Chris focuses in a variety of cross-border employment matters, including corporate immigration and workforce mobility strategies for multinational organizations. From startup ventures to large Fortune 500 companies and international conglomerates, he has represented clients across a diverse range of industries, including technology, banking and financial services, energy, manufacturing, retail and e-commerce, insurance, logistics and transportation, and academic institutions, among others.
As a member of Orrick's Global Employment Team, Chris focuses on international comparative employment law and assists clients on matters such as compliance, HR policies, global offer letters/employment contracts, separation agreements, etc.
Having practiced U.S. immigration and nationality law for many years prior to joining the Firm, Chris bolsters Orrick's capabilities and subject matter experience in the ever-changing corporate immigration space. To this end, he routinely advises HR and management teams on I-9 compliance, procurement of work authorization for foreign national talent, and the immigration-related impact of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other types of corporate restructuring. Chris has successfully assisted companies with obtaining nonimmigrant visas for H-1B Specialty Occupation Professionals, L-1 Intracompany Transferees, E-1/E-2 Treaty Traders and Investors, TN NAFTA professionals, F-1 Students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, B-1/B-2 Temporary Visitors, and O-1 Extraordinary Ability Individuals. He also has extensive experience with the PERM labor certification process, immigrant visas, legal permanent residency (green card) applications, and naturalization/citizenship applications.
He is also the founder of the firm’s Whistleblower Task Force. He previously served as the Managing Director of Orrick’s Litigation Division. The practice group under Mike’s leadership was chosen as one of the top national employment law practices by Law 360.
Chambers USA and Chambers Global has ranked him in Band 1 since it began publishing its rankings, noting he is "a giant of the employment bar, widely regarded as an expert in whistleblowing matters and sex harassment claims,” “sought out by premier clients to handle high-stakes employment litigation and investigations,” and "one of the best lawyers on the East Coast for financial institutions."
Mike has an active trial, arbitration, and appellate practice and handles a number of high-visibility class action and impact cases. He is regularly retained by boards of directors and audit committees to conduct high exposure internal investigations of corporate wrongdoing.
Orrick’s Employment Law and Litigation group was recently named Labor & Employment Department of the Year in California by The Recorder, the premier source for legal news, in recognition of their significant wins on behalf of leading multinational companies on today’s most complex and challenging employment law matters.
He has considerable experience in and knowledge of litigation and counseling related to the hiring, firing, retention, management and promotion of employees.
Lauren works on single plaintiff and class action employment matters, defending against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour claims in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She also assists clients with conducting internal investigations and provides clients with guidance on pay equity-related matters.
Prior to joining Orrick, Lauren spent more than seven years as an associate in the litigation group of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP representing clients in complex litigation matters, including commercial and employment actions. Lauren's practice at Sullivan & Cromwell also included an active pro bono docket focusing on reproductive rights and LGBTQ and immigration issues.
He has represented U.S. and multi-national corporations engaged in a wide variety of industries, including retailing, radio and television broadcasting, automotive parts, printing and publishing, refining and packaging of petroleum products, manufacturing and distribution of wines, spirits and related products, hotels, food service, financial institutions, passenger airline, and freight forwarding companies.
Herbert has extensive experience in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and has represented clients in a broad range of labor matters, including: union election and unfair labor practice cases, arbitrations and strike related matters. His practice also includes federal and state court and administrative agency litigation covering employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, ERISA, and wage-and-hour matters.
He has participated in establishing security programs for clients, helped design benefit plans, employment handbooks, and worked with clients on affirmative-action compliance reviews and safety and health matters. He has drafted and negotiated employment agreements, and has done extensive work in counseling and representing clients in merger and acquisition problems including negotiations with adverse parties, unions, and insurance carriers.
Herbert started his practice as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, and then worked for Proskauer, Rose, Goetz, & Mendelsohn. From 1972 to 1990, Herbert was a partner at the firm of Baer, Marks & Upham, where he chaired the employment law department, and was instrumental in building a labor and employee benefits practice.
He joined Orrick in 1991, and continued as a partner until 2002, when he retired from the partnership in order to devote more of his time to family obligations. He has continued to practice with Orrick since that time as counsel.
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