Frantz Ward is proud to share the election of Partner Brian Kelly, Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Group, as Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. The criteria for election as a Fellow is based on sustained outstanding performance in the profession, integrity, dedication and excellence in practice.
The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers was established in 1995 through an initiative of the Council of The Section of Labor and Employment Law of the American Bar Association. It operates as a free standing organization recognizing those who, by long and outstanding service, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the field.
Brian focuses his practice on the representation of management in all phases of labor relations and employment litigation. He regularly represents employers in litigation before federal and state courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators involving employment discrimination and harassment, wrongful discharge, theft of trade secrets, breaches of non-compete agreements and other employment contract topics. Brian also has extensive experience counseling employers on employment topics ranging from FMLA and ADA compliance to reduction in workforce planning and implementation. In the labor relations area, Brian has significant experience in collective bargaining negotiation, union avoidance techniques and strike disputes. He has also developed and implemented personnel policies and in-house training programs on a variety of labor and employment law topics.
Brian is named to the prestigious Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, and the Ohio Super Lawyers list. He is named the 2019 Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” in Employment Law-Management in Cleveland. Brian earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A., with High Distinction, from the University of Michigan.
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