Reed Smith LLP has added Kevin D. Whittaker as a partner in its Labor & Employment practice in San Francisco.

“Northern California is an important and growing market for our national Labor & Employment practice,” said Sara Begley, Global Leader of the firmwide practice. “The addition of Kevin Whittaker, with his substantive background in employment litigation serving national client portfolios, adds depth to our Northern California presence and supports our growing national practice.”

Whittaker’s experience includes extensive trial work, as well as counseling and advising clients in all aspects of labor and employment litigation. He represents employers across diverse industries including technology, retail, transportation, financial services, and education.

“Reed Smith’s global platform will enable me to provide clients with seamless and more integrated services in many areas of their business,” said Whittaker. “I look forward to the opportunity to work on large, complex matters for my clients and for Reed Smith clients; the firm is a great fit for my practice.”

Whittaker represents corporate clients in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. He brings Reed Smith experience in obtaining bench and jury trial verdicts in favor of corporate defendants in discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination cases. He also regularly reviews and drafts employment policies, executive employment agreements, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, and severance agreements.

A 2002 graduate of Syracuse University Law School, Kevin is active in San Francisco’s business, legal and charitable communities. He is a Board Member of ArtPoint, a non-profit dedicated to the DeYoung Museum of Fine Arts and formerly served as Chair and Vice Chair of the San Francicso Barrister’s Labor and Employment Section.

Prior to joining Reed Smith, Whittaker was an employment and labor partner in Gordon & Rees LLP’s San Francisco office. Before practicing law, Whittaker completed fellowships with the National Academies of Science and the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

“The demand for accomplished labor and employment lawyers remains strong in Northern California,” said Raymond Cardozo, Reed Smith’s San Francisco Managing Partner. “Kevin’s experience and connections in the region will further strengthen our bench to address this need.”

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