Rick Bales (Ada, OH) was featured in the Fall 2025 edition of Converge for Impact discussing his recently published article Writing Effective Labor Arbitration Briefs. Click here to read the article and access Rick’s paper.
Jack Clarke (Hull, GA) was awarded the American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year. Criteria included a minimum of 20 years on the AAA/ICDR panel, consistently receiving high scores across all categories of client and staff surveys, strong record of reasonable fees for parties, significant contributions to the field of ADR, leadership roles and overall positive impact to the field and to AAA/ICDR.
Lori Deem (Chicago, IL) was recognized as one of the 2025 Women in Law honorees by Law Bulletin Media and Chicago Lawyer Magazine. This honor celebrates influential female attorneys who demonstrate exceptional leadership, meaningful mentorship, and significant contributions to the legal profession. Lori accepted her award during a ceremony on November 19, 2025.
Jeff Dretler (Boston, MA) has played a key role in planning and leading Northeastern University School of Law’s Annual Labor and Employment Program since 2020. He continued his involvement in this year’s program which took place on December 3rd and included panels on shifting federal labor and employment agencies under the second Trump administration and the growing scrutiny of DEI initiatives.
Jerry Hunter (St. Louis, MO) was awarded the Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Service by the Eighth Circuit Bar Association during the Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference this past August. The award is named in honor of former Chief Judge Richard S. Arnold who had a distinguished private practice career as well as prominent service on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The picture above shows, from the left, Chief Judge Stephen Clark (USDC ED Mo.), Olivia Hunter (Jerry’s daughter), and Jerry.
Vanessa Kelly (Princeton, NJ), along with her Clark Hill Law partner Peter Berk, wrote an article which was featured on Law.com, From Algorithms to Deepfakes: AI Risks EveryEmployer Must Confront. Vanessa encourages companies to be prepared as AI infiltrates hiring systems and have a plan for detection and response to these threats.
Louis Lopez (Washington, DC) was awarded the Hugh A. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Award by the Hispanic Bar Association of DC. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Hispanic community in the areas of equality, fairness and social justice. Recipients, whether an individual or an organization, demonstrate an unwavering commitment to and achievement in public service.
Hope Pordy (New York, NY) presented to the New York City Low Wage Workers Taskforce on “Protected Concerted Activity – Building Power in the Workplace” (10/28/25) to advise workers’ advocates and activist workers on the latest NLRB status and provide updates on the type of worker actions that are considered protected and concerted under the NLRA in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces.
Jason Schwartz (Washington, DC) was recently named a Law360 Employment MVP for the seventh time, after convincing Maryland’s Supreme Court to create new case law in favor of his client, Amazon, clarifying the state wage and hour statutes.
Don Slesnick (Coral Gables, FL) was honored during the Coral Gables Art Cinema’s 15th Annual Gala “Lights & Legacy” with the debut of the Don Slesnick Civic Vision Award. The award honors Don, former mayor of Coral Gables, who helped create the culture and civic that made such institutions possible, and will recognize future recipients whose leadership combines aesthetic vision with civic service.
George Washington. Jr. (Alexandria, VA) is serving a second term as a member of the Practical Law Labor & Employment Advisory Board and was featured in the November 2025 issue of Practical Law The Journal in their “Checking In” profile Checking In | Practical Law The Journal | Reuters.
Ferne Wolf (St. Louis, MO) was recognized as one of Missouri Lawyers Media2025 Power List, which is a prestigious annual recognition of the most influential attorneys in Missouri, highlighting top lawyers across various practice areas and culminating in a “Top 100” list of the state’s most powerful figures.
Paul Lancaster Adams (PA), Elena Baca (CA), Lisa Banks (WDC) and Camille Olson(IL) were listed on Forbes’s 2025 list of American’s Top Lawyers. The list recognizes attorneys who demonstrate exceptional legal skills, leadership, and client service across a range of practice areas. Click here to read more.
Eric Barnum (GA) was recognized by his peers in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
Cozen O’Connor labor and employment attorneys Susan Eisenberg, Jeremy Glenn, Mike Schmidt, Joe Tilson and Anna Wermuth have been named by Lawdragon to its 2025 list of the Top 500 Leading US Corporate Employment Lawyers.
Elaine Fitch (WDC), managing partner of Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, PC, has recently been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers guide and has been recognized in Washingtonian’s 2025 Top Employment Lawyers list. In addition, she was selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Civil Rights Law; Employment Law – Individuals; Litigation – Labor and Employment.
Thomas Giotto (PA) was recognized by City & State Pennsylvania’s 2025 Who’s Who in Labor, a list recognizing influential leaders championing Pennsylvania’s workforce. Tom is the chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Labor & Employment practice group where he represents management in a myriad of labor- and employment-related matters.
David Lowe (CA) has been voted a 2026 Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year for Labor & Employment Litigation in San Francisco.
Mark Mallery (LA) was the only Louisiana labor and employment lawyer to be named a 2026 Lawdragon. Other Ogletree Deakins Fellows recognized by Lawdragon include Paul Lancaster Adams, Margaret Campbell, Ron Chapman, Jr., Joe Clees, Craig Cleland, Kim Ebert, Simone Francis, Jeff Londa, Carolyn Russell, Phillip Russell and Pete Zinober. The 2026 edition is Lawdragon’s 19th guide to the nation’s best employment and labor law advisors.
Wayne Morse (AL) was awarded the Cumberland School of Law’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. A 1976 graduate, Wayne was honored at an annual reception on October 24th, which recognizes an alumnus who have distinguished themselves in the practice of law, service to the community, and leadership in the profession.
Evan Spelfogel (NY) has been recognized in the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers in America® .
Anna Wermuth (IL), vice-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s national Labor and Employment Department, has been named 2026 Lawyer of the Year (Chicago Employment Law – Management) by Best Lawyers in America®.
Deborah Willig (PA) has been named to the 2025 Lawdragon500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employer Lawyers guide. Attorneys featured in this guide are deemed by the publication as the most noteworthy advocates for civil rights and workers in the country. Deborah was also recognized by City & State Pennsylvania’s 2025 Who’s Who in Labor.
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