Fisher Phillips Welcomes Partner Leanna Ruotanen in Atlanta

Fisher Phillips, an international labor and employment law firm representing employers, is pleased to announce that Leanna Ruotanen has joined as a Partner in Atlanta.

Leanna joins from a civil litigation firm where she was Partner and Co-Chair of the Construction, Crane and Heavy Equipment Litigation Practice. In that capacity, she defended companies in a broad range of general liability claims with a focus on the defense of catastrophic construction accidents involving mobile cranes, tower cranes, and other aerial lift devices. Leanna is known for her comprehensive litigation experience, having defended catastrophic injury cases in more than a dozen states. She is frequently called upon in the aftermath of catastrophic worksite accidents, coordinating rapid response efforts from day one and managing all aspects of litigation through resolution, which includes coordinating the defense team and trial strategy, deposing and cross-examining witnesses, arguing dispositive and non-dispositive motions in federal and state courts, and resolving lawsuits through mediation, alternative dispute resolution and trial. She is also a certified mobile crane operator, which gives her a deep understanding of the nuances involved in the defense of crane and various other construction cases.

“Leanna’s perspective as a certified crane operator makes her uniquely qualified to support heavy equipment clients facing investigations and incidents,” said Kristin White, Co-Chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Practice Group. “Overall, she broadens the depth and breadth of the services we provide to Construction Industry employers, including the need for top notch trial experience when litigation cannot be avoided in OSHA and general liability cases resulting from an incident.”

Terri Stewart, Regional Managing Partner of the firm’s Atlanta office added: “We are seeing an increased demand for experienced litigators across the firm, so we are thrilled to welcome a first chair trial lawyer like Leanna to complement the services we are already offering our national client base. Her significant courtroom experience will be an immediate advantage for our construction industry clients embroiled in complex disputes around the country, and we are delighted to welcome her to the office.”

Leanna earned her J.D. from Georgia State College of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Georgia.

About Fisher Phillips (www.fisherphillips.com)

With over 700 attorneys across the United States, Mexico and Japan, and a vast network of attorneys in jurisdictions around the globe, Fisher Phillips advises and advocates for employers on an international scale. Through our technology-driven approach, we partner with companies to achieve their business objectives, anticipate potential disruption, and provide the legal guidance to navigate and resolve the workplace matters critical to their success.