Fisher Phillips Introduces New Tampa Bay Leadership

TAMPA, FL (September 29, 2008) - Fisher Phillips announces that Steven Bernstein has been appointed Regional Managing Partner of the firm's Tampa office. He has relocated from the firm's headquarters in Atlanta and is joined in the transfer by partner Christine Howard, who will continue to maintain an active Georgia practice. Theresa Gallion, the founding managing partner of the Tampa office, had requested a change in management so that she could focus full-time on her growing national practice. The three partners will work together to continue to expand Fisher Phillips' presence in the Tampa Bay area.

Mr. Bernstein maintains a traditional labor practice representing employers throughout the United States in both state and federal courts, as well as before the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other state and federal agencies. He has played a primary role in advising clients in response to union organizing campaigns, unfair labor practice charges, corporate campaigns, collective bargaining, and economic work stoppages. He also has acquired an extensive level of experience in regard to advising clients on compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Labor Research Institute has named him one of the Top 100 Labor Lawyers in America for three consecutive years. He earned his law degree with honors from the University of Florida and was named Outstanding Labor and Employment Law School Student by the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Ms. Howard focuses her practice on the defense of employment discrimination and harassment complaints and wage and hour and benefits litigation. In recent years, she has defended numerous collective action cases filed on behalf of classes of employees alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, successfully defeating class certification in each instance. She also conducts management training and counsels employers on the preventive measures they may take to avoid or reduce employment-related claims, including on issues arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the FMLA, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the ADA. She has been repeatedly selected as a "Georgia Super Lawyer" in labor and employment and employment litigation defense since 2004. Ms. Howard earned her law degree with honors at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, and while there, was inducted into the Order of Barristers for excelling at courtroom advocacy and selected as the Outstanding Female Law Student.

Following a very successful three years as the Founding and Managing Partner of the Tampa office of Fisher Phillips, Ms. Gallion has stepped down from her management duties to free her from administrative responsibilities which allows her more time to concentrate extensively on her growing national labor and employment practice. While managing the Tampa office, Ms. Gallion grew it from two to nine attorneys. She was also the founding partner of the firm's Orlando office, which she managed for six years. During her more than 25 years of practice, she has represented clients in a wide variety of industries, with particular emphasis on hospitality, health care, telecommunications, and retail. She is one of the firm's most experienced trial lawyers, having successfully tried approximately 40 jury trials in employment cases. Ms. Gallion specializes in complex and collective actions. She has been listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, since 2003, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006.

Fisher Phillips Chairman and Managing Partner Roger Quillen said, "Steve, Christine and Theresa form a triumvirate that will continue to grow our Tampa office while providing first class legal services to our clients. These three lawyers represent what is best about our firm, and they bring a commitment to clients that is second to none."