United States: The Employer Report: Navigating US and Global Employment Law

Narendra Acharya focuses his practice on matters relating to US and international employee benefits and executive compensation — including global stock plans and pensions, as well as matters pertaining to pensions, executive compensation and employment issues in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Acharya has particular expertise dealing with cross-border compensation issues, including issues raised in corporate reorganizations and inversion transactions. Mr. Acharya has been selected as a BTI Client Service All Star, which recognizes "innovative attorneys who are leveraging market changes to stand out with corporate counsel and deliver superior client service."

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Melissa Allchin is an Attorney in Baker McKenzie's Employment and Compensation Practice with more than eleven years of experience in corporate immigration law. She routinely advises multinational and domestic clients on the strategy, requirements, and procedures to secure visas and work and residence permits and satisfy employment eligibility and other immigration-related regulatory requirements for a global workforce. Melissa frequently speaks on global and US immigration and immigration compliance issues at Firm and client events geared towards global mobility, human resources, and legal professionals. She has been a Member of the Firm's Pro Bono and Diversity Committees.

Michael Brewer is the Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie's California offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Los Angeles and Chair of the Firm’s Global Employment & Compensation Practice. A trial lawyer who represents global and domestic clients, Michael has tried class action and single plaintiff employment cases before judges, juries and arbitrators. Super Lawyers has repeatedly recognized Michael for his superior defense of employment claims.

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Anna Brown is a Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer in Baker McKenzie, New York office.

Caroline Burnett is a Senior Knowledge Lawyer with the North America Employment & Compensation Practice Group. Caroline's primarily responsibility is to make knowledge easily available to lawyers within the North America Employment & Compensation Group, increasing the quality, consistency and cost-effectiveness of the advice that Baker McKenzie gives its clients
In addition to her focus on enhancing technical standards and improving efficiency, Caroline drafts drafting pragmatic and commercially-minded thought leadership for the Firm's clients. She identifies trends and developments impacting US multinationals to enable fee-earners in her practice group to better advise their clients on managing a global workforce. In 2017, Caroline launched the Employer Report blog, which provides legal updates and practical insights to help multinational employers understand, prepare for and respond to the latest domestic and cross-border labor and employment law changes.
Before joining Baker McKenzie, Caroline practiced labor and employment law for nearly a decade at major US law firms.

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JT Charron is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Chicago office and a member of the Firm’s Employment and Compensation Practice Group. Prior to joining the Firm, JT was an associate attorney with other leading law firms. Additionally, in 2015 JT advocated for disadvantaged children’s educational rights and interests at the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's Children’s Legal Alliance and worked as Student Clinician at the Boesche Legal Clinic’s Immigrants Rights Project in 2014, where he represented refugees seeking asylum in the US.

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Sofia is based in San Francisco, California and advises clients on a wide range of domestic and international employment-related matters, with emphasis on matters related to cross-border transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, reorganizations and post-acquisition integration.

Amanda Cohen is a partner in Baker McKenzie's labor and employment practice group. Amanda advises clients on the full range of domestic and cross-border employment matters facing multinational employers, as well as the employment law aspects of corporate transactions.

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Loic Coutelier is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Employment Practice Group in Palo Alto. Loic advises clients on domestic and cross-border employment matters arising throughout the employment relationship. Loic also frequently counsels clients on employment law matters arising from domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and global corporate reorganizations. Loic was originally trained as an international arbitration specialist and worked for several years in Europe and Asia. He also worked five years for a Silicon Valley legal-tech start-up, from its creation to its successful acquisition.

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Joseph Deng is a partner in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group based in Baker McKenzie's Los Angeles office with a focus in global employment. With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Deng advises major U.S. and other multinational companies on employment matters around the world with a focus on Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. He has advised on workforce expansions, international transactions, employee transfers, workforce restructuring, codes of conduct, compliance matters and employee investigations with the only international law firm to be ranked Band 1 in both Global Employment and Global Immigration.

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Lothar Determann has been helping companies in Silicon Valley and around the world take products, business models, intellectual property and contracts global for nearly 20 years. He advises on data privacy law compliance, information technology commercialization, interactive entertainment, media, copyrights, open source licensing, electronic commerce, technology transactions, sourcing and international distribution at Baker McKenzie in San Francisco & Palo Alto. He is a member of the Firm's International/Commercial Practice Group and the TMT and Healthcare industry groups.

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Abhishek Dubé ("Abhi") assists clients with franchise and distribution transactions, including international and M&A transactions. He counsels clients in a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, hotel and lodging, retail, fitness, automotive, and alcohol. Abhi has worked with new and existing franchise programs, and structured and negotiated franchise and distribution transactions for the world’s leading brands. Abhi is a Certified Franchise Executive. He serves as a Board Member of the ABA Forum on Franchising's International Division, as well as the International Franchise Association Foundation's Diversity Institute.

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William (Bill) Dugan is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Employment and Compensation Practice Group, residing in Chicago and New York, chair of the US Disputes Employment Group, co-chair of the North American Employment Disputes Group, and a member of the Steering Committee for the North American Employment and Compensation Practice. Bill has been recognized as a leader in labor and employment law by Chambers, he has been repeatedly recognized for his superior litigation defense in Super Lawyers, and Legal 500 has stated that Bill is a “master in the art of defending corporations in litigation.” Bill represents management in complex litigation in federal and state courts and other tribunals throughout the United States, including trade secret and restrictive covenant matters, class and collective actions, and labor arbitrations. Bill also counsels employers on a wide range of Labor and Employment issues.

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Susan Eandi is the Chair of Baker McKenzie's North America Employment and Compensation Practice Group, head of the Global Employment and Labor Law Practice for North America, and a member of the North America Regional Management Council. She also serves on the Firm's Antiracism Legal Impact Board.
Susan speaks regularly for organizations including ACC, Tech GC, Silicon Valley AGC and World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Susan publishes extensively in various external legal publications in addition to handbooks/magazines published by the Firm.
Susan is a recognized leader in employment law by International Employment Lawyer, The Daily Journal, Legal 500 PLC and is a Chambers-ranked attorney.

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Elizabeth Ebersole is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Global Employment and Labor Law group. She focuses her practice on cross-border employment law advice across the entire spectrum of employment issues facing multinational employers. Ms. Ebersole has been published in various external legal publications in addition to handbooks/magazines published by the Firm. She was ranked one of the top employment and labor attorneys in Chicago by Super Lawyers.

Helena Engfeldt helps companies around the world expand their businesses internationally especially by taking privacy law compliance global. She is a partner in Baker McKenzie's International/Commercial Practice Group in San Francisco. She is licensed to practice law in California, New York and Washington.

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Paul Evans is the New York and East Coast leader for the Employment & Compensation Practice Group, residing in Baker McKenzie's New York office. He is also a member of the Steering Committee for the Firm's North American Employment & Compensation Practice. For over 20 years, Paul's practice has included representation of employers at the US state, federal and appellate level in employment discrimination class actions, ERISA class actions, employment testing and validation matters, wage and hour class and collective actions, multiplaintiff and other complex labor and employment litigation.

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Kim Franko is a partner in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Baker McKenzie’s New York office and advises clients on labor and employment issues in connection with US and cross-border corporate transactions.

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Mark Goodman is a partner in the Firm's San Francisco office who serves as co-Chair of the firm’s North America Commercial Litigation group and is part of the North America Trial Team. Mark has led complex multidistrict litigation, handled class actions and tried cases in state and federal courts across the US for both domestic and international clients. Mark regularly presents on product liability, risk mitigation and cross-border disputes. Listed in Who's Who in American Law and a Fellow of the American Bar Association, Mark has been regularly recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer, a member of the Legal 500 and as a member of the International Who's Who of Professionals.

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Rick Hammett represents employers in labor and litigation matters throughout the United States, including administrative proceedings before the EEOC, NLRB, DOL, OFCCP and state agencies. He has represented employers in jury and bench trials in US state and federal courts, and has argued before both federal and state courts of appeals. Mr. Hammett is the former managing partner of the Firm’s North America region and served as a member of the Firm's Policy Committee. He was also the chairman of the Firm’s North America Employment and Compensation practice, as well as member of the Global Employment and Compensation Steering Committee. Mr. Hammett is certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is recommended by Legal 500 and has been selected as a BTI Client Service All-Star, a Texas Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazine, and named one of Houston’s top lawyers by H Texas magazine. He is also cited in Who's Who Legal: Pensions & Benefits 2015.

Ben Ho advises clients on domestic and cross-border employment matters arising throughout the employment relationship. Mr. Ho also frequently counsels clients on employment law matters arising from domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and global corporate reorganizations.

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Aram Karagueuzian is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Los Angeles office and a member of the Firm's labor and employment practice. While in law school, he served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Sandra R. Klein in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Aram was also an articles editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review.

Krissy Katzenstein is a partner in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Baker McKenzie’s New York office. Krissy represents employers in a wide range of employment disputes, with a focus on class and collective actions involving systemic discrimination as well as federal and state agency investigations of systemic discrimination and harassment claims. Krissy was named a “Rising Star” in Employment Law by Law360 in 2019.

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Danielle Gibbons is an associate in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's New York office, with experience advising employers regarding state, federal and global employment laws.

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Kevin Maher currently leads the Dallas Office’s International Commercial Practice Group and is a member of the management committee for the Texas Offices. Kevin has a broad-based business-transactional practice focusing on complex cross-border corporate and commercial contract matters, with a heavy emphasis on global brand expansion and international business growth via franchising, licensing, joint ventures and direct investment. His broad experience extends to multiparty cross-border joint venture transactions, international franchise, master franchise and development transactions, licensing and distribution transactions, international mergers and acquisitions, international regulatory compliance, IP and tax structuring, multijurisdictional corporate reorganizations, international corporate formation and maintenance and international real estate and finance. Kevin has been listed in both Chambers Global and Chambers USA as a leading franchise lawyer and was praised by clients as "a deal maker who is highly responsive and resourceful." Kevin is also a regular speaker and writer on topics dealing with international franchising and international joint ventures. Kevin is currently a member of the International Franchise Association’s International Committee and has been named as a Leading Lawyer in Franchising by Who’s Who Legal and as a Franchise Times Legal Eagle.

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Lennox Mark is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Chicago office and a member of the Employment & Compensation practice group. During law school, Lennox competed in the ABA's 2020 Representation in Mediation Competition, where his team won first place at regionals. Lennox also served as co-president of OUTLaw, an organization serving the law school's LGBTQ+ community, and twice chaired the Midwest LGBTQ+ Rights Conference. At commencement, Lennox was awarded the Dean's Service Award in recognition of his extensive pro bono work, and the Richard Sher Award for Excellence in Dispute Resolution.

Bradford Newman is a litigation partner resident in Baker McKenzie's Palo Alto Office and Chair of the North America Trade Secrets Practice. According to Chambers USA, Brad is a "recognized authority on trade secrets cases" who "is valued for his tenacious, intelligent and thoughtful approach to trade secrets matters." Bradford regularly serves as lead trial counsel in cases with potential eight and nine-figure liability, and has successfully litigated (both prosecuting and defending) a broad spectrum of trade secrets cases in state and federal courts throughout the country. He routinely advises and represents the world's leading technology, banking, professional service, manufacturing and commerce companies in connection with their most significant data protection and trade secret matters. Bradford is the author of Protecting Intellectual Property in the Age of Employee Mobility: Forms and Analysis, a comprehensive treatise published by ALM that offers authoritative guidance on legal risks and practical steps companies can take to protect their IP and remedy IP theft.

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Deborah Olaleye is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Deborah worked as a labor and employment associate at a well-known national law firm.

Adeola is an associate in Baker McKenzie's M&A practice group in London. Since joining the Firm as a trainee solicitor in 2021, Adeola has acted on a number of complex, high value, cross-border transactions for healthcare, Consumer Goods & Retail, and technology clients. In 2023, Adeola was seconded to Baker McKenzie's New York office where she worked on complex public and private M&A deals and cross-border integrations acting as buy-side or sell-side counsel.
Adeola is actively involved in BakerEthnicity. She is also a member of Baker McKenzie's global Consumer Goods & Retail Industry and Healthcare & Life Sciences Groups.

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Remi Omidiji is an associate in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group of Baker McKenzie's Washington, DC Office. She counsels management and human resources on a wide array of human resources issues and employment decisions and advises on cross-border employment law advice across the entire spectrum of employment issues facing multinational employers. During law school, Remi was a summer associate at Baker McKenzie. She competed in the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition where her team was awarded Regional Best Brief and finished as National Finalists and served as Chief Executive Projects Editor of the Washington University Journal of Law & Policy.

Caroline Pham is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Los Angeles. She advises major US and other multinational companies on a broad range of employment litigation and counseling matters. She also serves on the Firm's California Associates Committee and Recruiting Committee. Prior to joining the Firm, Caroline served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable John. N. Nguyen.

Zachary Reeves is an associate in Baker McKenzie's San Francisco office and a member of the Firm's labor and employment practice. Zachary graduated cum laude from UC Hastings College of the Law in 2021. As a law student, Zachary twice served as a judicial extern in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, working in the chambers of the Honorable Charles R. Breyer and the Honorable James Donato. Zachary was also a senior production editor of the Hastings Law Journal.

Blair Robinson is a partner in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's New York office. He is ranked in Chambers USA as a leading employment lawyer in New York. Blair represents clients on a broad range of labor and employment matters, including class/collective actions, high stakes individual plaintiff litigation and sensitive investigations involving senior executives.

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Robin Samuel leads Baker McKenzie’s US Labor & Employment team, is co-chair of the Firm’s Workforce Redesign service line, and is a Steering Committee member for the North American Employment and Compensation practice. Robin also serves on the California offices’ leadership team. Robin is a Chambers-ranked attorney for California employment law, a Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment Star, and a 2023 L.A. Business Journal Top 100 Lawyers award recipient. Robin is a frequent author and speaker for organizations such as SHRM, ACC, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

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Autumn Sharp joined Baker McKenzie in March 2020 as a Knowledge Lawyer for the Employment & Compensation Practice Group, covering all aspects of global workforce management for the North America region. She also supports the Practice Group on knowledge management matters including thought leadership projects and global surveys. Before joining Baker McKenzie, Autumn was a practicing attorney for over 15 years, advising on a broad spectrum of employment law matters.

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Dionna Shear is an associate in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's New York office. She has experience advising employers regarding state, federal and global employment laws. Prior to joining the Firm, Dionna worked as an employment & compensation associate at another law firm, was a law clerk for the Honorable Mark D. Houle, US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, and while in law school was a member of the Saul Lefkowitz Intellectual Property Moot Court Team as well as an Executive Board Member of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA).

Remy Snead is an associate in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's Chicago office. Prior to joining the Firm, Remy worked as an associate at a well-known global law firm which focuses exclusively on labor and employment law.

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Jeff Sturgeon is partner in the Employment & Compensation Practice group in Baker McKenzie's New York office. A skilled advisor and litigator, Jeff assists clients with their most complex employment matters.

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Jonathan Tam is a licensed attorney in California and Ontario. He focuses on privacy, advertising, intellectual property, content moderation and consumer protection laws. He is passionate about helping clients achieve their commercial objectives while managing legal risks associated with activities involving data, information technology and media. Jonathan regularly writes about information technology and privacy, and is the Vice Chair of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco. He has completed secondments at a global payment services provider based in London, England and a world-leading tech company based in Silicon Valley. He joined Baker McKenzie as a summer associate in 2012 and has also worked in the Firm's Toronto office.

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Kate Thompson is an associate in the Employment & Compensation Practice Group at Baker McKenzie's New York office.

Will K. Woods represents franchisors throughout their business life cycle: in the start-up stage; as middle-market franchisors; and as mature, global franchisors. He represents many of the leading hotel, lodging and hospitality franchise companies and has vast experience in negotiating complex franchise and licensing transactions both in the US and in many other countries around the world and in counseling clients across industries with respect to system restructuring and related relationship issues and brand expansion. Will has been listed in Chambers USA and Chambers Global as a leading franchise lawyer every year since 2010 and was praised by clients as a "thorough, diligent and hardworking lawyer: someone who always tries to find a solution." Chambers also noted that he "impresses with his sophisticated international transactions practice" and that he is "client-service oriented, giving practical, useful and implementable advice." He is included in An International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers and as a Legal Eagle and one of the top 101 franchise lawyers in the US and Canada by Franchise Times. He is regularly named one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine. He was also designated by The Best Lawyers in America as a "Best Lawyer of the Year – Franchise Law" on several occasions. Will is a Certified Franchise Executive. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the ABA Forum on Franchising and serves on the Forum's Governing Committee in that capacity.