Akerman partners Amy Moor Gaylord and Thomas Mandler were named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2023 Notable Leaders in Employment & Labor Law, which recognizes 40 leaders dedicated to fairness within and outside the workplace, who have made a measurable impact for management and employees through their leadership and client successes, and who are deeply committed to community volunteerism and pro bono work.

With over 25 years of experience, Gaylord focuses her practice on traditional labor matters and employment litigation for both public and private sector employers with an emphasis on National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings, union organizing drives, NLRB-conducted elections, arbitration cases, contract negotiations and employment discrimination matters. She has experience counseling clients in various industries, including healthcare, higher education, not-for-profit, public safety, hospitality and entertainment, among others.

For more than 45 years, Mandler has represented employers on a nationwide basis in the full spectrum of issues dealing with their employees, whether or not they are employed at-will, pursuant to an employment agreement or represented by a union. A substantial portion of his practice is devoted to advising employers on how to maintain union-free status, including conducting supervisory training, union vulnerability audits, election campaigns and defending unfair labor practice charges.