attorney at Freeman, Mathis & Gary, LLP. Prior to that, Carli worked at a boutique law firm in Chicago, where she assisted with employment litigation cases in the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois. She also played a key role in representing a Fortune 500 technology company in corporate immigration matters, with a particular focus on the employment-based permanent residency process. Carli focuses her practice on advising clients in labor and employment law matters and business immigration.
Seth A. Spiegal
Counsel | (Berkeley Heights, NJ)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Seth worked as a partner at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP. Seth routinely represents employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies in matters such as employment discrimination lawsuits, whistleblower litigation, wage and hour class and collective actions, unfair labor practice charges, and noncompete proceedings. Before entering private practice, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable James F. McClure, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Jennifer R. Weatherup
Counsel | (Los Angeles, CA)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Jennifer worked as senior counsel at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani. Jennifer is skilled in all phases of litigation, including the preparation and argument of critical motions such as demurrers, motions to strike, and motions for summary judgment. With a strong background in alternative dispute resolution, Jennifer has prepared for and managed successful mediation proceedings; her role involved the preparation of persuasive mediation briefs and pre-mediation reports, and communicating with carriers and clients throughout the process. She also has extensive deposition experience, having deposed witnesses and defended depositions of employees, third parties, plaintiffs, and experts.