SAN FRANCISCO (September 18, 2007) - Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country's leading workplace law firms, announced today that Mark Askanas has joined the firm's San Francisco office as partner.
Mr. Askanas served since January 2001 as General Counsel for Ross Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 company with 30,000 associates in 25 states. He was Ross Stores' first General Counsel, responsible for Sarbanes- Oxley compliance, corporate governance, securities filings, transactional matters, and preventive nationwide litigation and class action avoidance strategies. From 2001 through 2005, Mr. Askanas was also Ross' Senior Vice President of Human Resources where he was responsible for executive compensation, benefits, turnover and retention issues, recruiting, organizational development and training.
"Mark's experience as the General Counsel of a Fortune 500 company is an invaluable asset," says Rob Pattison, managing partner of Jackson Lewis's San Francisco office. "In addition to his litigation experience, Mark brings to our clients a deep understanding of the financial?impact of complex labor and employment issues, allowing for the most creative and practical approaches to them."
The announcement represents a coming home of sorts for Mr. Askanas, for prior to joining Ross Stores, he was a successful employment litigation partner with Jackson Lewis, having served as lead counsel for cases in state and federal courts throughout the western United States. He was at Jackson Lewis from 1988 to the end of 2000 in the Firm's San Francisco office. He first became a Partner in 1993.
"Working on the corporate side has given me a familiarity with issues I wouldn't have come across as an outside counsel," says Mr. Askanas. "As General Counsel, I gained extensive, first-hand experience in litigation avoidance and preventive solutions. I've also worked closely with our Boards of Directors, Audit Committee and Finance Department managing risk and advising on legal developments and issues. My first and greatest passion has always been employment law; as such, I am thrilled to be back with Jackson Lewis, and working with the Firm's many diverse clients."
Mr. Askanas received his juris doctorate from the University of California, Davis School of Law (1985) where he was Senior Research Editor of the U.C. Davis Law Review. He received his B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley (1982).
For more information, please contact:
Clare Grossman Marketing Director Jackson Lewis LLP T: (212) 545-4068 E: grossmac@jacksonlewis.com
Elizabeth Coxe the bounce agency T: (864) 351-2720 E: elizabeth.coxe@thebounceagency.com