Hire part of new Member-in-Charge Jordan Blask’s effort to expand local depth of practices
Frost Brown Todd’s (FBT) Pittsburgh office hired Member Katherine (Kate) Koop Irwin as part of its expansion into labor and employment legal services in that market. Koop Irwin advises employer-clients in every aspect of employee-related issues, including disciplinary, discrimination and wage and hour matters, workplace investigations, requests for leave and accommodations, and labor relations. Koop Irwin helps clients avoid litigation, but if the need arises, she is a fierce advocate for her clients’ interests before administrative agencies and the state and federal courts. She regularly works with business owners, in-house counsel, and human resource representatives.
Koop Irwin’s hire is the first by new Pittsburgh Member-in-Charge Jordan Blask, who assumed his new role on January 1, 2021. Frost Brown Todd opened the Pittsburgh office six years ago with a focus on litigation and mineral rights. It has since expanded its practice depth to include real estate, bankruptcy and restructuring, outside general counsel services, business transactions and finance. Koop Irwin’s addition is Blask’s initial step to building on that foundation by adding a strong labor and employment practice. From here, the firm is planning for additional local growth supporting the technology, health care and manufacturing industries.
“Kate is a strong advocate who is known as being one of Pittsburgh’s best labor and employment attorneys,” said Blask. “Our goal is to build a team in Pittsburgh who addresses the needs of our local clients and can effectively utilize FBT’s industry expertise to help our clients grow their businesses. This recent growth strengthens our partnership with the region’s entrepreneurs and keystone institutions. In addition to Kate, two of our most recent hires, Member Jillian Nolan Snider and Associate Sloane O’Donnell, specialize in corporate restructuring, distressed-credit workouts, commercial litigation and ERISA withdrawal liability. We are looking forward to even more expansion in 2021.”
FBT’s nationally recognized labor and employment team who counsels some of the country’s top companies on employee and union matters will support Koop Irwin. “Joining FBT means that I will continue to service clients in the Pittsburgh and surrounding regions while collaborating with over 55 attorneys nationally who have broad and deep experience in every facet of labor and employment law,” said Koop Irwin.