Fisher Phillips Opens New Offices in Boston and Memphis

ATLANTA, BOSTON & MEMPHIS (January 10, 2012) -Fisher Phillips announces its expansion into Massachusetts and Tennessee with the opening of offices in Boston and Memphis. The firm now has 27 offices across the country.

The Boston office will be led by Joseph W. Ambash, a leading Massachusetts employment law attorney. The Massachusetts office is the firm's second New England location. Ambash joins Fisher Phillips from Greenberg Traurig LLP, where he was co-chair of the Boston office's labor and employment practice and headed the firm's international compliance training program for managers and employees on employment-related issues.

The Memphis office will be led by Jeff Weintraub, one of Tennessee's most highly rated employment attorneys. He was the name partner for Weintraub Law, P.C. a labor and employment firm originally formed in 1959. The Memphis office of Fisher Phillips will initially do business as "The Weintraub Firm, P.C. a partner in Fisher Phillips." Weintraub is joined by another partner, Craig Cowart, who comes from Kiesewetter Wise Kaplan Prather, PLC.

Ambash, with more than 35 years of experience, represents management in representation cases, unfair labor practice cases, strikes and other labor disputes. He was counsel for New Process Steel in the landmark 2010 Supreme Court case ruling that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) can not function without three members. He also represented Brown University in the precedent-setting NLRB case holding that graduate assistants are not employees under the National Labor Relations Act. He has served as chief negotiator for major collective bargaining agreements in the private and public sectors. He earned his law degree from Harvard University and his undergraduate degree from Yale University.

"Fisher Phillips has the same dedication to clients that I have applied throughout my career," said Ambash. "I look forward to helping the firm grow its practice in Massachusetts and across New England."

Weintraub represents employers in union arbitrations, negotiations, and elections. He is also a jury trial attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing public and private employers. He handles cases involving harassment/discrimination, retaliatory discharge, wage and hour matters, and a wide array of other matters. Weintraub is licensed and active in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. He earned his law and undergraduate degrees from Memphis State University.

Weintraub said: "Our clients will benefit from the fact that Fisher Phillips has labor and employment attorneys all across the country, a number of whom I have worked with over the years. Our practice is national, so this is a natural fit for us."

For nearly 20 years, Cowart has represented management clients in state and federal employment litigation and in administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies. He counsels employers about workplace issues, including discipline and discharge decisions. He spent part of his career working as in-house counsel for an international specialty chemicals company. Cowart received his law degree with honors from the University of Memphis and his B.B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi. He is admitted to practice before the state courts in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Fisher Phillips Chairman and Managing Partner Roger Quillen noted that the decades of experience these attorneys bring to the firm will benefit clients. He also pointed out that the new offices were strategically chosen. "We go where our clients want us and both Memphis and Boston are important markets to our clients. When the decision was made to move into these areas, we sought the most respected labor and employment attorneys who share our firm's commitment to combining excellent client service with stellar legal services. I'm glad to say we found the right attorneys."