CLEVELAND, OH (July 6, 2015) Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s preeminent workplace law firms, is pleased to announce the addition of three attorneys to the Cleveland office’s expanding roster. Suellen Oswald, formerly the Co-Chair of Littler’s Staffing and Contingent Workers Industry Group, and Patrick O. Peters, formerly with The Benesch Law Firm, have joined the office as Shareholders. Together they bring to Jackson Lewis decades of management-side employment law experience covering the whole spectrum of the employment relationship. In addition, Michael Kozimor has been elevated to an Associate after working for the firm as a law clerk.
“Suellen and Pat are extremely well-respected in Ohio’s legal and employer communities, and their arrival immediately strengthens our already-significant presence in northeast Ohio,” said James M. Stone, Cleveland Office Managing Shareholder. “Suellen is one of the most respected labor and employment litigation attorneys in northeast Ohio with an outstanding reputation for effectiveness in the representation of both large and mid-sized companies throughout the region and the country. Pat is an excellent employment litigator, with additional valuable skill sets, who is a rising star in the legal community. We feel fortunate to have them join our expanding team.”
“With the addition of these two outstanding Shareholders and the promotion of our associate, Jackson Lewis’ Cleveland office has upgraded its already significant presence in the region,” continued Stone. “Suellen and Pat bring to our clients the qualities Jackson Lewis most values: integrity, honesty, intelligence, collegiality, legal skill mixed with pragmatism and devotion to our client’s interests. At a more junior level, Michael brings a bright, energetic approach to our client’s legal issues, and we look forward to our clients getting to know him.”
Ms. Oswald focuses her practice on labor law, employment litigation and staffing and contingent workers. Certified as a labor and employment law specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association, she has represented employers of all sizes in numerous employment lawsuits in both federal and state courts, including matters such as union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations, contract administration and labor arbitration cases.
Ms. Oswald, who is AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has extensive experience representing employers before various governmental agencies, and devotes a significant amount of time to counseling and advising clients on staffing and contingent workforces, sexual harassment prevention, workplace violence, reorganizations and reductions in force, leaves of absence, employee handbooks, and policies and litigation avoidance.
Ms. Oswald has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and OhioSuper Lawyers since 2006. She is a member of the Labor and Employment/Litigation Section of the American Bar Association as well as the ABA’s Committee on Developing Labor Law. She is a former Steering Committee member of the Ohio Management Lawyers Association.
Ms. Oswald received her B.A. from Edinboro University and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Mr. Peters counsels clients on hiring, promotion, discipline and termination decisions; negotiates executive employment agreements; and drafts and reviews employee policy manuals for compliance with state and federal law. A significant portion of his practice is devoted to employment litigation. He defends employers before state and federal administrative agencies and in courts throughout the United States in claims involving breach of contract, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and state and federal wage and hour and leave of absence laws. Mr. Peters’ litigation practice also includes representing employers in actions to enforce mandatory alternative dispute resolution agreements and related proceedings, prosecuting and defending trade secret and non-compete matters, and representing employer-sponsored benefit plans and their fiduciaries in ERISA litigation.
Mr. Peters also represents multinational corporate clients in the diversified manufacturing, information technology, healthcare, marketing, transportation and consulting industries, among others, on all aspects of U.S. immigration, including permanent residence, non-immigrant visas and citizenship. His practice includes providing strategic counsel to sponsoring employers on both immigrant and non-immigrant visas. He also advises employers on their I-9 and E-Verify obligations, assists employers with audits, and represents employers in proceedings before the federal courts, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice. Mr. Peters also conducts immigration and labor and employment-related due diligence in corporate transactions.
Mr. Peters, who is certified as a specialist in labor and employment law by the Ohio State Bar Association, received his B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude.
Mr. Kozimor represents clients in a variety of employment litigation matters, including claims involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, leave and accommodation, and wage and hour issues. He advocates for clients in both state and federal court matters, as well as defending clients before the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. He also has experience advising clients on complying with state and federal wage deduction laws, wage garnishments, workers’ compensation, and revising employee handbooks.
Mr. Kozimor received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he served as a Student Advisor and Secretary of the American Constitution Society. He received his B.A., summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University.
Jackson Lewis’ Cleveland office is undertaking its second expansion since opening in 2006, adding another 5,000 square feet of office and conference room space to accommodate its growing practice and clientele. The office can be reached at (216) 750-0404.
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About Jackson Lewis
Founded in 1958, Jackson Lewis is dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law. With 800 attorneys practicing in major locations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Jackson Lewis is included in the AmLaw 100 and Global 100 rankings of law firms. The firm’s wide range of specialized areas of practice provides the resources to address every aspect of the employer/employee relationship. Jackson Lewis has one of the most active employment litigation practices in the world, with a current caseload of over 6,500 litigations and approximately 650 class actions. Jackson Lewis is a founding member of L&E Global Employers’ Counsel Worldwide, an alliance of premier employment law boutique firms and practices in Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific Region.
Additional information about the firm can be found at www.jacksonlewis.com.
For more information about Jackson Lewis, please contact:
Lara Hamm, Jackson Lewis
T: (703) 483-8373
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