Littler announced on May 4 that Katharine Lennox has joined the firm as a shareholder in its Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group in Rochester.
The addition of Lennox is notable for Littler, which describes itself as the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management. Her experience is expected to support clients dealing with increasingly complex workplace disputes and evolving legal standards.
Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president, said, “Workplace disputes today are more sophisticated, more visible and often move faster than ever before. Katie knows how to navigate that environment exceptionally well, helping employers respond thoughtfully while also positioning them to prevent potential issues before they arise.”
Lennox joins from McGuireWoods with nearly 15 years of experience handling unfair competition, trade secret, and restrictive covenant matters. She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in multi-jurisdictional trade secrets cases and has worked on requests for injunctive relief as well as dispositive motions in restrictive covenant enforcement cases. In addition to these areas, she advises on discrimination, harassment, retaliation claims, wage and hour matters, privacy-related claims—including biometric privacy laws—and employment acquisition issues.
James Witz and Melissa McDonagh, co-chairs of Littler’s Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group said in a joint statement: “With an increasingly complex and evolving state regulatory landscape surrounding non-compete agreements, there is a heightened need for strategic planning when employees depart for competitors. Katie is well positioned to guide our clients through preventative planning, as well as defending their trade secrets when an issue does arise.”
Jacqueline Phipps Polito of Littler’s Rochester office added: “Katie’s experience across New York and several other jurisdictions nationally and globally will greatly benefit the multinational clients we serve. Her strategic approach, sound judgment and deep understanding of today’s most sensitive workplace challenges further strengthen our ability to support clients navigating these complex matters.”
Lennox said: “Employers are operating in an environment where workforce expectations, legal standards and reputational considerations are all evolving simultaneously. Littler’s unrivaled global platform perfectly aligns with my domestic and international experience—and I look forward to leveraging these resources to better serve my clients for years to come.”
According to the announcement from Littler Mendelson P.C., Lennox holds degrees from institutions in the U.S., Belgium (LL.M., University of Kent at Brussels), Canada (B.A., Wilfrid Laurier University), along with a J.D. magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
