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Press Release

Jackson Lewis Boosts Employment Law Capabilities in Albany

ALBANY, NY (April 12, 2013) –Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing workplace law firms, is pleased to announce the addition of three experienced litigators to its growing Albany office.  Partner and Albany native William J. Anthony, Chair of the firm’s Class Actions and Complex Litigation Practice Group, has returned to his home state after practicing in the firm’s Hartford, CT , Morristown, NJ and San Francisco, CA offices over the past 24 years.  He is joined by Of Counsel Clemente J. Parente, an experienced Albany litigator who was formerly with Crane & Parente and Associate Kristi M. Rich, an Albany native who formerly practiced out of Jackson Lewis’ Hartford office with Mr. Anthony.  

“I am very happy to return to Albany and help grow our litigation practice in the upstate region,” said Mr. Anthony, who will continue to practice in Connecticut and New Jersey.  “The collective experience that Clem, Kristi and I add to the office’s existing labor relations and employee benefits capabilities helps make our Albany office a full-service, one-stop shop for our clients.”

“Combined with our firm’s broad range of employment law services and national practice group expertise, our Albany office provides local employers with unparalleled access to 750 employment lawyers who are dealing with similar legal and industry-specific issues every day,” Mr. Anthony added.  

Mr. Anthony has handled numerous class and collective actions throughout the country including wage and hour cases  involving claims for ”off the clock work,” misclassification of exempt employees, and violations of state wage laws in almost every major industry.  

Mr. Anthony is a Past President of the Connecticut Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity and currently serves on its Board of Directors.  He has been selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers since 2006 and listed in the Chambers USA Legal Guide as a “Leader in his Field” from 2010 - 2012.  In addition, he was recently included in the 2013 edition of Best Lawyers in America and received the Hartford Business Journal’s Leadership in Diversity Award in 2010.

Mr. Anthony earned his B.A. from Hamilton College and graduated from Boston University School of Law.  He resides in Loudonville with his wife and children.

Mr. Parente has over 20 years of experience in general litigation, restrictive covenants in non-compete agreements, and construction issues, including prevailing wage matters. Mr. Parente has successfully tried jury and non-jury trials as well as matters before numerous arbitration and mediation panels.  In addition, he has handled matters before administrative agencies including the New York State Department of Labor and the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Mr. Parente served as Hearing Officer for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board and Chairperson for the Albany County Ethics Commission.  He received his J.D. from Albany Law School and B.A. from Alfred University.  Mr. Parente resides in Bethlehem with his wife and children. 

Ms. Rich focuses her practice on employment litigation and preventive counseling.  She regularly represents employers in numerous forums, including state and federal courts and administrative agencies.  She also assists employers in preparing employee handbooks and policies and procedures.

Ms. Rich is a recipient of the American Bar Association/Bureau of National Affairs Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law.  She received her B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and her J.D. from The State University of New York at Buffalo.

The Albany office of Jackson Lewis can be reached at (518) 434-1300.

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About Jackson Lewis

Founded in 1958, Jackson Lewis, dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law, is one of the fastest growing workplace law firms in the U.S., with 750 attorneys practicing in 52 locations nationwide. We have a wide-range of specialized practice areas, including: Affirmative Action and OFCCP Planning and Counseling; Disability, Leave and Health Management; Employee Benefits Counseling and Litigation; Immigration; Labor, including Preventive Practices; General Employment Litigation, including Class Actions, Complex Litigation and e-Discovery; Non-Competes and Protection Against Unfair Competition; Wage and Hour Compliance; Workplace Safety and Health and Corporate Diversity Counseling. 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 Employment Issues; Management Education; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Public Sector Representation; Government Relations; Collegiate and Professional Sports; and Privacy, Social Media and Information Management.

For the 11th consecutive year, Jackson Lewis has been recognized for delivering client service excellence to the world’s largest corporations, once again earning a spot on the BTI Client Service A-Team. Jackson Lewis has also been recognized by in-house counsel in a comprehensive survey by BTI Consulting Group as both a “Powerhouse” and “Standout” in employment litigation. In addition, Jackson Lewis is ranked in the First Tier nationally in the category of Labor and Employment Litigation, as well as in both Employment Law and Labor Law on behalf of Management in the U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms,” and is recognized by Chambers and Legal 500. As an “AmLaw 100” firm, Jackson Lewis has one of the most active employment litigation practices in the United States, with a current caseload of over 6,500 litigations and approximately 415 class actions. And finally, Jackson Lewis is a charter member of L & E Global Employers’ Counsel Worldwide, an alliance currently of 14 workplace law firms in 14 countries.

For more information, please contact:

Lara Hamm, Public Relations Manager

T: (703) 483-8373

Email: hamml@jacksonlewis.com