Philadelphia, PA/ March 20, 2009 -- Littler Mendelson (Littler), the nation's largest employment and labor law firm representing management, is pleased to announce the arrival of shareholders Warren E. Fusfeld and Melissa B. Kurtzman to the firm’s Philadelphia office, both formerly of WolfBlock LLP.
“Warren and Melissa are excellent additions to the firm, particularly given their strong backgrounds in the area of employee benefits and executive compensation,” said Tom Bender, managing shareholder of Littler’s Philadelphia office. “Their knowledge and experience will enhance our growing team of attorneys in this practice area.” They join Susan Katz Hoffman, chair of the firm’s ERISA group in Philadelphia, who is nationally acclaimed for her expertise in employee benefits consulting and benefits litigation. "The experience and skills of Warren and Melissa will certainly strengthen Littler’s ability to represent clients facing a broad range of issues in the complex area of employee benefits and executive compensation, both nationally and internationally," said Hoffman.
Shareholder Warren E. Fusfeld joins Littler from WolfBlock LLP, where he served as partner and chair of the Employee Benefits Practice Group. Fusfeld advises clients in a wide array of industries, including finance, insurance, homebuilding and gaming, as well as clients in non-profit organizations, church employers and government agencies. His practice is concentrated on the areas of employee benefits and taxation. Fusfeld is involved in all levels of ERISA and non-ERISA employee plan design, drafting and implementation. His executive compensation practice includes experience in equity-based executive compensation programs and other incentive and performance-based compensation arrangements. Fusfeld received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.
Shareholder Melissa B. Kurtzman also joins Littler from her role at WolfBlock LLP as a partner. Her practice is concentrated on employee benefits and taxation. She represents clients on matters involving tax-qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, cash balance pension plans and other defined benefit plans. Kurtzman also advises clients on tax-exempt entity employee benefit issues, executive compensation arrangements and collectively-bargained plan issues. She represents employers before the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Kurtzman received her J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law and she also holds an LL.M from the George Washington University National Law Center. She received her B.A. in political science from Michigan State University.
About Littler Mendelson
With more than 750 attorneys and 46 offices, Littler Mendelson is the largest U.S.-based law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in employment and labor law matters. As the only U.S. member of the Ius Laboris global alliance, Littler has extensive resources to address the global needs of clients, from navigating foreign employment laws and international labor relations issues to applying corporate policies on a global basis. Established in 1942, the firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record. For more information, visit littler.com.
