Litigation Department of the Year - Labor & Employment: Meet the Partners
Klehr Harrison's Labor and Employment Practice Group has been recognized by The Legal Intelligencer's 2021 Professional Excellence Awards.
The Labor and Employment Practice Group was named a “Litigation Department of the Year” in a specialty area. The awards highlight the best litigation practices of small and midsize law firms in Pennsylvania during 2020.
We invite you to learn more about the partners in this group.
Lee Moylan, Practice Group Chair
Area of employment practice:
Primarily, I am a litigator. I spend the majority of my practice defending employer clients at all stages of litigation against discrimination, retaliation, harassment and whistleblower claims.
Most satisfying part about practicing employment law:
I am never bored practicing employment law. The law is more complex than most people think so I feel that I am continuously learning and refining my knowledge. I also get great satisfaction out of the fact that this job gives me the opportunity to use my knowledge and counseling skills to help my clients navigate difficult situations.
What got me through the pandemic:
I exercised while following and watching videos of trainers in so many different, interesting and beautiful places in the world. By doing this, I was able to experience these places in some way even if I could not physically travel there.
Area of employment practice:
My practice often involves the interplay between employment law and commercial litigation. Examples include restrictive covenant/trade secret disputes, retaliation claims under civil rights and securities statutes, and defamation claims in the workplace context. I also regularly handle internal workplace investigations.
Most satisfying part about practicing employment law:
I relish the many trials, hearings and court appearances that this practice requires. I also enjoy being a student of the ever-changing and complex employment laws.
What got me through the pandemic:
I played a lot of tennis and platform tennis — outside!!
Area of employment practice:
My employment practice is focused on representing companies and executives in litigation and disputes involving restrictive covenants, misappropriation and protection of intellectual property, unfair competition, breaches of fiduciary duties and other torts.
Most satisfying part about practicing employment law:
I enjoy strategizing with my clients and helping them accomplish their objectives, and advancing my clients’ interests in overcoming any obstacles.
What got me through the pandemic:
I am an avid hot yoga practitioner. These studios closed during COVID-19 and I had to create a makeshift hot yoga studio in my basement.
Jonathan Krause, Litigation Department Co-Chair
Area of employment practice:
I really enjoy partnering with clients on their restrictive covenant and trade secret issues. Intellectual property and talent are two of the most important drivers for a business’s success, and they almost always necessitate strategic, situation-specific approaches to protecting those investments. Whether we are dealing with an advisory or litigation event, there is almost never an “off-the-shelf” solution, and we need to move quickly and collaboratively with the client in assessing and responding to the situation.
Most satisfying part about practicing employment law:
The partnership with clients. The best client relationships are the ones that are sustained over years, where there is a mutual trust and respect. These types of relationships allow us to see and advise on the big picture, not just the immediate issue at hand. They have often resulted in friendships that I value well beyond the client-attorney relationship.
What got me through the pandemic:
For the first six months, at the request and amusement of my three children, I did not cut my hair. If you ever asked the question “should Jonathan have a manbun,” I can answer with a definite “no!”
Area of employment practice:
A large portion of my practice is focused on trade secrets and restrictive covenants. Intellectual property is often the most valuable asset, and the associated restrictive covenants the most significant risk, facing our clients when assisting with litigation, counseling concerning a potentially contentious hiring from a competitor or a difficult separation, conducting investigations, or in drafting and negotiating employment and separation agreements.
Most satisfying part about practicing employment law:
Problem solving. Successful litigations, negotiations and drafting often come down to finding creative ways to overcome obstacles and resolve impasses. This is particularly true with respect to employment law.
What got me through the pandemic:
I spent a lot more time outside, particularly with my family—usually in the form of walks, bike riding, and playing soccer, baseball and frisbee.
Area of employment practice:
An important focus of my practice is mass layoff cases under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification [WARN] Act. I have represented and counseled both employees and employers in WARN Act litigation.
Most satisfying part about practicing employment law:
Being able to help people through difficult personal situations. Employment tends to be very emotional.
What got me through the pandemic:
I played more golf with my kids than ever in their lives.
Area of employment practice:
My employment practice focuses on representing employers and companies in commercial litigation involving restrictive covenants, misappropriation of confidential information and trade secret disputes.
Most satisfying part about practicing employment law:
Assisting employers, particularly small and mid-size independent businesses, in navigating the sticky situations that can arise with former employees – and helping to proactively protect company information to prevent those situations from reoccurring in the future.
What got me through the pandemic:
I had a baby! Her smiles – and watching her grow to interact with her older brother – definitely helped me get through the day-to-day monotony of the pandemic.