Virginia

With offices across the country and around the world, Hunton Andrews Kurth is praised for its ability to provide clients with exceptional service across many practice areas. Clients have noted the variety of issues for which they can turn to the firm: “Class actions, regulatory advice, cybersecurity litigation, and arbitration.” Another client shared, “Hunton Andrews Kurth has provided a variety of legal services to us recently. Hunton has provided advice and counsel on commercial contracts, litigation, class action litigation, employment issues and franchising.” In the same vein, the client commented on the firm’s service, adding, “Hunton brings a level of service that is above and beyond what we experience with other firms. They understand the client and provide counsel in a timely manner.”

From the Houston office, Kelsey Hope’s focus is complex commercial disputes with an emphasis in the managed-care industry. Hope was on the team that secured a victory for the Rite Aid Corporation against litigation brought on by a group of insurance and pharmacy benefit companies seeking more than $100 million from the national pharmacy chain for allegedly overcharging for prescription medications. After a two-week trial, within a few hours the jury returned a ruling in favor of Rite Aid.

Another member of that team, Chris Dufek focuses on antitrust and consumer protection. Dufek, who works out of the Washington DC office, has represented clients in complex commercial and class action cases concerning antitrust and consumer protection laws, cybersecurity, fraud, and contractual disputes.

Richmond-based Elbert Lin receives praise from peers who said: “Elbert Lin – He's the man!” Lin served as one of the lead counsels when the firm won a nearly $47 million judgment for its client Dewberry Engineers (“Dewberry”), a provider of professional services for the built environment against defendant Dewberry Group, a real estate company. The judgment, entered by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after a three-day trial, resulting from Dewberry’s claims against the defendant for federal and state trademark infringement and breach of contract.

In the New York office, Jeremy Boczko focuses on intellectual property rights. He has represented clients in trademark, copyright, and patent trials. Fellow New York partner Armin Ghiam advises clients on intellectual property assets in mergers and acquisitions. He also has experience with patent preparation. Together they were lead partners representing Hisamitsu America, the maker of SALONPAS Brand Pain Relieving Patches. Scilex accused Hisamitsu of mislabeling these patches by marketing their products as “maximum strength” within the over-the-counter category. The court has dismissed the bulk of Scilex’s claims.

In Florida, Andrea DeField focuses on recovering insurance funds. She also leads Hunton's cyber insurance practice. She was a lead on the team that secured a victory for the United States Sugar Corporation. US Sugar’s insurer refused to provide coverage for the expenses incurred in defending a bet-the-company environmental case regarding its practice of cane-burning. The court found that the policy covered the cane-burning action and that the insurer owed US Sugar more than $6.5 million in defense expenses.

The nationally recognized labor and employment practice at Hunton Andrews Kurth is accomplished in both employment litigation and traditional labor disputes. The firm’s reach extends across the US with offices in active markets like California, Texas, Georgia, and DC. This year, Virginia-based partner Kurt Larkin is distinguished for his exceptional work in traditional labor, handling collective bargaining negotiations, union organizing, and high-stakes NLRB disputes. Larkin has worked alongside the employment team in matters that involve labor issues, recently pairing up with employment litigator Emily Burkhardt Vicente in several matters. As a member of the Los Angeles office, Burkhardt Vicente has dedicated a significant portion of her practice to litigating FLSA class and collective actions and PAGA claims. Her employment litigation practice also spans other areas, as she and the co-head of the unfair competition and information protection task force Roland Juarez have handled trade secrets cases in the Southern District of California. Juarez is among the firm’s experts in employee mobility litigation. The LA office also houses Michele Beilke and Julia Trankiem who bring a wealth of experience in handling California employment litigation. The duo previously represented a client in a JAMS arbitration. Beilke in particular is well-versed in handling arbitrations, as well as jury trials. San Francisco-based partner M. Brett Burns is consistently tapped by national companies to handle their complex employment class and collective actions across the US. While Burns is especially known for his wage and hour expertise, he has recently been a lead partner in a class action and investigation that involves one of the EEOC’s high priority issues.

     On the other coast, the DC office features a host of lawyers recognized for their successful labor and employment litigation practice. Susan Wiltsie is among the group’s OSHA experts with vast experience in handling defense against citations, litigation, and whistleblower-related claims. Ryan Bates has recently been active in trade secrets litigation, as well as class and collective actions ranging from wage and hour to independent contractor claims. Kevin White is the co-chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice. He splits his time between handling both employment litigation and labor disputes. White’s labor practice has had him engaged in matters alongside the firm’s traditional labor experts. Robert Quackenboss has developed a niche and successful practice defending clients in class actions alleging that background checks violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In the Northeast, Boston-based Christopher Pardo represents clients in the region with multiple recent cases in New York district courts. He litigates a vast array of employment matters, recently including trade secrets and restrictive covenants, pay frequency violation allegations, and Title VII discrimination claims.

     In addition to Larkin, Ryan Glasgow operates out of the Virginia office. His breadth of experience is broad and diverse; however, he has developed a specialty in defending employers against wage and hour class actions. Farther South, the firm’s Georgia office is Robert Dumbacher, another of the firm’s partners who seamlessly splits his time between labor relations and employment litigation. Kurt Powell is also a partner within the Virginia office. His practice focuses on employment litigation with a recent matter being a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the Northern District of Georgia. Juan Enjamio of the Miami office serves a host of industry-leading national clients. His recent cases have included class and collective actions under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and defending clients in the rare intersect of immigration and employment litigation – allegations of discrimination brought by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients.

     The firm’s practice spans two offices in Texas. In Houston, Scott Nelson received praise from a peer who attests to the partner’s reputation in mentioning that they “think highly of him.” Nelson has defended a client in recently filed independent contractor case throughout Texas’ district courts.The Dallas office features Amber Rogers, a traditional labor lawyer representing management in multifarious labor disputes. She is experienced in collective bargaining, elections and representing clients in unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board. Alan Marcuis is the co-head of the unfair competition and information task force alongside his counterpart Juarez in California. His practice is a mix of traditional labor disputes and employment litigation.