Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, will expand its presence in Texas with a new Austin office, effective Sept. 1. Three attorneys from Littler’s Dallas location will establish the firm in Austin – one of the nation’s most dynamic and growing cities.
Shareholders Steve McCown, Allan King and Kevin Mullen, all board certified in the area of labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, will open the office, the firm’s third location in Texas with over 70 attorneys already in Houston and Dallas.
“Austin’s economy is extremely diversified and is poised for continued expansion,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “Due to the recent Texas energy boom and Austin’s private sector growth, the area has seen tremendous development. We are excited to expand our Texas coverage to Austin, allowing us to serve clients throughout the greater state.”
McCown, co-founder and former office managing shareholder of Littler’s Dallas office, will be instrumental in leading the efforts for the Austin office. In addition to his leadership skills, McCown has been practicing law in the state for more than 35 years. He is currently chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group and represents employers in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) matters within industries such as construction, oil and gas, telecommunication, manufacturing and restaurants.
McCown also has extensive experience in the areas of traditional labor law and employment litigation. He has defended a number of complex employment class actions and has successfully defended wage and hour collective actions, defeating class certification in several national collective actions. McCown received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University and earned his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.
“Steve has strong civic and business connections in Austin,” said Dallas Office Managing Shareholder Chip Jones. “His proven leadership skills, combined with his impressive legal background and ties to Austin’s major industry sectors, make him the natural choice to lead our efforts in Austin and to expand our footprint in the state’s burgeoning region.”
“We’ve assembled a great team with Allan and Kevin, and there is tremendous potential for Littler in Austin,” McCown said. “In the past two years, a number of our client’s corporate and regional headquarters have moved to the city, which has become a mecca for tech startups.”
King is a renowned class action lawyer and co-chair of Littler’s Class Actions Practice Group. He is a former economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin where he earned his J.D. In addition, he holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University. His practice combines deep knowledge in employment law with his prior experience as a labor economist to handle statistical issues that arise in class action and “pattern or practice” cases.
King works closely with testifying and consulting experts in economics and statistics, and his experience as a labor economist helps him identify the most knowledgeable authorities suited to a particular matter. He is known for his ability to effectively rebut opposing expert testimony.
Mullen, a native of central Texas, represents a broad range of clients in the construction, automotive, retail, health care, transportation, manufacturing, hospitality, technology, sales and other industries. A strong generalist, Mullen’s employment practice comprises litigation and counseling. As an experienced litigator, he has successfully tried matters in state and federal trial courts. He routinely counsels clients on pressing employment issues and has developed a niche for efficiently resolving claims brought against his hospitality and retail clients under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He received his J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University and his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Source: www.littler.com
