Spring is in the air and we’re back with another edition of our legal industry news column, Read on for the latest news in law firm hiring, legal industry awards and highlights on women in the legal industry:

Law Firm Hiring and Law Firm Expansion

Roetzel & Andress LPA expanded its Labor and Employment practice group with the addition of Heather Renée Adams. Joining the firm’s Columbus office as a Shareholder, Ms. Adams is well-experienced in the field of labor and employment law. She provides practical guidance to employers in a wide variety of contexts, including but not limited to wage and hour disputes, restrictive covenant litigation and whistleblower actions. Further, she represents clients in both state and federal trial courts as well as at the appellate level.

“We are thrilled to welcome Heather to our growing Columbus office,” said Erika L. Haupt, Shareholder in Charge of Roetzel’s Columbus office. “Heather brings deep knowledge and experience across numerous areas of labor and employment law. She will be an asset to our firm and position us to continue to serve our clients’ needs well into the future.”

Chelsea E. Bellew joined Goldberg Segalla’s Workers’ Compensation practice group in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. Ms. Bellew focuses her practice on defending self-insured employers, third-party administrators, and insurance carriers in all types of employment issues. She represents clients at both state and federal courts in Florida.

Ms. Bellew is experienced in handling employment law and workers’ compensation and disability claims, including wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), litigation for discrimination claims and compliance issues under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Frost Brown Todd LLC added Members Ryan Preston and Sam Joyner to the firm’s Dallas Office. Mr. Preston focuses his practice on technology transactions and other complex commercial arrangements, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Joyner, a litigation and intellectual property attorney, represents clients in various areas including trade secret infringement, antitrust and RICO Act claims, and business litigation.

“The experience Sam and Ryan bring to Frost Brown Todd is a huge benefit to our clients,” said Dallas Member-in-Charge Eddy Moore. “Both have worked closely with Members in our Dallas office. This means they will be able to quickly transition and expand upon the work we are already doing. Their addition signals FBT Dallas’s continued acquisition of attorneys with cutting edge legal skills.”

Attorneys Charlotte Garry Carne and Brett M. Gelbord joined Dykema Gossett PLLC as senior counsel in the Labor and Employment practice group. Ms. Carne, who joins the firm’s Ann Arbor office, focuses her practice on a range of litigation and labor and employment matters, and represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and other venues. .

Mr. Gelbord, who joins the firm’s Detroit office, is also a labor and employment lawyer, handling matters of employment discrimination, wrongful termination and more. He provides guidance to clients in all manners of workforce-related issues, and has provided counseling across a variety of industries, with a particular emphasis on the cannabis, technology and automotive sectors.

“We are extremely excited that Charlotte and Brett have joined our talented L&E roster,” said Ray Bissmeyer, Leader of Dykema’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. “Their respective experience and industry knowledge enhance our service offerings to clients and augment our already robust bench strength in Michigan.”

Industry Awards and Attorney Recognition

Bradley M. Cosgrove, partner at Clifford Law Offices, is a new fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. The International Academy of Trial Lawyers inducted new fellows at the 2022 Annual Meeting on March 18, 2022.

The academy includes lawyers from 30 countries who are both prosecutors and defense lawyers in criminal cases, as well as plaintiffs’ and defense counsel in civil litigation, including personal injury and business cases. Fellowship is given by invitation only, and includes an intensive vetting process.

The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono recognized Barnes & Thornburg for its pro bono service in 2021. The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono acknowledges law firms, individual attorneys, corporate legal departments and other organizations for their participation in the ABA Free Legal Answers program.

The Free Legal Answers program is a virtual legal clinic where income-eligible clients can ask civil legal services questions to be answered by an attorney in their state free of charge. The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono recognized Barnes and Thornburg for answering 75 or more civil legal questions in the 2021 calendar year.

The Hartford Business Journal included Robinson+Cole on its list of 2022 Best Places to Work in Connecticut. The designation recognized Robinson + Cole based on a survey administered by a third-party research firm, Best Companies Group. The survey assesses benefits, policies, practices and other general information and includes a confidential employee engagement and satisfaction survey.

“Being recognized among the Best Places to Work in Connecticut is a reflection of the special community we’ve cultivated at the firm,” said Rhonda J. Tobin, Managing Partner, Robinson+Cole. “With our core values of collaboration, civility, and inclusion as our foundation, the firm focuses on supporting our employees through professional development, technology, and continuous communication. All of that, coupled with our commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture enables us to provide the very best service to our clients and to our communities. But what really makes this the Best Place to Work is our people, who bring their best and work as a team each and every day.”

This year, Robinson+Cole also ranked #12 among 50 law firms in the 2022 Best Law Firms to Work For category as part of Vault’s Law Firm Quality of Life Rankings. Additionally, Robinson+Cole received a New York City Top Workplaces 2021 award by Schneps Media and  Energage.

Women in the Legal Industry

Greenberg Traurig, LLP shareholder Maribel N. Nicholson-Choice is included in ONYX magazine’s “Women on the Move” list. The award recognizes professional black women in Florida for their impact in business, government, media, education and nonprofits. Ms. Nicholson-Choice received the award March 18, 2022.

“I have always been passionate about helping the personal and professional advancement of women, and I’m proud to celebrate and recognize their accomplishments with them,” said Ms. Nicholson-Choice.

Heather Hatcher, PhD. and Karthika Perumal, PhD. from Womble Bond Dickinson will speak about biological product regulations at the two-day 17th Annual FDA and the Changing Paradigm for HCT/P Regulation event in Cambridge, MD. Their session is titled “Bridging the Gap Between 361 HCT/Ps and HCT/Ps Regulated as Drugs, Devices and/or Biological Products.”

The conference takes place April 12 and 13, and features up-to-date information regarding the FDA and regulations for the tissue and cell industry.

California representatives Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-14) and Assemblymember Janet Nguyen (R-72) received the Civil Justice Gavel award from the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC), which recognizes legislators who promote a fair civil justice system in the state.

The CJAC confronts California laws and regulations that create unfair litigation burdens, and selects one Democrat and one Republican each year for the award.

“We’re delighted to recognize the standout, bipartisan efforts of Senator Hurtado and Assemblymember Nguyen to improve California’s legal climate,” said Kyla Christoffersen Powell, president and CEO of CJAC. “Through their policy leadership, they have helped minimize frivolous lawsuits against businesses in their districts and throughout the state.”

Rachel Popa and Jessica Scheck also contributed to this article.