(June 22, 2018) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is pleased to announce the election of Robert Millman (Los Angeles), Mark Phillis (Pittsburgh) and Tanja Thompson (Memphis) as fellows of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in the Class of 2018. The annual installation of fellows is scheduled for November 10, 2018, during the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section’s CLE Conference in San Francisco.
“We are proud to have these three Littler attorneys inducted as fellows,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “Bob, Mark and Tanja have each made significant contributions to our firm and the profession and exemplify the highest levels of integrity and dedication to the law. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.”
Those selected to the college must uphold the highest professional qualifications and ethical standards, as well as exhibit strong scholarship, teaching, lecturing and/or writing, along with leadership of no less than 20 years. Election as a fellow is the highest recognition by one’s colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the profession and a demonstration of integrity, dedication and excellence. With the current installation, the college is represented by over 1,400 members in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and eight Canadian provinces.
Robert F. Millman has been practicing for nearly 45 years and is widely known as one of the top labor lawyers in the country. He has represented employers in proceedings and unfair labor practices before the National Labor Relations Board and in employment discrimination and wrongful termination litigation, including complex class actions. He also represents clients in arbitration and mediation and in collective bargaining negotiations in both the public and private sector. Millman is the founder of the firm’s two Los Angeles offices and a former chairman of Littler’s Board of Directors. As the firm’s 18th lawyer, he has been an essential and integral part of the growth, development and success of Littler during the past four decades.
Millman is frequently recognized for his contributions to the profession, with repeat appearances on many lists of prominent lawyers and Who’s Who. He has been named to the Top 100 Attorneys in California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal several times and has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Management Attorneys in the United States by the National Law Journal. Millman earned his J.D. from Cornell University Law School and his B.A., Phi Betta Kappa, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mark T. Phillis defends employers in employment litigation and individual and collective actions involving wage and hour disputes before administrative agencies and federal and state courts. He counsels companies on employment policies and practices, particularly those related to leaves of absence and accommodations under both Title I and Title III of the American with Disabilities Act. He regularly works with employers to ensure that their pay and employment practices comply with federal, state and local laws.
Phillis serves as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Council and was one of the founding shareholders of the Pittsburgh office. He frequently speaks at seminars and conducts training for employers and other lawyers on topics such as compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, harassment prevention, investigations, and diversity and inclusion. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© since 2017. Phillis earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.S., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Tanja L. Thompson dedicates her practice to representing companies in traditional labor law. National Fortune 500 companies and local employers across various industries, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and services, seek her guidance in remaining union-free and in managing their union-represented workplaces. Her National Labor Relations Board litigation practice includes unfair labor practice charges, as well as pre- and post-election litigation.
Active in the legal community, Thompson is a council member of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association and the Memphis Bar Association. She is also a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Thompson has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© every year since 2011. Additionally, she has been ranked as a top lawyer by Chambers USA and was awarded an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
Thompson is office managing shareholder of Littler’s Memphis office and co-chair of the firm’s Traditional Labor Practice Group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and her B.A. from Rhodes College.
About the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, headquartered in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1995 on the 60th anniversary of the National Labor Relations Board and the 30th anniversary of Title VII and Executive Order 11246. The college began as a nonprofit professional association honoring the leading lawyers nationwide in the practice of labor and employment law. It has evolved to become an intellectual and practical resource for the support of the profession and its many audiences. The primary purpose of the college is recognition of individuals, sharing knowledge and delivering value to the many groups that can benefit from its value model.
About Littler
Littler is the largest global employment and labor law practice, with more than 1,500 attorneys in 80 offices worldwide. Littler represents management in all aspects of employment and labor law and serves as a single-source solution provider to the global employer community. Consistently recognized in the industry as a leading and innovative law practice, Littler has been litigating, mediating and negotiating some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record for over 75 years. Littler Global is the collective trade name for an international legal practice, the practicing member entities of which are separate and distinct professional firms.
