NATIONAL – FordHarrison LLP, one of the country's largest management-side labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce that the firm added four associates to offices throughout the U.S. including Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.
"Kim, Abed, Rebecca, and Maryam are all excellent additions
to FordHarrison. They each have a broad range of expertise that
will immediately add value to our firm and clients," said
Lavern Wilson, Talent & Recruiting Partner / General Counsel.
"We are excited to see them excel and are committed to their
success."
The following attorneys have recently joined the firm:
Kimberly "Kim" M. Bennett
Counsel | (Dallas, TX)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Kim worked as the Vice President
& Assistant General Counsel at Keurig Dr Pepper
Inc. Kim also previously served as the assistant corporate
secretary and head of the labor and employment function for a
Fortune 500 multinational manufacturing company and in-house
counsel for a Fortune 50 technology company. Kim also has
experience handling traditional labor matters, including collective
bargaining negotiations, union organizing campaigns, contract
administration issues, arbitration, unfair labor practice charge
strategy and management, and strikes. Prior to joining
FordHarrison, Kim provided strategic advice on matters related to
federal laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),
Title VII, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), National Labor
Relations Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and
related state and local employment laws. Kim's proficiency
extends to litigation and disputes, where she successfully oversaw
complex employment litigation, managed wage and hour class action
cases, and developed strategies for enforcing post-employment
restrictive covenants.
Abdel "Abed"
Fakhoury
Senior Associate | (Atlanta, GA)
Abed rejoins FordHarrison after working as an Associate at
Littler Mendelson P.C. Prior to joining
FordHarrison, Abed was a Staff Attorney with the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Staff Attorney's Office. While
there, he conducted legal research in numerous areas of federal
law–including employment–and presented his findings
through written memoranda to the court. He was also selected for a
jurisdiction specialty unit to assist with jurisdictional screening
and draft legal memoranda analyzing jurisdictional issues. While in
law school, Abed completed an internship for a small Atlanta-based
firm, worked as a research assistant, completed externships
supporting the Carter Center and the Atlanta Humane Society, and
studied with Emory University School of Law's International
Humanitarian Law Clinic. Abed represents and counsels airline
employers in all manner of issues related to labor and employment
law.
Rebecca L. James
Senior Associate | (St. Louis, MO)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Rebecca was an Associate at
Mickes O'Toole. Rebecca earned her law degree
from Saint Louis University School of Law with a concentration in
Employment Law. During her studies, she received Academic
Excellence Awards in Alternative Dispute Resolution and
E-Discovery. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the ABA Journal of
Labor and Employment Law and was Vice President of the Employment
Law Association. Rebecca also honed her advocacy skills through
Trial Advocacy and the Human Rights at Home Clinic, where she
successfully represented a client who achieved release after more
than 20 years of incarceration. Rebecca has significant experience
representing corporate clients as well as school districts and
municipalities against claims under the ADA, EEOC, MCHR, FMLA,
FLSA, and the Missouri Sunshine Law. She also provides proactive
counsel on employee relations, benefits, and union negotiations,
and assists in drafting and negotiating complex contracts for her
clients.
Maryam Magee
Senior Associate | (Washington, D.C.)
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Maryam was an Associate at
Shepphard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP.
While in law school, Maryam served as Senior Notes Editor for the
Federal Communications Law Journal and was an Executive Board
Member of the Black Law Students Association. She also completed a
judicial externship with the U.S. District Court for the District
of Columbia for The Honorable Tanya Chutkan. Maryam routinely
handles a broad range of employment litigation matters, including
discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII, disability
claims, whistleblowing claims, and other employment law claims and
charges brought before state and federal agencies and courts.