PHILADELPHIA, PA (August 31, 2010) – Littler Mendelson, P.C. (Littler), the nation's largest employment and labor law firm representing management, announced today that Edward T. Ellis, a prominent defense attorney, has joined the firm. Ellis, a former partner at the Philadelphia office of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP, will be a shareholder in Littler's Philadelphia office.

During his time at Montgomery McCracken, Ellis served as chair of the firm's Employment Law Department. His practice focuses on labor and employment litigation, defending employers in discrimination claims, trade secret cases, whistleblower actions, and wage and hour cases, among others. He has an active trial practice in the federal and state courts in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

"It is my distinct pleasure to welcome a seasoned attorney such as Ed to the firm," said Marko Mrkonich, president and managing director of Littler. "His long and extraordinary career in labor and employment law, along with his litigation expertise, make him a perfect fit for the firm."

Ellis' career spans over three decades. Prior to joining Montgomery McCracken in 1988, Ellis was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for over five years. From 1986 to 1988, he was Deputy Chief for Affirmative Litigation, in which he supervised the activities of sixteen civil division assistants in affirmative litigation programs. Ellis also handled district court and appellate civil litigation involving the United States and its agencies, with particular concentration in labor and employment discrimination cases, procurement fraud, and government contract matters.

From 1976 to 1982, Ellis served as a staff attorney with the Philadelphia Office of the Regional Solicitor for the United States Department of Labor. In this capacity, he handled matters under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the veterans re-employment rights statutes, and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.

"We are thrilled to have an attorney of Ed's caliber join Littler," said Kristine Grady Derewicz, office managing shareholder of the firm's Philadelphia office. Not only does Ellis boast an impressive trial record, Derewicz said, but he is a highly-regarded lawyer with an outstanding reputation. "He is an excellent addition to our practice," Derewicz said.

Ellis writes and speaks frequently on employment law issues and trial strategy. He is the author of Protection of Intangible Assets: Trade Secrets in the Age of Federal Computer Legislation, Current Developments in the Law of Retaliation, and Racial Harassment and How Employers Try to Prevent It. In addition, he has appeared as a panelist on The American Law Journal's television presentation, "The Employee's Privacy, The Employer's Right to Know," and is a regular panelist on labor and employment law programs for the American Law Institute-American Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

"I am honored to be joining a firm with Littler's exceptional reputation," said Ellis. "It is a privilege to be working alongside my talented new colleagues, and I look forward to drawing on both the firm's resources and knowledge base to better serve my clients in Philadelphia and throughout the region."

Ellis received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and B.A. from the University of Notre Dame cum laude. He is admitted to practice in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey state bars.

About Littler Mendelson

With more than 750 attorneys and 49 offices, Littler Mendelson is the largest U.S.-based law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in employment and labor law matters. As the only U.S. member of the Ius Laboris global alliance, Littler has extensive resources to address the needs of multi-national clients, from navigating international employment laws and labor relations issues to applying corporate policies worldwide. Established in 1942, the Firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record. For more information, visit littler.com.