Jackson Lewis Expands Mid-West Practice by Merging With Employment Boutique Berens & Tate
Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the largest workplace law firms in the United States, is pleased to announce that Omaha-based Berens & Tate has elected to merge its practice with Jackson Lewis. With this major development, Jackson Lewis is now the first national employment law firm with an office in Nebraska.
Kelly (Kelvin) Berens, a nationally known labor and employment lawyer with over 30 years of experience, will assume the managing partner role for the Omaha office. He is joined by partners Joe Dreesen, Chris Hoyme, Tim Loudon and Chad Richter, and associates Ross Gardner, Michael Mortensen, Jill Poole and Ken Wentz. With the Omaha addition, Jackson Lewis will have 565 lawyers practicing in 41 offices nationwide.
Patrick L. Vaccaro, firm-wide managing partner of Jackson Lewis, said, “We are honored that this distinguished group of labor and employment law practitioners has joined our firm. Their accomplishments as lawyers, business people, client acquirers, and builders of a thriving practice in the heart of the Great Plains is very impressive and notably enhances the reputation of our firm. We believe being the first national workplace law firm to maintain an office in Nebraska provides area employers unmatched access to the experience, resources, and support needed at this critical time for the American workplace. Having an Omaha office staffed by established leaders in the legal community gives Jackson Lewis the opportunity to better serve our clients doing business in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and the Dakotas.”
Commenting upon the merger, Mr. Berens added, “My partners, associates and I are very excited about this incredible opportunity to join what we consider to be the premier workplace law boutique in our region and the nation. The merger with Jackson Lewis allows us to expand our practice geographically, gives us the capability to offer services in the areas of employee benefits/ERISA and affirmative action, and increases our ability to serve the immigration, training, and other workplace law needs of our clients. We have no doubt the synergy from our new firm will create opportunities to expand our client base and enhance the level of legal services our existing clients and friends have come to expect.”
The firm will continue to practice in the B&T offices in west Omaha, at 10050 Regency Circle, Suite 400, Omaha NE 68114. Kelly Berens, Managing Partner, can be reached at (402) 827-4230, or at berensk@jacksonlewis.com. For further information regarding Jackson Lewis, please visit our website, www.jacksonlewis.com.
About Jackson Lewis
Founded in 1958, Jackson Lewis is dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law with 565 attorneys practicing in 41 cities nationwide. Jackson Lewis has a wide-range of specialized practice areas, including: Affirmative Action and OFCCP Diversity Planning; Disability, Leave and Health Management; Employee Benefits, including Complex ERISA Litigation and Workplace Privacy; Global Immigration; Labor, including Preventive Practices; Litigation, including Class Actions, Complex Litigation and e-Discovery; Trade Secrets, Non-Competes and Workplace Technology; Wage and Hour Compliance; and Workplace Safety Compliance. In addition, Jackson Lewis provides advice nationally in other workplace law areas, including: Reductions in Force, WARN Act; Corporate Governance and Internal Investigations; Drug Testing and Substance Abuse Management; International Issues; Management Education, including e-Based Training; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Executive Compensation; Public Sector Issues; and Government Relations.
About Berens & Tate
Founded in 1979, Berens & Tate is a law firm with a nationwide practice, specializing in the representation of management in all aspects of labor relations, employment-related business litigation, negotiations, and planning. Their practice includes representation of both private and public sector employers, with and without union contracts, ranging in size from family-owned businesses and small municipalities to multi-state employers and large governmental bodies with thousands of employees.