Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the growth of its Labor and Employment Practice Group in Texas with Cary Farris and John Linker. The team, who joins from Winstead PC, where Farris served as chair of the Labor, Employment and Immigration Practice Group, will practice in the firm’s Houston office. Farris and Linker, both Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Texas Board of Legal Specialization, are experienced in resolving complex employment matters and class action cases.
“Our practice continues to expand and reflect our growing client base and their evolving needs,” said Labor and Employment Practice Group Chair Eric Gordon. “Cary and John are well-respected litigators whose work and experience help strengthen our offering to employers nationally.”
“Houston is home to many of the world’s leading companies and employers, representing many of the sectors that align with Akerman’s areas for growth,” said Scott Marrs, Akerman Texas Regional Managing Partner. “John and Cary deepen Akerman’s commitment to Texas and advance the needs of our clients nationally. We are delighted to have them in Houston.”
Cary Farris
Farris focuses his practice on defending businesses in all aspects of labor and employment matters, including discrimination and harassment class actions, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) cases, wage and hour cases, government agency audits, and collective bargaining negotiations. Cary works with clients ranging from large manufacturing companies with facilities across the country to smaller businesses seeking practical solutions to labor and employment issues.
John Linker
Linker focuses his practice on defending businesses of all sizes in matters involving wrongful terminations, union organizing, breach of employment contract matters, unfair labor practice charges, discrimination and harassment claims, ADA and FMLA compliance, and wage and hour issues. He also represents clients in investigations by government enforcement agencies such as the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. John has experience litigating labor and employment-related matters in state and federal courts and manages complex employment matters and class action cases around the country.
Farris and Linker build upon a growth momentum that the Labor and Employment Practice Group has experienced in recent years. The team has nearly tripled in size since 2016, from 21 to 63 lawyers in multiple key markets. Arturo Ross most recently joined Akerman’s Miami office where he maintains a broad national and local practice representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Sul Kim, Erica Mason, and Peter Spanos diversified the firm’s Labor and Employment capabilities in Atlanta. In Los Angeles, Damien DeLaney regularly defends employers from California Labor Code class actions, representative actions under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act, and FLSA collective actions, while Michael Gallion and David Van Pelt bring extensive experience representing clients in all facets of labor and employment law. Brian Nugent joined Akerman in Denver, where he represents employers throughout the U.S. in corporate formation, contracts, unemployment taxation, and M&A matters. In Chicago, Amy Moor Gaylord focuses her practice on traditional labor matters and employment litigation for both public and private sector employers, with an emphasis on NLRB proceedings, union organizing drives, NLRB-conducted elections, arbitration cases, contract negotiations, and employment discrimination matters.
