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O’Melveny & Myers Appoints Apalla U. Chopra Chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Piper Hall                                                Julie Fei

O’Melveny & Myers LLP                          O’Melveny & Myers LLP

202.220.5022                                          213.430.7792

202-870-1800 (cell)                               213.440.7792 (cell)
phall@omm.com                                     jfei@omm.com

LOS ANGELES, CA ─ APRIL 25, 2011 ─ O’Melveny & Myers LLP has named Los Angeles partner Apalla Chopra as the Chair of its Labor and Employment Practice Group. With a focus in litigating complex multi-plaintiff and class action discrimination and wage and hour cases, Chopra represents clients in a variety of industries including biotechnology, manufacturing, health, retail, hospitality, private and public school, and entertainment. Chopra is also a frequent speaker on labor and employment law issues.

“Apalla is a proven leader here at O’Melveny and within the labor and employment practice group, and I am pleased she will serve as Practice Chair," said partner and firmwide Chair of the Litigation Department Brad Butwin. "She will no doubt build on the momentum established by former Practice Chair Fram Virjee.  Her skill as a winning litigator along with her diverse industry experience will be a great asset to the successful practice.”

Whether litigating case matters involving employee allegations of wage and hour violations, invasion of privacy, wrongful discharge, or discrimination based on age, race, sex, national origin, or disability, Chopra has proven to be a strong advocate on behalf of her clients.  Beyond her litigation practice, Chopra provides strategic counseling and negotiates on behalf of her clients.  In particular, she has experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements and executive employment contracts, and has represented clients in a variety of traditional labor matters under the National Labor Relations Act and Educational Employment Relations Act.

As a leading employment practitioner, Chopra’s skills as a razor-sharp strategist, empathetic lawyer, and committed civic and Firm leader are well-known at O’Melveny and within the legal community.  In 2010 and 2011, Chopra received recognition from The Best Lawyers in America for her labor and employment work; she also was recognized by the Daily Journal in 2010 as a leading employment attorney.  Notably, Chopra has also lent her time and talents to O’Melveny & Myers’ Women’s Advisory Board and the Firm’s Policy Committee as well as several pro bono cases. 

Most recently, Chopra advised a team of lawyers in successfully obtaining asylum for a Somali man who became a victim of violence in his native Ethiopia in an area where separatist rebels have been fighting the central government.  Chopra also successfully led a team of lawyers in securing a U-Visa for a Mexican domestic violence victim. 

“I come to this position with great humility, but enthusiasm,” said Chopra.  “We have an incredible group of attorneys, who truly are best in class.  Our practice group will continue to represent the best clients in their most important, complex, and high-profile matters…we have a great year ahead of us.”

About O'Melveny & Myers LLP's Labor and Employment Practice

O’Melveny & Myers LLP’s Labor and Employment lawyers practice in virtually every area of labor and employment law—from litigating in federal and state courts across the country, to working with O’Melveny’s Transactions deal teams as employment, labor, and employee benefits specialists; from drafting and negotiating of senior executive employment contracts, to conducting “best practices” training of our clients’ supervisors and managers; from representing clients in union organizing drives, at the collective bargaining table, and in collective bargaining related arbitrations and court litigation, to advising and counseling clients on virtually every aspect of employment and labor law.  O’Melveny’s labor and employment lawyers provide this work to clients across the country, in virtually every state, and in myriad industries and business lines. 

About O’Melveny & Myers LLP

With approximately 900 lawyers in 14 offices worldwide, O’Melveny & Myers LLP helps industry leaders across a broad array of sectors manage the complex challenges of succeeding in the global economy. We are a values-driven law firm, guided by the principles of excellence, leadership, and citizenship. Our commitment to these values is reflected in our dedication to improving access to justice through pro bono work and championing initiatives that increase the diversity of the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.omm.com.