Matthew (Matt) Steinberg and Samantha Abeysekera have joined Akerman Senterfitt from Jackson Lewis LLP as shareholders in the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group in New York. The lawyers are the second group to join Akerman’s New York office since April and the latest to join since the office moved to a larger location on Fifth Avenue in May.
Steinberg focuses his practice on all aspects of employment law, with an emphasis in representation of employers in individual and class/collective litigation matters before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and arbitrators. He litigates multi-plaintiff employment discrimination lawsuits, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) systemic discrimination actions, and federal and state law wage and hour and class/collective actions. Additionally, he handles related federal and state Department of Labor (DOL) wage and hour investigations. Steinberg also has briefed and argued several appeals.
Abeysekera handles a wide range of labor and employment law issues, with a concentration on individual, class, and collective wage and hour matters, including litigation before federal and state trial courts, and the DOL, as well as advice and counseling regarding overtime pay, exempt status, the calculation of hours worked, and other issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Abeysekera also litigates single- and multi-plaintiff employment discrimination, harassment, and restrictive covenant matters at all court levels, as well as administrative agencies, including the EEOC, and arbitrators. In addition, Abeysekera defends employment actions filed by registered representatives before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
"Matt and Samantha further strengthen Akerman's growing Labor & Employment Practice Group, both in New York and across the firm's national platform," said James Bramnick, chair of Akerman's Labor and Employment Practice Group. "With an increasingly complex legal framework affecting employers, Matt and Samantha's practice in employment law, as well as their significant litigation experience, will be of great value to our clients."
With a large network of lawyers and government affairs professionals across 10 practice groups and 19 offices, Akerman provides a multifaceted platform for Steinberg and Abeysekera who represent a broad range of clients, including employers in the financial services, real estate, retail, entertainment, and aviation industries.
"Akerman has an exceptional reputation and expansive reach, with lawyers representing clients in a myriad of business issues throughout the United States and across the Americas," said Steinberg. "The firm's collaborative environment across a multi-tiered platform will allow my clients access to a broad range of services. Samantha and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the firm and its clients, and expansion of the firm's Labor & Employment practice in New York."
Last month, Akerman's Labor and Employment team welcomed Scott Bettridge in Miami and Samantha Feuer in West Palm Beach. Bettridge joined Akerman after serving as an office managing partner at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP. Feuer joined Akerman from the Office of the Florida Attorney General where she served as the Chief of the South Florida Bureau, Consumer Protection Unit, and previously as an Assistant Attorney General.
The Akerman Labor & Employment Practice Group defends employers in virtually every major industry throughout the United States in all types of employment litigation, including class and collective actions, under federal, state, and local employment laws and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The group also represents employers in connection with employment law compliance, labor relations, ADA public access, workplace safety, global workforce issues, immigration, and non-compete and trade secret issues.
About Akerman Senterfitt
Akerman is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 550 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 19 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2013). Akerman also is ranked among the top 100 law firms for diversity by MultiCultural Law magazine (2012) and recognized as the Law Firm of the Year for Diversity – South by Benchmark Litigation (2012). More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.