NEW YORK (July 19, 2012) – Expanding its national labor & employment group while continuing its steady growth in the New York market, Venable LLP has added veteran labor and employment defense litigator Brian J. Clark as a partner in its New York office.
Mr. Clark joins Venable from the firm of Clifton Budd & DeMaria, LLP. He previously served in the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Mr. Clark represents private and public sector management-side clients in labor, discrimination, wrongful discharge, benefits and other labor and employment-related suits. He has been particularly active in the healthcare field, representing both major hospitals and care organizations in employment related issues.
An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Clark has represented clients in administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, US Department of Labor, NYS’ Public Employment Relations Board and the Civil Service Commission.
In addition to his litigation work, Mr. Clark has been active in collective bargaining actions, serving as chief labor negotiator for a number of clients and participating in numerous arbitrations. He counsels companies on the prevention and resolution of labor and employment disputes, their compliance with the variety of laws governing the workplace, and the labor/employment issues that arise during mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.
Mr. Clark is the latest addition to Venable’s New York office, which has welcomed nine attorneys the first half of 2012, including a seven-member real estate group who formerly practiced together at Dewey LeBoeuf. Also arriving this spring was Leonard Gordon, a leading expert in antitrust and consumer protection law who was formerly Northeast Regional Director with the Federal Trade Commission. Peter Koffler, joined the firm in January from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP to lead the New York real estate group. Over the past year the New York office has further added experienced attorneys with practices in intellectual property, securities class actions and corporate finance.
“Brian is another strong addition to the office and fortifies our New York labor and employment practice, led by partner Michael Volpe,” said Edmund O’Toole, partner-in-charge of Venable’s New York office. He noted that several of the firm’s attorneys have previously worked with Mr. Clark on labor and employment matters – including Mr. Volpe, who also formerly practiced at Clifton Budd.
“Labor and employment-related actions have probably surpassed all other areas of litigation in recent years, especially coming out of the recession,” Mr. O’Toole added. “Brian has experience representing clients across the waterfront of workplace disputes and he proactively counsels businesses on navigating changing regulations on compliance. He also brings valuable experience from the Department of Labor and understands the issues that are driving many of the workplaces class actions and enforcement proceedings that businesses face with increasing regularity. We are fortunate to have him in our camp.”
Mr. Clark said, “I’ve worked with Venable attorneys for years and have been impressed with the caliber of the firm’s litigation bench and depth of its trial skills – including a strong labor and employment law platform that encompasses appellate and Supreme Court work. The firm’s continuing growth in New York and its role in handling important workplace matters make it a great fit for my practice. And I’m especially pleased to be rejoining my friend and former colleague Mike Volpe.”
Mr. Clark received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, and his B.A. from Aberdeen University, Scotland and Manhattan College.
###
Note: An American Lawyer Global 100 law firm, Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia, Venable LLP lawyers and legislative advisors serve the needs of our domestic and global clients in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory, and government affairs.