Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has appointed new office managing shareholders (OMS) in its Chicago and Irvine, California offices.
Shareholder Kwabena Appenteng will serve as OMS of the firm’s Chicago office. He succeeds Paul Bateman, who will continue to fulfill his leadership responsibilities as Littler’s Chief Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Officer and member of the firm’s Management Committee, alongside his active practice.
Shareholder Heather M. Vigil will serve as the Irvine office OMS. She succeeds Jon Miller, who will also continue to focus on his active practice.
“Kwabena and Heather are both natural leaders who have long been champions of the firm’s mentorship and recruiting efforts. As such, they are well positioned to continue our growth efforts in these important markets,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president. “On behalf of the firm, I’d also like to thank Paul and Jon for their leadership and numerous contributions to the development of our Chicago and Irvine offices.”
In addition to his role as Chicago OMS, Appenteng will continue to serve as co-chair of Littler’s Privacy and Data Security Practice Group, advising employers on compliance issues related to the California Consumer Privacy Act, European General Data Protection Regulation, cross-border transfers of human resources data, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, biometric privacy laws, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and state and federal monitoring laws, among others.
“I am thrilled to take the reins in Chicago,” said Appenteng. “Paul has laid a strong foundation, and I look forward to continuing to provide growth opportunities for our talented attorneys and professional staff, as well as first-rate legal services and innovative solutions to our clients.”
Vigil will also maintain her thriving litigation practice as well focusing on international employment law, wage and hour matters, and privacy and data security issues. She defends employers in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration and administrative hearings before agencies such as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Vigil also regularly conducts employee and management training sessions and counsels small, medium-sized and multinational employers on workplace investigations, terminations, disciplinary actions, and other issues arising under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and California Labor Code.
“I’m honored to serve in this role and follow in Jon’s footsteps,” said Vigil. “We have an amazing team in Irvine who, alongside our offices across the state, have the depth and breadth of skills needed to help employers navigate California’s tricky legal landscape. I’m excited to continue bolstering our team and capabilities in the years to come.”
Appenteng is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the U.S. and Europe, and a frequent speaker and author on topics related to privacy in the workplace. He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and his B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Vigil earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and her B.A. from San Jose State University.
