Eight Fisher & Phillips Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America 2015; Jonathan Pearson and Hagood Tighe Named “Lawyers of the Year”

COLUMBIA, SC – Fisher & Phillips LLP announces that eight attorneys in the firm’s Columbia office, and a total of 86 attorneys nationwide, have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015® (Copyright 2014 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). All of the attorneys were honored for their labor and/or employment work unless otherwise noted.

The Columbia attorneys selected for “Best Lawyers in America” are partners Cheryl L. Behymer, Michael D. Carrouth, G. Daniel Ellzey, Fred Manning II (Litigation – ERISA), Stephen C. Mitchell, Jonathan P. Pearson and J. Hagood Tighe, and associate Karen Luchka Wingo.

In addition, Pearson, the managing partner of the Columbia office, was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Labor Law – Management, and Tighe was named Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Labor and Employment.

 

Cheryl Behymer is a partner in the Columbia office and co-chair of the firm’s Affirmative Action and Federal Contract Compliance Practice Group. She assists clients by providing timely and practical counsel and training in affirmative action, workplace harassment, immigration compliance, employee leave issues involving the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other labor and employment issues. Cheryl is Past Chair of the South Carolina Diversity Council, a partner of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce devoted to encouraging, supporting and educating employers as they seek to increase diversity in the workplace. She is also a Board Member with the Palmetto Center for Women, an affiliate of the YMCA. Cheryl is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected for inclusion in South Carolina Super Lawyers since 2010.

 

Mike Carrouth is a partner in the Columbia office. He is certified as a Specialist in Labor Law by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Mike has represented clients in successfully responding to union organizing efforts in 28 states. This work includes successfully defending against multi-site and multi-state national organizing blitzes and card-check/neutrality campaigns. Mike also has represented clients in numerous litigation matters, including jury trials, involving FMLA, Title VII, breach of employment contract, and non-compete enforcement. He practices before state and federal courts, the National Labor Relations Board, and state and federal administrative agencies in the areas of union related matters, employment litigation, discrimination cases, non-compete agreements, and wrongful discharge cases. Mike is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Mike has been selected for inclusion in South Carolina Super Lawyers since 2008. He has been listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2005 and in The Best Lawyers in America since 2007. He also was selected by his peers to be one of Greater Columbia Business Monthly’s Legal Elite in 2011 and 2013.

 

Dan Ellzey is a partner in the Columbia office. He practices both labor and employment law. In the employment area, Dan counsels clients on all state and federal employment laws (Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, etc.), major staff reductions and facility closures, labor law implications of mergers and acquisitions, OSHA compliance, and wage and hour matters. Dan litigates cases involving discrimination, wrongful discharge, ERISA, non-compete, and other employment-related matters in federal and state courts. He also represents companies before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In the labor area, Dan advises companies across the nation on union avoidance and proactive employee relations plans. Dan is certified as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law by the Supreme Court of South Carolina. He is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized in South Carolina Super Lawyers since 2008. Dan has also been listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2004 and in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006. He was selected by his peers to be one of Greater Columbia Business Monthly’s 2010 Legal Elite. Dan was also recognized as an Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America for 2014.

 

Fred Manning is a partner in the Columbia office. He has extensive experience litigating employment law matters involving civil rights, contracts, and wrongful termination claims. He regularly provides advice and assistance to employers regarding the drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants, employment contracts and corrective action. Fred has assisted employers throughout the United States in union related matters. He also has extensive experience in representing private colleges and universities in matters relating to employment and faculty and student issues. Fred is the author of “Public Policy Exception Open to Possible Expansion in Employment At-Will Situations” 48 S.C.L. Rev. 133 (1996). He is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law. While in law school, he served as the Associate Editor-in-Chief for the South Carolina Law Review. Fred is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2012.

 

Steve Mitchell is a partner in the Columbia office. His practice emphasizes employment litigation as well as traditional labor law. He has handled administrative charges and lawsuits in state and federal courts involving wrongful discharge, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, ERISA, FMLA, FLSA, employment testing, as well as other types of employment based claims. Steve has also assisted employers in handling class action litigation. In the traditional labor law arena, Steve has represented employers throughout the United States in a broad variety of union related matters. Steve is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law. He is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and he has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2010. Steve has been listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2007 and included in South Carolina Super Lawyers since 2009.

 

Jon Pearson is managing partner of the Columbia office. His practice emphasizes employment litigation of all types before state and federal courts, as well as traditional labor law. He has handled lawsuits and administrative charges involving wrongful discharge, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA and FLSA, as well as many other types of employment-based claims. Jon has also represented numerous employers before the National Labor Relations Board in union representation elections and unfair labor practice charges. Jon has been particularly active in assisting employers in union contract negotiations and in dealing with strike-related issues, such as contingency planning and injunction proceedings. He regularly represents employers with occupational safety and health issues, including litigating contested citations before state and federal agencies. Jon is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law and as a Certified Mediator. He has also served as Chairman of the Employment and Labor Section of the South Carolina Bar. Jon is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been included in the South Carolina Super Lawyers list since 2008. He has been listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2003 and in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006.

 

Hagood Tighe is a partner in the Columbia office. He practices exclusively in the area of labor and employment law, representing management in union matters and employment litigation. While he maintains an active litigation practice, he also focuses on providing practical and proactive advice designed to minimize the risk of litigation. He also provides training for supervisors and managers on harassment, EEO compliance, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and many other areas. Additionally, Hagood has authored numerous articles in the area of employment law and regularly lectures at seminars regarding employment law. In 2013, Hagood received the Carolyn Holderman Vision Award by the Central Carolina Community Foundation for his leadership as Chairman. Hagood was a 2004 recipient of the Silver Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law Alumni Association. This award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and who exemplify the highest standard of professional competence, ethics, and integrity. Hagood is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been included in South Carolina Super Lawyers. He has been listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2007 and in The Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Hagood has been selected by his peers to be one of Greater Columbia Business Monthly’s Legal Elite every year since 2010. The same publication named him one of the “50 Most Influential People for 2011.” He is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law. In 2013, The Richland County Bar Association recognized Hagood with its Civic Star Award.

 

Karen Luchka Wingo is an associate in the Columbia office. She represents management and employers in cases pending in both state and federal court, as well as in agency proceedings. Karen also focuses her practice on providing practical and proactive advice to clients aimed at minimizing the risk of litigation and improving employee relations. She provides training to human resources professionals, managers and supervisors on the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, harassment and discrimination, social networking and electronic workforce issues, and many other employment and labor related subjects. Karen is a frequent lecturer at seminars on a variety of employment related topics, as well as legal ethics. She was selected as a recipient of the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2013 Leadership in the Law award. The award was created to spotlight members of the legal community whose leadership, mentoring and community involvement has made a positive impact on the profession and the state. In 2012 Karen was honored as one of the “20 Under 40” by The State. Each year the publication honors 20 rising business stars under the age of 40 who are committed to bringing a brighter future to the Midlands, South Carolina area. She has been selected for inclusion in South Carolina Super Lawyers – Rising Stars each year since 2012.

 

 

About Best Lawyers

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey. More than 52,000 leading attorneys cast more than 5.5 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

 

About Fisher & Phillips LLP (www.laborlawyers.com)

Fisher & Phillips LLP represents employers nationally in labor, employment, civil rights, employee benefits and immigration matters. The firm has 300 attorneys in 31 offices. Founded in 1943, it is one of the first U.S. law firms to concentrate its practice exclusively upon representation of employers in labor and employment matters. In addition to Columbia, the firm has offices in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Gulfport, Houston, Irvine, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, New England, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa, and Washington D.C.