LOS ANGELES- Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW) is pleased to announce that attorneys Megan Atkinson, Amy Brandt, Alysha Stein-Manes, Emanuela Tala and Alexander Volberding have been named to the 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list. Atkinson was recognized for her outstanding work in Labor and Employment Law – Management, Brandt for her excellence in Litigation – Labor and Employment, Stein-Manes for her expertise in Education Law, Municipal Law, and Litigation – Labor and Employment, Emanuela for her exceptional performance in Municipal Law, and Alex for recognition of his performance in Labor and Employment Law – Management. This recognition marks Atkinson and Stein-Manes’ fourth, and Brandt’s second consecutive year receiving this distinction.
Best Lawyers recognitions are awarded to exceptional attorneys within the United States who have shown professional excellence in private practice. Nominees are selected through a rigorous peer-review process and must be in good standing with their local bar associations.
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore congratulates Megan, Amy, Alysha, Emanuela, and Alex on this well-deserved honor!
About Megan Atkinson
Attorney Megan Atkinson represents public entities in labor and employment litigation matters, regularly defending against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She litigates in both state and federal court and has experience from pre-litigation through trial. Megan focuses her practice on public safety employment issues, including the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act and the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act. She regularly assists clients throughout the disciplinary process, from the initiation of an investigation through termination.
About Amy Brandt
Attorney Amy Brandt provides advice and counsel to clients in all matters pertaining to education, labor, and employment law. She works closely with community college and school district boards and administrators on various issues such as investigations, employee discipline, civil rights issues, student discipline, leaves, community partnerships, layoffs and workforce reductions. Amy also serves as lead negotiator for clients at the bargaining table. She has experience drafting and reviewing CBAs and MOUs, as well as managing bargaining unit grievances, including responses, mediations, arbitrations, and settlements.
About Alysha Stein-Manes
Partner Alysha Stein-Manes primarily represents Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s educational institution clients in a range of employment, labor, and student matters, regularly working with governing boards on conducting CEO evaluations and contract negotiations, as well as advising and training boards on ethics, Brown Act, and other governance issues. In addition to her renowned counsel, Alysha also works as a litigator, representing public agencies and nonprofit educational institutions at all levels of the litigation process in state and federal court.
Alysha is also a leader in the retirement and health arenas, providing counsel to LCW’s clients about the Affordable Care Act and disability interactive process, and to LCW’s public agency clients in the areas of the post-retirement work restrictions, PEPRA compliance, and reporting employee compensation to CalSTRS and CalPERS. Alysha serves on the Executive Committees for LCW’s Public Education Practice Group and Retirement, Benefits, and Disability Practice Group.
About I. Emanuela Tala
Attorney Emanuela Tala provides representation and legal counsel to clients in matters pertaining to employment law and litigation. She has defended employers in litigation claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour and other employment claims. Emanuela has successfully argued dispositive motions, including motions for summary judgment.
About Alexander Volberding
Attorney Alex Volberding has spent much of his 15+ year career working for and on behalf of public agencies in matters pertaining to labor law and labor relations. Alex is well-versed in bargaining strategy and tactics and negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of public agency clients. When he is not bargaining, Alex advises and counsels public agency clients on a wide range of labor relations matters from meet and confer obligations to factfindings to employee strikes. Alex regularly appears at and advocates for clients in administrative proceedings and in arbitrations.
Alex also serves a lead role in the firm’s workplace health and safety work, including on the firm’s COVID-19 Strike Team. In this capacity, Alex monitors federal and state laws and public health guidance, develops policies and practices that comply with relevant law, advises and counsels clients on such matters, and defends clients against alleged statutory and regulatory violations. Alex has authored numerous special bulletins on workplace health and safety issues and has conducted dozens of trainings on these issues, providing advice to hundreds of firm clients in the process.
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Liebert Cassidy Whitmore is a labor, employment, and full service education law firm that provides comprehensive, responsive, and highly competent legal advice, representation, litigation services, negotiations and training to public entities, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations throughout California. The firm has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno, San Diego, and Sacramento. For more information, visit our website: www.lcwlegal.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cynthia Weldon
Director of Marketing & Training
310.981.2055
cweldon@lcwlegal.com