Mark A. Konkel has joined Kelley Drye as a partner in the Labor and Employment group, the latest high-profile addition to the firm’s management-side L & E practice. Mr. Konkel, formerly co-managing partner of Ford & Harrison’s New York office, brings a wide range of labor experience to Kelley Drye. He represents clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, aviation, education, financial services and hospitality and has extensive experience in collective bargaining negotiations, union organizational efforts, and labor-related litigation, as well as proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and National Mediation Board.

“The addition of Mark is an important part of our growth strategy for the firm’s Labor and Employment practice,” said Robert Steiner, managing partner of Kelley Drye’s New York office, where Mr. Konkel is based. “He brings a valuable skill-set to the firm, including expanding our ability to counsel our clients and represent them in traditional labor matters.” Barbara Hoey, chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group adds, “We are excited to welcome Mark to Kelley Drye. His addition allows us to offer clients an even greater depth of help with their employment law and traditional labor matters.”

In addition to his experience in traditional labor law, Mr. Konkel’s employment law practice includes handling class actions and single-plaintiff litigations in federal and state courts, employment arbitration, and claims before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and various state administrative agencies. He also counsels clients on best practices and employment law compliance and provides employment law training.

Mr. Konkel says he made the move to Kelley Drye for a number of reasons, citing two as most important: The firm’s commitment to the Labor and Employment practice, not only in New York but around the country, and the firm’s ability to serve clients in a variety of different areas beyond his own. “I am delighted to join Kelley Drye and to collaborate with the exceptional attorneys at the firm,” he said. “I see a real opportunity to help further grow the practice group while continuing to provide labor and employment representation to my clients with the added benefit of providing them representation in areas such as commercial litigation, advertising, tax and regulatory compliance matters.”

Mr. Konkel received his J.D. from New York Law School, magna cum laude, his M.A. from Rutgers University, and his B.A. from University of Florida, summa cum laude. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York.

Kelley Drye Continues the Growth of its Labor and Employment Group with the Addition of Mark A. Konkel