Nation's Largest Employment Law Firm Adds Former Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board

Washington, D.C./ May 5, 2008 -- Littler Mendelson (Littler), the nation's largest employment and labor law firm representing management, today announced the addition of Robert J. Battista, former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), to its growing Washington, D.C., office. Battista brings more than 40 years of labor relations experience to Littler's Labor Management Relations Practice Group.

Battista was nominated as chairman of the NLRB by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate to serve a five-year term beginning in December 2002. During his tenure, Battista was influential in several important labor law decisions including Dana Metaldyne (modification of recognition bar doctrine), Register Guard (employer/employee rights to email use in an organizational or union setting) and Oakwood Healthcare (supervisory authority of charge nurses).

"Bob Battista's extensive labor relations law practice and authority in the greater D.C. area, regionally and nationally are invaluable, and we consider his addition a coup for our Washington D.C. office and the firm overall," said Marko Mrkonich, president and managing director of Littler Mendelson. "Littler and its clients will benefit considerably from Bob's firsthand experience and years of leadership at the NLRB."

"I am proud to join the illustrious Labor Management Relations Practice Group at Littler Mendelson," said Battista. "Littler has a longstanding tradition of excellence, particularly in the labor relations arena, and I look forward to working with clients in D.C. and nationally."

Before his appointment as the NLRB Chairman, Battista practiced for more than 37 years as a labor and employment lawyer with Butzel Long, a Detroit, Mich., firm. While at Butzel Long, Battista served as counsel and trial attorney for numerous companies, educational institutions and multi-employer associations, before state and federal administrative agencies, in arbitration, and in state and federal courts. In addition, Battista had extensive experience serving as chief spokesperson in collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of individual companies as well as multi-employer associations.

Battista is a former chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Michigan Bar Association, a former member of the Advisory Committee to the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, and is a Fellow with the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. In 2006, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Battista earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1961 and received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1964.

Battista, whose term as chairman of the NLRB ended in December 2007, will begin at Littler Mendelson on May 5, 2008.

About Littler Mendelson

With more than 700 attorneys and 45 offices in major metropolitan areas nationwide, Littler Mendelson is the largest law firm in the United States devoted exclusively to representing management in employment, employee benefits, immigration and labor law matters. The firm's client base ranges from Fortune 500 companies to small-business owners. Established in 1942, the firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential cases and labor contracts in the nation's history. For more information, visit www.littler.com.