February 28, 2003
THE DAILY JOURNAL
By Liz Valsamis
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles office of Seattle’s Perkins Coie has hired its fifth labor and employment law attorney in the past six months. Partner William Emer, who brings the group total to six, joined the firm Feb. 3 from Riordan & McKenzie.
“Riordan is an excellent firm, and I have the highest regard for my former colleagues there,” Emer says.
The employment litigator says he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help Perkins Coie expand its California presence.
In September, the Los Angeles office of Perkins Coie hired labor and employment partner William Kannow, who joined the firm from Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May, now Reed Smith Crosby Heafey.
“Perkins Coie is well-known for its national labor and employment practices, and that’s a strength we’re trying to reflect in our Los Angeles office,” says Bruce Sherman, managing partner of Perkins Coie’s Los Angeles office. “Bill Emer is a key component of our new team, particularly the value that his counseling practice adds.”
The employment group isn’t the only one expanding at the 43-attorney office.
In August, intellectual property partners Michael Wise and Kenneth Ohriner joined the firm from now-defunct Lyon & Lyon.
Emer represents clients in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, arbitration of grievances and representing employers before various federal and California agencies, such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The 550-lawyer firm has 40 employment attorneys firmwide.