April 17, 2006
THE DAILY JOURNAL
By Kenneth Davis
LOS ANGELES – Morgan Lewis & Bockius recently wrangled litigator Carla Feldman from Loeb & Loeb to join its labor and employment practice group.
Feldman joined Morgan Lewis as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office April 6.
“I just saw this as an irresistible opportunity to work with a really prestigious and powerful national firm,” she said. “And I think their labor and employment practice has more depth in terms of subject matter, discipline and experience than any other labor and employment practice anywhere.”
Feldman brings 20 years of experience as a labor and employment litigator to Morgan Lewis. She has handled a range of employment-law matters.
Last year, she successfully represented Goodridge in an unfair competition/trade secrets case that was tried in Los Angeles Superior Court. The international auto parts supplier alleged Amerisource stole its drawings for brake-line assemblies for extreme motor-sports vehicles, she said. According to the complaint, Amerisource went in direct competition against Goodridge using the stolen materials. In June, the jury found 12-0 in Goodridge’s favor in all causes of action that trade secrets had been stolen and that Amerisource engaged in unfair competition.
“She’s a fabulous attorney with a great reputation,” said David Schrader, managing partner of Morgan Lewis’ Los Angeles office. “And she’s a terrific labor and employment lawyer, which is one of our strengths.”
Clifford Sethness, head of the firm’s labor and employment group for Southern California, said that Feldman will be a critical part of the group’s continued expansion.
“She’s a terrific employment trial lawyer,” he said. “And we’re just delighted to have her.”
He said that the firm always has had a strong labor and employment practice but it has recently “exploded” in California. In the last three years, the firm has grown its labor and employment practice in California from 10 to more than 50. There are plans to add five more in the Los Angeles office within the next year.
“I think the theme here is we’re looking at and landing the best talent in town,” he said.
Legal recruiter Larry Watanabe of Watanabe Nason & Seltzer in San Diego brokered the lateral move.
Feldman joined Loeb & Loeb in 1997 and was head of its labor and employment group before moving to Morgan Lewis.
“I think that Morgan just has an incredible platform for the kinds of matters that my clients send,” she said.
Some of her clients include Z-Gallerie Inc., St. John’s Well Child & Family Centers, city of Vernon, Infinity International Health and Lions Gate Entertainment.
Morgan Lewis has 1,278 attorneys firmwide in 20 offices, including Boston, Miami, New York, Frankfurt, London and Tokyo.
Loeb & Loeb has 225 attorneys firmwide, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Nashville. The firm did not return calls requesting comment.