William Emer Joins Firm's Los Angeles Office Labor and Employment Practice

LOS ANGELES (February 1, 2003) – Perkins Coie announced today that William H. Emer has joined the firm's Los Angeles office as a partner. Mr. Emer is the fifth new labor and employment law attorney to join the firm's office in Los Angeles in the past six months.

The Los Angeles Labor and Employment Group now totals six and is part of a firm-wide practice of more than 40 labor and employment lawyers, one of the largest on the West Coast.

"Bill Emer is widely recognized as a superb labor lawyer and we are thrilled to be able to offer his services to our clients," said Bruce Sherman, managing partner of Perkins Coie's Los Angeles office. "California employers face an extremely challenging legal environment in the labor and employment area and we are committed to meeting their needs with top-flight lawyers like Bill." Mr. Emer will counsel and represent employers in labor and employment law matters of all kinds, drawing on his experience in a wide variety of industries that includes aerospace, hospitality, gaming and entertainment, insurance, maritime, health care, energy, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, restaurant and food industry wholesale and retail services. He will continue to focus on negotiating collective bargaining agreements, arbitration of grievances, and representing employers before the various federal and California agencies including the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Department of Labor the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and other federal and state agencies.

Mr. Emer is also an experienced litigator who has handled class actions and complex cases involving employment discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination in federal and state courts.

Mr. Emer received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a member of the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section and is a frequent speaker and author on labor and employment law. Prior to joining Perkins Coie, he was a partner at Riordan & McKenzie.

"Riordan is an excellent firm and I have the highest regard for my former colleagues there," he said. "I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to expand my practice by joining a national firm that has a tremendous client base and is investing heavily to expand its California offering."