Fisher Phillips Transitions Leadership to Christine Howard

TAMPA, FL (October 1, 2011)  - National labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips announces that Christine Howard will begin her term as managing partner of the firm's Tampa office on October 1 as part of a planned leadership rotation.

Howard assumes the role following Steve Bernstein's three-year term as managing partner. Some Fisher Phillips offices, including Tampa, incorporate a rotational leadership role, meaning that a different partner in the office serves as managing partner every three years. Bernstein will continue to be involved in the Tampa office as a partner, assisting clients in finding solutions to employment challenges and helping to grow the firm's labor practice.

Fisher Phillips Chairman Roger Quillen said, "Planned leadership rotations have proven very successful for us with fresh and different perspectives, the firm benefits from the best practices of each managing partner, and the attorneys benefit from the leadership experience."

Howard has been instrumental in building the firm's practice in Tampa and earlier in the Atlanta office. She 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.

In addition to litigating matters on behalf of employers, Howard conducts workplace investigations, compliance audits, and management training. She also 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 Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

She has been listed in Georgia Super Lawyers each year from 2004 through 2008, Florida Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, in 2009, and is "AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.