Armstrong Teasdale Adds Five Attorneys from Boston Employment Boutique

Armstrong Teasdale proudly announces the addition of five attorneys in Boston who join from employment boutique Bello Welsh LLP. The move comes as Bello Welsh, which has enjoyed a successful tenure of 18 years and earned a strong reputation in markets along the East Coast, has decided to wind down its operations and will dissolve. Armstrong Teasdale planted a flag in Boston in May 2020 and is committed to continued investment in the market and actively adding skilled attorneys to further round out the firm’s core practice areas. Partners Justin Engel, Alexandra (Sasha) Thaler, John Welsh and Martha Zackin join the firm, along with Associate Hayley Cotter, effective Aug. 16, 2021.

With more than 340 attorneys throughout the U.S. and in the U.K., Armstrong Teasdale’s Employment and Labor attorneys represent employers of all sizes around the world, from emerging companies to some of the world’s largest listed companies, as well as governmental entities, educational institutions and nonprofits. Our attorneys have varied backgrounds in private practice and in-house and bring deep knowledge from across industry sectors to each representation. Our practice and attorneys have consistently been recognized among Chambers USA’s Leading Lawyers for Business, U.S. News and World Report’s Best Law Firms, Benchmark Litigation and The Best Lawyers in America®.

“Our employment practice is incredibly robust, and we are pleased to be adding such experienced attorneys to our roster in Boston,” said Partner and Leader – Eastern U.S. Richard Scheff. “This team brings a wealth of experience representing a diverse client base in both contentious and noncontentious employment and labor-related matters. We’re fortunate to have them at Armstrong Teasdale and look forward to the many opportunities this will provide them, and our clients.”

Engel is a litigator and employment lawyer who represents businesses through all stages of the litigation process and also provides pre-litigation counseling on a range of employment-related and business issues. Engel’s clients primarily include businesses in the pharmaceutical, health care, technology, management consulting, financial services, private equity and insurance industries. He regularly represents businesses in court and before administrative agencies in matters involving complex commercial litigation, restrictive covenant and trade secret disputes, and employment-related claims under federal and state statutes. He has tried cases to verdict before both juries and judges. He also has significant experience conducting internal investigations for clients in response to whistleblower complaints and government inquiries.

Thaler guides company leadership and human resources professionals at employers across multiple industries in all aspects of employment law, from compliance through litigation and dispute resolution. As a counselor, she regularly advises employers in the life sciences, staffing, manufacturing, software, hospitality and other industries on issues relating to hiring, terminations, wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, discipline, harassment and discrimination claims, reductions in force, and drafting and interpreting employment-related contracts. As a litigator, Thaler defends employers before courts and state and federal agencies in a wide range of employment-related matters, including discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour disputes and contract claims, among others.  She also assists clients with establishing compliant policies and practices relating to a wide range of federal and state laws.

Welsh focuses his practice on representing management in all aspects of labor and employment law. A fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, he is well recognized among the top practitioners in his field. As an experienced litigator and former appellate and trial attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C., and Boston, Welsh has handled significant matters for clients across industry sectors. His experience includes matters involving unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, whistleblowing, ERISA, wage and hour, employee privacy, defamation, noncompetition and trade secret cases. Welsh has acted as lead trial counsel on employment cases in venues nationwide.

Zackin has over 30 years of experience advising and representing clients on a broad range of employment law issues and in adversarial proceedings. In her role as an advisor to employers, boards of directors and executives, she regularly provides practical advice and counsel on a wide range of employment-related issues, including employee relations and policy matters; employee classification and wage and hour laws; violations of noncompetition, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreements; employee training; employment and separation agreements; affirmative action; mergers and acquisitions; and internal investigations. Zackin also has experience assisting clients in drafting employment policies, handbooks, and employment and severance agreements, and in conducting various educational programs. In addition, Martha is an experienced litigator, having represented clients before administrative and governmental agencies, courts, arbitrators and mediators.

Cotter practices in employment law and civil litigation, and has experience handling both contentious and noncontentious matters for clients. Her experience includes negotiating and drafting employment and management agreements and employee manuals for a variety of industries. Cotter counsels clients on a wide range of legal issues including wage and hour laws, employee classification and employee discipline. She has also participated in the defense of companies in lawsuits involving claims for wrongful termination, negligent hiring, tortious interference with contract and other employment-related issues.