Fighting for the Civil and Employment Rights of the People of New Jersey for Two Decades

Costello & Mains Supports S-676: The "Hand and Foot Bill

Kevin M. Costello and Deborah L. Mains, congratulate the New Jersey Association for Justice (Kevin and Deborah are both members of its Board of Governors and Kevin is a member of its Executive Board) and the other supports of S-676, commonly called the "Hand and Foot" Bill. The Bill passed the assembly on Monday, December 5, 2011 and is now on Governor Christie's desk. The Hand and Foot Bill significantly expands and clarifies the rights of New Jersey workers who are injured on the job and who suffer injuries to the extremities. The need for this bill was long in coming and Kevin and Deborah, who are worker's rights attorneys, fully support the bill and urge the Governor to sign it.

Costello & Mains Partner Kevin M. Costello Serves on School Bullying Rights Panel

On December 6, 2011, partner Kevin Costello served as a panelist advising lawyers on the rights of students to be free of bias-based harassment and bullying in New Jersey schools. "This is an issue which isn't just current," says Kevin. "It's critical to a healthy state and a healthy future not only to educate students on why bias-based bullying is so wrong, but also to make sure school and district officials are cognizant of their responsibilities to the students who are bullied, and to their families," Kevin says. "Bias-based bullying based on race, sexual orientation, disability and gender is on the rise, sadly, and I always appreciate being asked to educate lawyers and officials on how to prevent, investigate and punish this sort of thing. Bullied students don't learn as well and can become troubled, unwell adults. It's not fair and it's an epidemic problem which needs to be thoroughly address by and in the law."

Kevin has been serving as a chair or speaker on employment, school and civil rights matters for the majority of his career.

Costello & Mains Partner Kevin Costello Serves on "Coming Out in the Workplace" Panel for State Bar

On September 27, 2011, Costello & Mains partner Kevin Costello served as a panelist on worker right for the State Bar Association's Legal Seminar called "Coming Out in the Workplace," a seminar for attorneys advising GLBT (gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual) clients in workplace rights. Kevin has been serving as a panelist on many dozens of seminars for many years and always enjoys talking to other lawyers about his passion, civil and employment rights.

"It's so important for attorneys in other areas of the law, such as estate planning, family law and benefits law, to know how to spot and advise issues special to GLBT people when it concerns the workplace," Kevin says. "I'm honored to be asked to serve and it's always a pleasure to talk this area of law with colleagues." Kevin has been a chair or speaker for civil and employment rights panels and seminars for the majority of his career as an employment and civil rights lawyer.

Costello & Mains Verdict In Sex Harassment Case

Costello & Mains is pleased and proud to announce that, on August 25, 2011, partner Kevin Costello obtained a verdict in a sexual harassment matter in the matter T. Davis v. Abez Husain.

"We're all very proud of this one," Kevin, who tried the case, says. "This case was a long time coming to trial and Ms. Davis has been very patiently waiting for her day in court. What makes this case unusual and special is that Ms. Davis told the jury during evidence, and allowed me to say during my closing, that this case was about justice and not even about monetary damages. Although the jury did award damages, this was a case where the defendant had steadfastly refused to acknowledge responsibility and where it was necessary for a jury to listen to the evidence and deliver substantial justice. They did so and we are very proud of Ms. Davis and of the jury system in this state."

Costello & Mains Supports the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Costello & Mains proudly supports the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the policy which provided dubious protection to gay servicemen and women by suggesting that as long as they didn't declare who they were, they wouldn't be asked. The policy was a compromise of an otherwise responsible and successful Clinton presidency which has resulted in dismissals from service of otherwise honorable and courageous service people, dismissals not for failure to serve with honor or courage, but dismissals for being gay.

"We're proud of America and we're proud of our Constitutional tradition of fairness, liberty and justice," says partner Deborah Mains. "This policy is one of many that still make it 'okay' to bash and denigrate homosexual men and women simply for being who they are. As civil rights lawyers, we fight against that sort of prejudice every day, but we're hoping that the repeal of this policy will enable us to shine a light on a now national example of eliminating bigotry and hatred even in institutions where resistance to eliminating such bigotry is strong."

Partner Kevin Costello expresses gratitude on an even more personal level: "I have a wife and a son. Anyone who wants to risk their lives to protect their safety and their freedom is a hero to me," Kevin says, "and they should be treated as such. People who are born gay are simply gay people and as capable as straight people of courage, valor, honor and sacrifice. I'm glad that we as a people have finally recognized that."

Partner Kevin M. Costello Named to the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Association for Justice

Costello & Mains is pleased and proud to announce that Partner Kevin M. Costello has been asked to serve as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ), a Trial Lawyers' Organization in New Jersey dedicated exclusively to protecting and advancing the rights of working men and women in New Jersey and of their families.

"Kevin has worked very hard throughout his career exclusively protecting the rights of working men and women," his Partner, Deborah says. "I remember when I first met him at the start of his career in 1992 after his judicial clerkship, about when he first joined NJAJ. He was very proud to be a member of that organization and to identify himself as a Trial Lawyer protecting the rights of those who couldn't protect themselves. Kevin always considered it more than just "a membership." He considered service to NJAJ then, and considers it now, a part of his obligation to the people he tries to protect. He feels very strongly about why NJAJ is important to the men and women of this State and plans to give the organization everything he can for his term of service."

Partner Deborah L. Mains named to Co-Chairmanship of Women Litigators Committee for the Board of Governors of The New Jersey Association for Justice

Costello & Mains is pleased and proud to announce that Partner Deborah L. Mains has been asked to serve as Co-Chair for the Women Litigators' Committee for the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Association for Justice. NJAJ is a Trial Lawyers' organization exclusively dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights of working men and women in New Jersey and of their families. "Women are forming an increasingly larger percentage of the total population of lawyers and of trial attorneys, specifically," Deborah says. "I am of course proud to be a woman in this field and I am especially proud to be able to advance the interests of the growing number of women lending their voices and their courage to protecting the rights of working men and women. I will give everything I have to the Board of Governors and everything I have to the Women Litigators' Committee for my term of service."

Partner Deborah L. Mains Named to Board of Governors of the New Jersey Association for Justice

Costello & Mains is pleased to announce that, joining Partner Kevin M. Costello on the "Board of Governors" for the New Jersey Association for Justice, will be partner Deborah L. Mains, beginning in August 2011. "I'm thrilled and honored to serve an organization dedicated exclusively to advancing and protecting the rights of working people and their families in New Jersey," Deborah says. "Just being a member of the organization means a great deal, but to be asked to serve on the Board of Governors is a chance to add my voice to advancing the cause of justice for our entire Bar and for the people we serve."

Kevin is of course proud of Deborah's accomplishments in the field and calls her "one of the most dedicated workers' rights attorneys that I've ever met. She, like me, comes from a blue collar union background and understands that the tremendously large working middle class in this country is the backbone of our economic and moral soul. She is absolutely dedicated to protecting the rights of those workers and their families against corporate, banking, insurance and other "wealth-based" interests which seek to undermine those rights."

Employment and Civil Rights Law Firm Costello & Mains, P.C. Files Suit For Returning Solider Who's Job Was Not Protected According to the Law

The Employment Rights Lawyers at Costello & Mains, P.C., recently filed a Law Suit currently pending in Federal Court for Mark Harris, a 15 year veteran of the Army National Guard and a Sergeant who was most recently deployed to Afghanistan as a combat engineer.

"This guy is in actual combat and actually defuses anti-personal mines and other ordinance directed at our troops," says partner Kevin Costello. "Yet the federal law meant to protect the jobs of these brave men and women so that the jobs are there for them when they return from combat wasn't obeyed by the employer in this case. Although the employer was required by law to hold the job open for Sgt. Harris, when he returned, the employer had not obeyed the law. That's why we have filed a Law Suit under USERRA, the Federal Law that protects jobs for service people so that the jobs are there for them when they return from serving our country."

Sgt. Harris is a diving instructor and was employed at a local diving school which corresponded with him and intimated that they would hold the job open only to let Sgt Harris down when he returned; the job was not opened to him. Married with four children and having proudly served his country repeatedly, Harris was genuinely disappointed and has asked the Law Firm of Costello & Mains, P.C., Employment and Civil Rights Attorneys, to seek redress under USERRA, the statute which protects service people in situations like this.

Civil Rights Law Firm Costello & Mains, P.C. Files Civil Rights Law Suit Against Atlantic City Police Department

The Employment Rights and Civil Rights Attorneys at Costello & Mains, P.C., filed suit on behalf of John P. Williams, a long-term resident of Atlantic City, against, among other Defendants, the Atlantic City Police Department and two specific Officers involved in Plaintiff's arrest. Plaintiff was living in a rented apartment leased under his name when an intruder entered the premises attempting to assault him and rob him. "Mr. Williams had to make three 911 phone calls before the police responded after two hours," says partner Kevin Costello. "And when the police did arrive, they arrested Mr. Williams, charging him with assault, when he was defending himself and his home against his attacker who was illegally on the premises." The suit alleges that Mr. Williams, who had his lease and identification papers ready to show the police, was not permitted to do so. "The police instead purposely avoided looking at his identification and his lease just so that they could falsely charge him for crimes that they knew he did not commit," says partner Deborah Mains, who will co-counsel the law suit. "This was a flagrant and obvious abuse of Mr. Williams' Civil Rights and we wish to see justice done."

The charges were ultimately dismissed at the request of the prosecution because they were revealed to be baseless, clearing the way for Mr. Williams to hold the Police Department of Atlantic City accountable for what its officers did, as well as the officers themselves.

Nancy Valentino Esq., Joins the Firm

Deborah and Kevin were pleased to welcome attorney Nancy Valentino, Esq., a career employment rights litigator, to the firm. Nancy joins the firm from a defense practice, but says her heart has always been with plaintiffs. She's excited to be with a progressive and accomplished firm dedicated exclusively to the employment, school and civil rights of New Jersey workers and their families.

Partner Kevin Costello Named a "Top New Jersey Attorney" for 2011 by New Jersey Monthly Magazine

As Kevin says each time he earns one of these awards, "I still don't know how the process works, I don't vote, certainly not for myself, and I assume someone must think well enough of me to do so," Kevin says, tongue in cheek. "I appreciate that support and hope I continue to live up to the expectations of those who nominate me, and who do the voting."

Partners Deborah L. Mains and Kevin M. Costello Speak at the New Jersey Association for Justice's Annual 'Boardwalk Seminar'

Deborah, who will be appointed shortly to be one of the Associations Board of Governors, and Kevin, who is a Chair of the Boardwalk Employment Program and of the Employment Section of NJAJ, both spoke at the annual event, the largest CLE event in the United States, this past April. The two day program is attended by employment trial attorneys from both sides of the Bar. Deb and Kevin addressed recent updates in Employment and Civil Rights law and spoke to effective litigation and trial techniques.

Partner Kevin M. Costello Appointed by Chief Justice Rabner to the Supreme Court Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law

Kevin will serve a two year term subject to re-appointment. "I appreciate the Chief Justice's order appointing me," Kevin says. "The chance to give back to the people of New Jersey by protecting them from sometimes fraudulent offers of spurious legal services is important to me. The law is the bulwark of our democracy, and the integrity of the profession, and the right of New Jersey's citizens to honorable and qualified representation, is something I consider it an honor to protect."

Costello Mains Files Discrimination Suit Against Resorts On Behalf of Cocktail Servers

Costello Mains is proud to announce that it has filed two lawsuits on behalf of cocktail servers terminated by the Gomes Gaming entities which purchased the struggling Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.

The first of the suits was filed on behalf of nearly 40 of the 53 servers terminated - and not recalled back - in December, 2010, when the Gomes Group of entities took over operations at Resorts. Of the 73 servers who were all fired in December, 25 were retained, trial counsel Kevin Costello says, for the purpose of creating the impression that age and gender role discrimination wasn't happening when the 53 not retained were replaced. "Yet," Kevin says, "though those 53 fired were diverse in age, look and shape, the servers who replaced them appear uniformly young and of a certain look." The complaint alleges that such age and sexual stereotyping is illegal under the NJ Law Against Discrimination.

The second complaint was filed on behalf of 7 servers from the group of 25 who were invited back in December, Kevin says, and who, since, have now been fired on the grounds that they didn't pass 'muster' when photographed in their uniforms. More firings may take place of a similar nature. "Just more of the same age and gender stereotype discrimination of the same type as occurred in the first case," says Kevin. "Apparently, a modeling agency 'panel' of some sort has decided that the servers didn't have the right 'look' to continue in their jobs despite having the skills to do so." This, the firm alleges in the complaint, is a violation of the Law Against Discrimination, as well.

Both complaints seek damages for all servers mistreated, as well as equitable orders for the Gomes entities to cease discrimination of this type in New Jersey.

Costello & Mains Adds Associate Toni Telles to the Firm

The partners of the firm are pleased to announce that, effective February 28, 2011, associate attorney Toni Telles, Esq., will be joining the firm, concentrating her practice exclusively in the area of employment and civil rights law. "We're very happy to welcome Toni," says partner Deborah Mains. "Her commitment to civil rights and to protecting against government and corporate abuse is clear from her experience, which includes past affiliation with other firms doing that work, but which also includes her community activism and professional activities. She's the founding chair of the Rutgers Law School Chapter of the National Lawyers' Guild, a progressive civil rights attorney organization, and we're proud of her clear commitment to the mission of this firm."

Costello & Mains Files Further Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against the Jersey City Parking Authority

Costello & Mains has once again filed a lawsuit alleging severe and long-term sexual harassment at the Jersey City Parking Authority, an entity recently held to scrutiny as a result of press attention germinated by previous Costello & Mains litigation for similar conduct. The prior litigation by Costello & Mains was made confidential, but recent press attention as a result of Freedom of Information Act requests resulted in exposure of the previous litigation.

"Regrettably, it seems as if certain individuals have not appreciated any of the lessons inspired by previous litigation and the environment of sexual harassment at the Parking Authority appears to continue," says partner, Kevin Costello, the trial attorney who will handle the matter in court. "Obviously, we will, of course, wait until all the facts are in and let the jury make their decision based on those facts, but of the two individuals who advance claims in this lawsuit, one of them was retaliated against for attempting to tell the truth regarding sexual harassment in previous lawsuits against the Parking Authority."

Costello & Mains Supports Former Senator Fred Thompson's Stance Against 'Tort De-Form'

In the online periodical The Tennessean, Former Senator Fred Thompson came out against the right wing agenda of limiting access to the Courts through immunity legislation and 'capping' damages.  Tennessee's civil jury system, like those of so many states, is under attack by right wing interests seeking to limit access to courts for people and to limit and 'cap' recoveries in an effort to protect the corporate and other wrong-doers of this nation.

"When he says 'Some argue that the legislature should tell Tennessee juries that they can award only so much compensation in certain types of cases against certain types of defendants - regardless of the facts and circumstances of the case.  I don't agree with this approach, and I don't think it's "conservative,'" says Kevin, "He's taking a principled stance against the distortion of the word 'conservative' and speaking up for the American ideal of equal access to the Courts and fairness."

Kevin says he's most impressed, however, when the Senator says that 'conservatism' is 'about government closest to the people and equal justice with no special rules for anybody.  It's also about respect for the common-law principle of right to trial by jury in civil cases that was incorporated into the Seventh Amendment to the Constitution.'  "He's right on," observes Kevin, who says that what's good for equal access to the Courts is good for everyone, conservative and progressive alike.  "Our system "ain't broke," says the Senator, and he's right.

The same is true, says Costello & Mains partners, for every state in the Union, and for the nation itself.

Costello & Mains, P.C. Supports Passage of Toughest Anti-Bullying Law in the Country

Costello & Mains, P.C., the leading law firm in the state of New Jersey advocating for students harassed, bullied, cyber-bullied and intimated in school based upon sexual orientation, sex and gender identity, applauds the recent passage of the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Law.

“The new law sets a rigorous standard for development of anti-bullying programs, standards for investigating claims of bullying, mandatory reporting of bullying data and other measures which we hope will start to chip away at the culture of silence and ignorance that has surrounded school bullying in this state,” says partner, Kevin Costello. Yet Kevin warns that the anti-bullying law does not authorize private lawsuits on behalf of aggrieved children or families, even if the school fails to follow the law, and for this reason, although the law is often touted as “the strongest anti-bullying law in the country,” it really doesn’t go far enough. “Without a mechanism to privately enforce these standards when they’re ignored and harm results, says Kevin, “I’m afraid that the law may end up being a ‘paper tiger’”.

Costello & Mains Partner Kevin Costello Awarded '10 Year BV Distinguished Peer Rating' 

Costello & Mains, the Employment Rights Lawyers, are pleased and proud to announce that partner Kevin Costello was recently awarded the Martindale-Hubbell 10 year "BV Distinguished Peer Rating." Although Kevin, as usual for any such recognition, does not 'throw his hat into the ring' for consideration of same, nor does he solicit such or ask others to do so for him, he's always surprised and grateful whenever such recognition comes from his peers in the profession. "Lawyers are hard to please, as a rule, and we're very individual in what satisfies us," quips Kevin. "So when, as is apparently the case here, enough of my peers think enough of me to have something like this awarded, I truly and deeply appreciate it." That said, jokes Kevin, "I still have no idea who puts me up for these things, or how they select their honorees." Kevin has been named a "Super Lawyer" for a number of years running.

 Kevin M. Costello Named to The American Trial Lawyers' Association "Top 100 Trial Lawyers" for 2010

"I never throw my hat into the ring for things like this," Kevin says, "so I guess I'm always a little surprised when things like this happen, such as when I first made the "Super Lawyer" list a number of years ago."

"The ATLA" is a national trial lawyer group which names the top 100 trial lawyers in each state, each year. This year, though the selection process details are unknown - indeed, Kevin doesn't know how he became eligible for consideration - he made the list.

"I appreciate that I was named," Kevin says, and promises to uphold the commitment to justice and solid court room advocacy which he hopes formed the basis for the distinction.

Costello & Mains Partners Speak at New Jersey Association for Justice's Meadowlands Seminar

Costello & Mains partners Deborah Mains and Kevin Costello served as faculty for the Employment Program of the New Jersey Association for Justice's 'Meadowlands' CLE event, attended by a record number of attendees for 2010, which included record attendance at the Employment program.

"It was a huge success," partner Deborah Mains says. "All the feedback we're getting has been very positive. It's always a pleasure and honor to share knowledge with fellow employment and civil rights lawyers, since we always feel we teach and learn at the same time. We had great speakers."

Costello & Mains at Forefront of New Jersey Lawsuits to Stop Sexual Harassment in Schools and Cyber Bullying

The attorneys at Costello & Mains are determined to deter the increasingly alarming and destructive culture of sexual and cyber sexual harassment and bullying in New Jersey Schools. "Our culture sexualizes kids at ever younger ages," partner Deborah Mains says. "Add to this easy access to ever more sophisticated communication and imaging technology, and our society has a real problem."

Deborah says the firm is taking ground-breaking approaches under New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws to deter the conduct, and to force school personnel and districts to both address the conduct before it takes place and after students and parents complain.

Costello & Mains Partners Speak at NJ Transgender Remembrance Day and are Interviewed by NEWS 12 New Jersey

Kevin Costello and Deborah Mains attended the Garden State Equality Advocacy group's 'Transgender Remembrance Day,' when trans people murdered simply for who they were are remembered, their names read during a candlelight vigil. Kevin Costello also addressed the gathering to discuss Discrimination claims currently in progress at the firm which advocate for the rights of trans people.

"All children are born without hate in their hearts," Kevin told the crowd. "Hate has to be learned." Kevin spoke about the firm's commitment to the civil rights of all people, including members of the GLBT community.

"Often," Kevin told said during a NEWS 12 interview at the event, "GLBT people are considered to be the last underclass that it's ok to publicly bash. In that group, trans people are seen as the least of the least. That has to change. People have to learn to look into a heart of a human being and judge him or her on the merits, not on their religion, culture, ethnicity or gender... or gender identity or expression."

Costello & Mains Files Race Discrimination and Class Action Wage and Hour Claims Against Atlanticare

The Costello & Mains Employment Rights Law Firm in Mount Laurel, New Jersey recently filed a suit on behalf African-American employees who say they were racially harassed and discriminated against. As well, one of the plaintiffs alleges in a collective action - a type of class action - under the Fair Labor Standards Act that certain Atlanticare 'business units' systematically violate federal wage and hour laws as to certain classifications of employees.

Costello & Mains Files Groundbreaking Suit for a Transgendered Woman

New Jersey employment law firm Costello & Mains, P.C. has filed a lawsuit on behalf of April Murdoch, a male to female transsexual who was viciously tormented by her employer when her landlord, who entered her apartment without her permission and discovered paperwork pertaining to her transition, informed her employer of his find.

"This is one of the more egregious and profound examples of hostility to transgendered persons," says partner Kevin Costello. "We hope not only that justice will be done," Kevin says, "but also that by continuing to expose the sort of hate transgendered people endure for having the courage to be who they are, we can start to reverse the societal bias and ignorance that so often infects the lives of transgendered people."

Costello & Mains Supports Marriage Equality in NJ

Partner Kevin Costello voiced the sentiment of the firm and of the majority of fair minded attorneys in New jersey in a recent "Voice of the Bar" piece for the New Jersey Law Journal, the latest entry in an on-going discussion of the marriage rights question in New Jersey. "It's really not a question at all," Kevin feels. "Marriage cannot be guided by someone's subjective idea of 'natural law,' because natural law means the strong abuse - or oppress - the weak. Sadly, when people use 'natural law' in the context of arguing against civil rights, they usually mean 'religious law,' but they're of course aware that religious law cannot guide civil policy, so they disguise their argument by using 'natural law' to frame the issue. I believe in my oath to uphold and defend the Constitutions of New Jersey and of the United States, and that means marriage equality."

Jeanne Ketcha Chestnut and Dan Silverman Join Costello & Mains

The two new associates will work as a team with partners Kevin and Deborah to prepare all litigation matters for trial, and will begin trying their own cases in 2011. "We're happy to have them," Deborah says. "We've needed to grow our firm and add talent, but we needed to find just the right people, which we believe we now have." Both attorneys will concentrate their practices exclusively in employment and civil rights.

Costello & Mains Has a New Home

The firm moved into its new, larger home at 18000 Horizon Way, Suite 800, in Mount Laurel, NJ, making room for expansions of staff and for new attorneys to join the firm. "We're thrilled," Kevin Costello relates, "We've needed a much bigger space for some time now, but we needed to find the right blend of location, expanded space, comfort and appointments we wanted." The firm plans a welcoming reception for the Fall.

Kevin Costello Named a Super Lawyer for 2010

"As usual", Kevin always says when he receives these awards, "I don't pay for it, I don't put my name in it and frankly, I still don't know how my name even gets into consideration, but I certainly appreciate the wins." Kevin has won a Super Lawyers award for the last five years running and while he appreciates every one who votes for him in the selection process, he still isn't quite sure how it works. All the same, "it is better to win it", Kevin says, "than not."

Kevin Costello and Deborah Mains Speak at the New Jersey Association for Justice's Boardwalk Seminar Employment Program

Kevin and Deborah both presented segments of a mock trial, and delivered case law updates, during the well-attended and nationally regarded trial lawyer's seminar, annually offered by the New Jersey Association for Justice. Kevin serves as the Chair for the NJAJ's Labor and Employment Section.

Kevin Costello Named to Chairmanship of NJAJs 2010 Meadowland Seminar Employment Program

For several years now, Kevin has been pleased and honored to be asked by the New Jersey Association for Justice to Chair the "Meadowland Seminar" Employment Program, which teaches employment trial advocacy to members of the plaintiff bar. "Like I always say," says Kevin, "I always feel like I learn as much from teaching as I hope the attendees get from having me, and it's always an honor to moderate for, and sit in panel with, so many talented colleagues from both sides of the aisle." Kevin will as usual deliver his popular "Top Ten Cases in Employment Law" and moderate the rest of the panel presentation.

Costello & Mains, P.C. Expands to Add Krista A. Schmid, Esq. to its Litigation Practice

Kevin Costello and Deborah Mains are thrilled to announce that Krista A. Schmid, a talented lawyer in her 7th year of practice, has joined the firm as an employment and civil rights litigator and trial lawyer. “I’ve always harbored a desire to do plaintiffs side employment and civil rights”, says Krista, “and I'm thrilled to join what I think is one of the most advocative and active employment trial practices in the State.” Kevin and Deborah are equally thrilled to be able to continue to service and expand the firm’s growing client group in all areas of employment and civil rights litigation.