Fisher Phillips' John Beers, John McLachlan and Tim Murphy Named to Northern California Super Lawyers; Two Attorneys Named to Rising Stars

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (July 8, 2013) – Fisher Phillips announces Partners John Beers, John McLachlan and Tim Murphy of the firm’s San Francisco office have been named to the Northern California Super Lawyers 2013 Edition. In addition, Associates Kasia Nowak and Alice Wang were named to the Northern California Super Lawyers 2013 Edition – Rising Stars, which recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys in the region. 

Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers, from more than 70 practice areas, who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The objective of the Super Lawyers selection process is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource to assist in the search for legal counsel. Approximately five percent of the Northern California Bar received the distinction.

Recognizing the top up-and-coming attorneys in the region, the selection process for Rising Stars is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process except that attorneys must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for ten years or less. Approximately two percent of the Northern California Bar received this distinction. 

Exclusively representing employers, Beers has litigated hundreds of employment cases for clients of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies. He has successfully defended employers in jury trials against claims of wrongful discharge; whistleblowing; age, sex and disability discrimination; sexual harassment; retaliation; and other employment claims. Beers serves pro bono as an employment case Evaluator for the Early Neutral Evaluation component of the ADR Program of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and as a Mediator of employment cases for the Northern District's ADR Program. Beers earned his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (1976) and his B.A. from Stanford University (1973). 

McLachlan represents clients in both state and federal courts and has successfully tried discrimination claims, contractual disputes, wage claims and other employment disputes before juries and judges. He has advised management in all phases of collective bargaining, including labor negotiations, arbitrations and management-union relations, and has counseled employers on strike planning and legal responses to union organizing and corporate campaigns. McLachlan frequently represents management in cases arising before the National Labor Relations Board.  He received his J.D. from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (1981), his M.A. from the University of Washington (1966) and his B.A. from Gonzaga University (1965). 

Murphy manages the San Francisco office and has handled cases involving a wide variety of issues.  A jury trial lawyer for more than 40 years, his practice focuses on matters concerning sexual harassment, race discrimination, whistleblower allegations, retaliation, wrongful discharge, trade secret protection, and disability discrimination.  Murphy received his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law (1972) and his B.A. from Stanford University (1969). 

Nowak’s practice involves employment-related litigation, including defending employers against claims of discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and other torts. She has represented public companies, private companies and individuals in a wide variety of employment matters, in both state and federal courts, and before various state and federal agencies. Nowak earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley College of Law (2007), MSc, with merit, from the London School of Economics (2004) and her B.A., with highest honors, from the University of California, Berkeley (2000). 

Wang concentrates her practice on employment law, litigation, class actions and client counseling. She represents employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and wage and hour matters, including class actions and complex litigation and trade secret litigation. Wang also advises employers on all aspects of the employment process, including hiring, developing employment policies and handbooks, drafting employment agreements and severance agreements, and handling employee discipline and termination matters. She earned her J.D. from U.C. Hastings College of Law (2003) and her B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (1998).