LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 19, 2010 - Arent Fox LLP announced today that leading labor and employment lawyer Harry I. Johnson III has joined the firm as a partner in the firm's Los Angeles office. Mr. Johnson's practice and experience cover the full range of labor and employment law, including wage-hour complex litigation, traditional labor, other employment litigation, and client counseling and advice. He comes to Arent Fox from Jones Day, where he served as the practice coordinator of the management-side attorneys that made up that firm's labor and employment practice in Los Angeles.

“We are extremely proud and happy that an attorney of Harry's outstanding skill and reputation has joined us at Arent Fox's Los Angeles office,” said LA managing partner Robert C. O'Brien. “He brings with him a strong background in all aspects of labor and employment law, having built his career representing clients before the National Labor Relations Board, in litigation of California and federal wage-hour cases, as well as general civil employment litigation, arbitration, and mediation. He is a splendid addition to our firm, adding even more depth to our nationally recognized labor and employment practice.”

The arrival of Mr. Johnson — along with the addition earlier this week of a highly respected six attorney team from Venable LLP, including lateral hires Aaron Jacoby, who will co-chair Arent Fox's automotive practice group, litigator John Bronstein, who joins Mr. Jacoby in the firm's automotive practice, and Richard Buckley, who joins the entertainment and sports law practice — are the latest moves in the significant growth of Arent Fox's Los Angeles office since its launch in 2007. Starting with nine lawyers in January 2007, the Los Angeles office has grown to more than 40 attorneys — including lateral partners and new associates — and more than 30 staff members.

In December 2007, because of the firm's rapid growth, Arent Fox Los Angeles relocated to the city's prestigious Gas Company Tower located at 555 West 5th Street, leasing more than triple the office space occupied by the firm at its former address.

Speaking at Arent Fox's office in Washington, DC, firm chairman Marc Fleischaker, said, “In early 2007, we established our Los Angeles office because many of our clients expressed a desire for Arent Fox to have a West Coast presence. Since then, under the leadership and guidance of our managing partner in California, Robert O'Brien, Arent Fox Los Angeles has thrived, growing at an extraordinary rate, especially when one considers the economic challenges that have confronted not only the legal profession, but the nation as a whole, over the last three years. The Arent Fox Los Angeles office is a remarkable success story and one that we anticipate will continue into the foreseeable future.”

About Harry I. Johnson III

Mr. Johnson counsels clients in addressing issues posed by California and federal labor and employment law.

In the traditional labor field, Mr. Johnson has represented clients in NLRB unfair labor practice hearings, union representation campaigns, union corporate campaigns, labor arbitrations, assistance with collective bargaining, and Section 10(j) injunction hearings. Traditional labor issues span an array of topics, including information requests, collective bargaining subjects, representation campaigns, alleged anti-union discrimination/coercion, and successorship issues.

In the employment arena, his practice includes litigation of California and federal wage-hour class and collective action cases, California and federal employment discrimination cases, as well as general civil employment litigation, arbitration, and mediation.

In the specific area of discrimination law, he has provided guidance to employers in disparate impact and treatment claims of alleged racial, sexual, age, national origin, disability, and sexual orientation discrimination; harassment claims and investigation; retaliation claims; and disability accommodation.

Mr. Johnson has represented clients in a wide variety of businesses and industrial sectors, including news and media organizations, health care facilities, grocery companies, automotive and automotive supply manufacturers, retail companies and government entities.

He is a much sought after author and lecturer on issues of labor and employment law, with his articles appearing in professional and trade publications such as Employee Relations Law Journal; the ABTL [Association of Business Trial Lawyers] Report; Daily Journal and the American Hospital Association's Health Care Labor Report. He has spoken at American Conference Institute's “Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions” Conference and various other law and employment legal and legislative briefings across the country.

Mr. Johnson earned his JD degree at Harvard Law School and his Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He was a summer associate at Arent Fox's Washington, DC office. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his BA degree.

Mr. Johnson is admitted to the Bar in California, Washington, DC and Virginia.

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About Arent Fox

Arent Fox LLP (www.arentfox.com), with offices in Los Angeles, Washington, DC and New York City, is a recognized leader in areas including intellectual property, real estate, health care, life sciences and complex litigation. With nearly 350 lawyers nationwide, Arent Fox has extensive experience in corporate securities, financial restructuring, bankruptcy, government relations, labor and employment, finance, tax, corporate compliance, and the global business market. The firm represents Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, trade associations, foreign governments and other entities.