Forbes.com, March 11, 2010, Thurday

Forbes.com

March 11, 2010, Thurday

Forbes.com

Proskauer Expands Global Labor and Employment Practice to Chicago

BusinessWire - Signaling the continued expansion of its renowned labor and employment practice and Chicago office, Proskauer announced that Nigel Telman, an experienced employment law litigator and counselor with deep ties to the Chicago business and civic communities, has joined the firm as a partner.

Mr. Telman concentrates his practice on litigating disputes stemming from workplace harassment and employment discrimination claims, as well as handling internal investigations relating to similar claims involving senior executives. He also defends and enforces non-compete agreements, handles trade secret protection cases and works with companies to institute diversity policies and internal policies governing employee use of social media. He represents clients before state and federal courts throughout the country as well as before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Human Rights Commission and the American Arbitration Association. He joins the firm from Sidley Austin, where he was a partner in the Employment and Labor Law group.

"Nigel is an exceptional lawyer with an impressive track record litigating major employment disputes and counseling clients on a range of complex matters," said Paul Salvatore, co-chair of Proskauer's Labor & Employment Law Department. "His addition in Chicago strengthens our capabilities in a critical region and further extends the reach of our practice, which is now present in 10 of our 12 offices around the world."

The addition of Mr. Telman follows the recent addition of Daniel Ornstein, who joined the firm as a partner in London, expanding Proskauer's labor and employment practice to the UK, as well as Paul Hamburger and a team of benefits lawyers, who established the Washington, DC arm of the firm's Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation & ERISA Litigation Practice Center.

Proskauer's Chicago office, which opened in 2008, has significant strength in the areas of: general commercial litigation; insurance coverage litigation and counseling; bankruptcy and corporate restructuring; distressed mergers and acquisitions; health care; and not-for-profit/exempt organizations, in addition to its new labor and employment capabilities.

"Since opening in 2008, our Chicago office has quickly established itself as an important presence in the legal community and a key to the firm's continued growth," said Steven Gilford, partner and Chicago office head. "Adding a strong employment practice is a key component of the continued expansion of our capabilities and ability to serve our clients both in the Midwest and around the world."

Active in the Chicago business and civic communities, Mr. Telman was selected in 2009 as one of the top Business Leaders of Color by local advocacy organization Chicago United for his professional success and contributions to the cultural, civic and educational life of the Chicago region. He also served on the Chicago 2016 Committee for the Olympic Games and was appointed by the Mayor of Chicago to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. He received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law and his B.S. from the Cornell University ILR School.

About Proskauer

Founded in 1875, Proskauer is a global law firm widely recognized for its leadership in a variety of legal services provided to clients worldwide from offices in Boca Raton, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Paris, Sao Paulo and Washington, DC. Additional information about the firm, which has extensive experience in all areas of practice important to businesses, not-for-profit institutions and individuals, can be found at www.proskauer.com.

SOURCE: Proskauer

Linden Alschuler & Kaplan Lynn Trono, 212-899-4743 ltrono@lakpr.com