Goldberg Segalla announces the promotion of partners Stephen C. Mazzara (Los Angeles) to co-chair and Christopher P. Maugans (Buffalo) to vice chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor practice group.

Stephen joins Caroline J. Berdzik as co-chair of the practice group of nearly 30 attorneys across the firm’s national footprint, while Chris joins Scott R. Green as vice chair of the group. Together, the team provides clients with exceptional risk mitigation counsel and creative legal strategies aimed at protecting employer interests.

“Steve is an outstanding resource for clients because he is genuinely committed to understanding their business needs and appreciates the complexities surrounding the employee-employer dynamic,” said Berdzik, who also serves as a member of the firm’s management committee. “He is a relentless advocate for our clients who is also sensible and pragmatic in his approach to representing them. We’re excited to bring him into this position of leadership, and I’m confident he’ll continue to build upon his track record of success.”

Featured in Best Lawyers in America for his work in the Labor and Employment category, Stephen is a trusted and innovative counselor who handles all aspects of employment law, with a focus on claims of discrimination and harassment under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. For nearly two decades, Stephen has represented employers of all sizes, including locally owned businesses, nonprofits, and multi-national corporations in state, federal, arbitration, and administrative venues. Stephen has earned Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, the highest possible rating, demonstrating that his peers recognize him for possessing superior ethical standards and professional ability.

Chris Maugans is a Chambers-ranked attorney in employment law and a proven thought leader, having written 78 articles on employment and labor in the eight years since joining the firm.

“It hasn’t taken long for Chris to build a reputation of excellence among his clients and peers, and it’s clear he’s earned this leadership role,” said Green. “This promotion reflects Chris’ commitment to client service and understanding their industries, his exceptional legal skills, and his dedication to Goldberg Segalla. Clients know they have a true partner and advocate for their interests in Chris.”

Chris concentrates his practice on representing employers on a wide variety of matters. With a focus on serving both public- and private-sector clients, Chris represents clients in cases involving workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage and hour issues, misappropriation of company trade secrets, and enforcement of restrictive covenants in employment agreements, including non-compete, non-solicit, and confidentiality provisions. In addition to his employment counseling practice, Chris regularly represents clients before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR), and in state and federal court. Chris has also earned a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating for his ethical standards and remarkable work in the industry.