Associate | Ogletree Deakins

Kristin F. Aquino-Pham

Kristin Aquino-Pham has been advising companies and individuals on immigration and global mobility since August 2005. In addition to working at global corporate law firms, she built and managed a global mobility department as in-house counsel and served as COO, General Counsel, and Co-Founder to a technology startup. In September 2018, she took a year hiatus from corporate law firm practice to serve low-income immigrants and refugees as head of the legal services program at the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS) in Atlanta, Georgia. In this role, Kristin leveraged her extensive corporate experience and immigration program-building skills to enhance CPACS’s legal service offerings and further the program’s social justice initiatives.

Kristin joined Ogletree Deakins in October 2019 to resume her career as a business immigration attorney; but she continues to demonstrate her commitment to service through her deep involvement in the Atlanta legal community. Understanding the value of serving international clients in their native languages, Kristin is pleased to provide legal services in German, Tagalog, and Spanish in addition to English. In her free time, Kristin enjoys traveling with her family, cooking, and singing karaoke. She received her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law and her B.A. from University of Georgia.

Associate | Littler Mendelson P.C.

Detrachia André

Detrachia M.N. André advises and represents employers in a broad range of labor and employment matters arising under both state and federal laws. Detrachia focuses her practice on employment litigation, defending employers against claims of single plaintiff and class action workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and misclassification. She also represents employers in breach of contract actions involving both executive level and lower level employees and has successfully argued in state court against claims of unpaid time.

Detrachia handles administrative charges for employers across various industries, and leads internal investigations involving complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying, and other violations of internal policy, specifically for higher education clients. Detrachia also advises clients on a variety of internal policies and practices, including investigations procedures, electronic data searches, reasonable accommodations, and paid time off.

She also focuses her practice on providing advice and counsel to employers regarding their diversity and inclusion initiatives, training, and programming for talent recruitment and retention and serves as a member of Littler’s Diversity and Inclusion Consulting group.

Prior to joining Littler as an associate, Detrachia worked in the Littler Atlanta office as a law clerk while completing her law school education.

Partner, Labor and Employment | Seyfarth

Ben Briggs

Benjamin serves as co-chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety & Environmental practice group. He counsels and represents clients on issues involving federal and state statutes that govern employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wage and hour, employee leave, and workplace safety and health. In addition, Benjamin assists clients in matters involving the protection of trade secrets and the enforcement of non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants.

Benjamin has successfully represented employers from a wide array of industries including staffing, building and consumer products, technology, retail, automotive, distribution, utilities, insurance services, construction and media in federal and state court litigation and administrative proceedings in jurisdictions across the US. He has defended employers in single and multiplaintiff cases involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliatory discharge, failure to accommodate and interference with protected rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and various other local, state and federal statutes. His significant workplace safety and health practice includes contesting, litigating and negotiating favorable resolutions of federal and state OSHA citations, as well as representing employers in federal and state OSHA inspections arising from workplace fatalities and other catastrophes. Benjamin also represents employers in OSHA whistleblower retaliation cases.

Lead Employment Counsel | Hall Benefits Law

Keely Jac Collins, Esq., LL.M.

Keely is Lead Employment Counsel with Hall Benefits Law.

As both counselor and advocate for businesses large and small across all sectors, unionized and non-unionized, Keely takes a practical approach to advising and advocating for businesses nationwide. Both small family businesses and corporate boards of directors have benefited from Keely’s attention to the details of law and business, creative solutions, and zealous advocacy for businesses in negotiations before numerous administrative agencies, and in all levels of state and federal court. As an experienced collaborator with large organizations’ in-house counsel and general and employment counsel, Keely is trusted by other attorneys to strengthen the value they offer to the organizations they serve.

Keely was selected by her peers as a 2019 Super Lawyers Rising Star. She holds an LL.M. in tax, with a specialization in employee benefits, from Villanova University School of Law, and she earned her Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

Partner | Taylor English

Glianny Fagundo

Glianny Fagundo prides herself in partnering with clients to design and implement workplace policies and practices that are not just compliant with the law, but that further business goals and protect a company’s culture. Her years as a high-stakes employment and business litigator gave her a full appreciation of the value, and cost, of human capital. As a result, her employment law counsel and advice is carefully designed to maximize returns and decrease risks. Ms. Fagundo routinely counsels national employers on a multitude of workplace issues, including wage and hour, worker classification, joint employer/single enterprise, religious and disability accommodations, discipline, terminations, RIF’s, executive employment agreements, and background checks. She also continues to defend companies in high-stakes cases including claims for restrictive covenants violations, discrimination, collective FLSA/wage, contractual breaches, fraud, consumer disputes, professional liability and products liability. Some of the industries in which Ms. Fagundo has considerable experience include healthcare, restaurants and hospitality, retail, professional services, transportation and logistics, and media/entertainment. Ms. Fagundo’s engaging personality and natural public speaking knack have resulted in numerous invitations to address and train management and trade groups on policies and legal developments.

In addition to practicing law, Ms. Fagundo is considered a business and community leader in the state of Georgia. Ms. Fagundo was one of the forces behind the incorporation of the City of Brookhaven and has worked with a multitude of non-profits serving various industries. To list a few, she was one of the founders of the National Latina Business Women Association-Atlanta, has served as president and subsequently chairperson of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, served on the board of CredAbility Inc., and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves on the Latin American Association’s Advocacy Committee and the State of Georgia’s Personnel Board. Ms. Fagundo also regularly lectures at community events and contributes to newspapers and television shows to counsel the Hispanic community about its legal rights and duties.

Ms. Fagundo and her family enjoy the outdoors and further support the groups with which her husband and she work by doing fun volunteer work such as paddling down the Chattahoochee River for river clean-ups and otherwise engaging in events to improve or maintain our state’s natural resources.

Shareholder | Ogletree Deakins

Greg Hare

Greg Hare has been an employment lawyer at Ogletree his entire career, ever since 1991. He assists companies with human resources and employment-related litigation matters, including wrongful termination claims, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, employment contracts, trade secrets, and non-compete agreements.

He advises clients on a wide range of human resources topics, such as drug testing, employee discipline and discharge, severance planning, independent contractor classifications, wage payment, family and medical leave, disability law, military leave, joint employment issues, affirmative action and reductions in force.

Mr. Hare also counsels clients on traditional labor relations matters involving union avoidance, decertification, strike contingency planning, double-breasting, grievance administration and arbitration, collective bargaining, unfair labor practice litigation, and other matters involving the National Labor Relations Board, including “protected concerted activity” cases.

Mr. Hare encourages companies to develop proactive human resources strategies that are designed to minimize exposure to costly litigation and disputes. This commonly includes conducting comprehensive employment law compliance audits, employment policy design and review, management training and counseling, and simulated problem solving workshops.

Shareholder | Littler Mendelson

Russell Jones

Russell Jones regularly counsels and trains employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. As a strategic business partner, Russell places a strong emphasis on understanding his clients’ businesses in order to maximize efficiencies, to enhance employee engagement, and to increase profitability. Russell has deep experience in a wide array of industries including broadcast and digital media, publishing, technology, automotive, healthcare, pharma, insurance, engineering, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing.

Russell takes a proactive approach to avoiding employment law claims, with a focus on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, union avoidance, complying with disability and medical leave requirements, wage and hour, hiring, termination, reductions in force, workplace violence, noncompetition agreements, severance and release agreements, and personnel policy design and implementation.

Russell also has significant experience in assisting employers comply with federal and state laws pertaining to background checks of applicants and employees, privacy issues, social media, identity theft, and workplace investigations. He regularly represents employers before state and federal courts and agencies in all types of employment-related suits. He has substantial experience in mediation of employment claims, litigating unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board, and in arbitrations under collective bargaining agreements.

Most recently, Russell has helped employers navigate challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic such as issues involving the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, ADA requirements, furloughs, and return-to-work protocols and procedures.

Partner | Hunter Maclean

Sarah Lamar

Sarah Lamar is a partner in the Firm’s Savannah office and practices in the area of employment law. Sarah has experience representing employers in employment litigation in state and federal courts regarding discrimination and employment laws such as Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Fair Labor Standards Act, among others. She also represents employers in breach of contract actions, including non-competes and tort claims, and in agency investigations brought by the U.S. and Georgia Departments of Labor, the EEOC, OFCCP, and U.S. ICE. She conducts in-house training for employers and advises clients on a variety of human resource issues, including their federal affirmative action and immigration law obligations.

Sarah is admitted to the bars of Georgia and the District of Columbia. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Georgia; the Northern District of Florida; and the District of Maryland. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the Savannah Bar Association. She was previously chair of ALFA International, a global legal networking organization, and serves on ALFA International’s Employment Practice Group Steering Committee. Sarah is also the chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Georgia Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and speaks around the state on legislative issues affecting the workplace.

Sarah has been named a Georgia Super Lawyer and one of the Best Lawyers in America in Labor and Employment Law. The highly competitive Chambers USA legal directory highlighted Sarah in its Georgia Employment Law rankings.

Principal | Jackson Lewis

David Mohl

David Mohl is a Principal in the Atlanta, Georgia, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. His practice focuses on proactive and preventative advice and counsel, with an emphasis in the area of leave management, focusing on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, paid sick leave and related leave statutes and policies.

In addition, Mr. Mohl has a wide range of labor and employment law experience, including wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, training and workplace investigations.

As a member of Jackson Lewis’ COVID-19 team, Mr. Mohl also regularly assists employers with COVID-19 issues.

Mr. Mohl brings a unique business perspective, having worked in the corporate legal departments for Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, he served as Associate General Counsel at a Fortune 300 global consumer packaged goods company where he was a member of the General Counsel’s Senior Leadership Team and was responsible for the company’s global labor and employment, litigation and privacy functions. Prior to that, he served as Senior Counsel at a large global health service and insurance company, where he provided legal counsel and strategic advice regarding all employment matters globally. Mr. Mohl also served in a general counsel capacity for the company’s third-party leave administration business.

Mr. Mohl is a frequent speaker on legal developments under the ADA, FMLA, COVID-19 and other employment law issues.

Member Shareholder | Hendrick Phillips Salzman & Siegel, PC

Philip J. Siegel, Esq.

Philip J. Siegel, Esq., is a partner and shareholder with the firm of Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Siegel. Philip attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan graduating with distinction from the School of Business Administration where he earned his B.B.A. Mr. Siegel received his law degree from Emory University School of Law. He worked in the public accounting industry as a state and local tax consultant for two years prior to commencing his career as a construction litigation and labor/employment attorney.

Mr. Siegel’s practice focuses primarily in the areas of labor/employment law, including defense of OSHA citations, immigration compliance assistance, Davis-Bacon Act consulting, contract consulting, and construction litigation, including representation of general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, all on a national basis.

Mr. Siegel has written a number of articles concerning labor and employment issues affecting the construction industry. Mr. Siegel has also lectured on construction topics to a wide range of groups, including seminars sponsored by the Insulation Contractors Association of America, the Independent Electrical Contractors Association, the National Women in Construction (Dallas Chapter), the Building Trades Employers Association, GAF, the Firestop Contractors International Association, the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association, the American Subcontractors Association, the Construction Financial Management Association, the National Roofing Contractors Association, Lorman Educational Seminars, the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association, the Wisconsin Roofing Contractors Association, the Mid Atlantic Roofing Contractors Association, the North/East Roofing Contractors Association, the Associated General Contractors, the Conditioned Air Association of Georgia, the Roofing & Sheetmetal Contractors Association of Georgia, the Georgia Concrete and Products Association, the Macon Economic Development Commission Safety Committee, the Southern Region of the National Electrical Contractors Association, the Associated Builders & Contractors of Georgia, and the National Roofing Legal Resource Center.

Philip is a member of the Georgia Bar, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the American Bar Association and is admitted to practice in all State and Superior Courts in Georgia, as well as the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia. Philip has also represented clients in the construction industry before the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Philip and his wife Debra have two children, Zoe, age 15, and Zackary, age 12.

Shareholder | Littler Mendelson P.C.

Britney Torres

ritney Noelle Torres is an experienced litigator and advisor for employers of all sizes on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Through jury and bench trials, mediations, and arbitrations, Britney effectively resolves difficult and complex matters arising under both federal and state law. She also advises employers regarding complex legal issues in all aspects of personnel management.

In addition, Britney counsels organizations regarding diversity and inclusion considerations – from preliminary consultation and assessment through development of targeted, long-term initiatives. She customizes and delivers impactful trainings on all topics related to diversity and inclusion in order to improve employee engagement, innovation, and performance. She also trains workforces in compliance with legal requirements.

Britney draws from her multicultural and multilingual background to obtain a deep understanding of workforces. She leverages this understanding in litigation to develop key testimony and evidence to support aggressive defense strategies. In advising employers and training workforces, Britney is able to appreciate cultural differences, connect with employees at all levels, and help foster an inclusive culture.

In all aspects of her practice, Britney uses a combination of deep subject matter knowledge and business acumen to develop creative and cost-effective strategies for employers. She is an adept strategist tailoring advice to the nuances of particular matters and the priorities of each client.

Britney is currently a member of the firm’s Innovation Advisory Council, which is tasked with reengineering the traditional practice of law to bring clients cost-effective and forward-thinking solutions that employ leading-edge technology, project management skills, and alternative pricing strategies. She also served on the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Council and continues to be involved in internal diversity and inclusion initiatives.

While in law school, Britney was a member of the Review of Law and Social Justice and vice president of the Latino Law Student Association. She also externed for the Hon. S. James Otero, U.S. District Court Judge for the Central District of California, interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, and studied abroad at Bond University in Robina, Australia. During her undergraduate studies, Britney studied abroad at the Universidad Católica de la Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina.