ATLANTA & DALLAS — Ford & Harrison LLP, one of the nation's largest labor and employment law firms, today announced its expansion into Texas with the opening of a Dallas office. Michael P. Maslanka, former Partner and Chair of the Labor/Employment Section of Godwin Gruber LLP, has joined Ford & Harrison and will serve as the Dallas office's managing partner. Theresa M. Gegen, an Associate with Godwin Gruber, will also join the firm. The office will be located at 1601 Elm Street.
Only three days into the new year, the Dallas opening marks the third new office launch for Ford & Harrison in 2005. Also, today, the firm is launching offices in Spartanburg, SC and Asheville, NC. In 2004, Ford & Harrison opened an office in New York City. The Dallas addition brings the total of Ford & Harrison offices to 15 throughout the country.
“We've wanted to expand into Texas and open a Dallas office for quite some time,” said Ford & Harrison Managing Partner C. Lash Harrison. “With the ever-volatile employment market, we felt it was necessary to have an office where we could better serve our clients in Texas and throughout the Southwest. We are excited about having someone of Mike Maslanka's caliber joining our firm. He and Theresa have exceptional knowledge of the Dallas market and are well positioned to meet the needs of our clients and expand the firm's presence throughout Texas.”
The firm plans to rapidly grow its Dallas office and is currently in discussion with several lawyers in the city.
“Workplace law is moving very fast, and I believe it takes a singularly focused firm with a diversity of knowledge and experience to keep pace,” said Mike Maslanka. “I am enthusiastic about launching the Dallas office for one of the nation's finest labor and employment firms and offering my clients extensive employment legal services on a national basis.”
Mike Maslanka has more than 20 years of experience in litigation and trial of employment law cases, including defending several multi-party cases under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. He served as Adjunct Counsel to a Fortune 10 company where he provided multi-state counseling on employment matters. He is board certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has served as Chief Author and Editor of the Texas Employment Law Letter since 1990. Mike also authors the “Work Matters” column for Texas Lawyer. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his law degree, cum laude, from Tulane University.
Theresa Gegen has extensive experience representing employers in state and federal employment related claims. She has also successfully represented clients in multi-plaintiff cases and class actions. She received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Winona State University and her law degree, summa cum laude, from Baylor University School of Law. Theresa is board certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.