LOS ANGELES – Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Dawn Collins and Tae Kim as partners in the Labor & Employment Department, yet another move illustrative of the firm’s continued growth in Southern California.
Collins and Kim, previously shareholders at Ogletree Deakins, are seasoned employment litigators with extensive experience in California and federal law. They defend corporations and management in connection with a variety of employment law matters, including high-stakes wage and hour disputes and discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. They also assist with workplace investigations and advise clients on compliance best practices.
“Dawn and Tae are excellent additions to the firm and enhance our already strong capabilities in California, where companies are challenged to navigate the state’s nuanced employment laws,” said Kenneth Yerkes, chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Labor & Employment Department. “Our clients need to be more vigilant than ever regarding their employment practices, and having such accomplished and reputable attorneys on the ground is a great benefit to them.”
Collins and Kim are the latest arrivals to the firm’s Los Angeles office, which has added partners Gary Caris and Sal LaViña in recent months. Barnes & Thornburg also recently launched a new office in San Diego, where Troy Zander is the partner in charge.
“The additions we’ve made in Southern California are not only integral to the growth of our firm, but they are also prospering on our platform and, most importantly, are finding new ways to efficiently solve client problems,” said David Allen, managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office.
About the Attorneys
Dawn Collins has 20 years of experience as a civil litigator, but she places an emphasis on litigation prevention measures for her corporate clients, including conducting workplace investigations, ensuring best practices related to discharge, discipline, leaves and reductions, drafting employment agreements, and complying with wage and hour laws. She is often called upon to defend clients in high-stakes wage and hour class actions alleging violations of federal and California wage and hour laws.
Collins earned her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law and her B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Tae Kim represents corporate clients in high-stakes wage and hour class and representative actions, and single plaintiff discrimination harassment claims. Her wage and hour work includes the defense of disputes involving misclassification, commissions, meal and rest breaks, off-the-clock work and piece rate compensation as well as advising clients on wage and hour compliance and conducting audits. She also regularly advises clients on best practices related to terminations, leaves of absence and accommodations, as well as conducting workplace investigations.
Kim earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and her B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles.
With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 14 offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.
