The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers

This year's honorees include Eric Barnum of BakerHostetler, Dawn Holiday of Jackson Walker and Ellen M. Bronchetti of Greenberg Traurig.

We’re honored to recognize The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers.

This is the 19^th edition of our guide to the nation’s best advisors on the world of employment and labor law – from employee benefits and executive compensation; to traditional labor matters; immigration; and, of course, all matter of litigation and arbitration – from wage and hour class actions, to discrimination, trade secrets and non-compete agreements.

We are particularly proud to recognize the range of excellence in employment law – from solo practitioners, to specialist boutiques to the world’s most high-impact practices. They practice from Houston to Atlanta, Chicago to San Diego and New York to Orlando.

Eric L. Barnum of BakerHostetler epitomizes the excellence of those recognized here. He serves as lead counsel in a vast array of employment litigation, including class actions, for industry leaders involving claims including discrimination, misclassification, trade secrets and non-competes. He has also been lead outside counsel for the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and a leader in his firm and communities of Atlanta and Los Angeles, including as a member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta.

Jackson Walker’s Dawn S. Holiday is a standout employment lawyer, noted for her stellar litigation and investigative skills on behalf of global companies. She also defends companies in individual suits and class actions involving claims of trade secrets, retaliation, harassment and non-compete agreements. A dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, she is a champion in her firm and community of Houston for opportunity and the importance of expanding the horizons of young people, including as future lawyers.

Ellen M. Bronchetti is co-managing partner of Greenberg Traurig’s San Diego office. She puts her knowledge of California law on full display deftly advising employers there and nationwide on the full array of legal issues they face. She is a standout defending class action claims of meal-and-rest premiums, off-the-clock work, unpaid overtime, misclassification as well as traditional labor claims and harassment and discrimination.

It's truly an honor to recognize these lawyers, and a privilege to shine a light on exceptional talent in the legal community. We appreciate your support for our work, including an ever-growing number of submissions to our guides. We do this work for you and cannot do it without you, so please accept our heartfelt gratitude.

We selected this guide in our time-honed method combining submissions, journalistic research and independent vetting by peers and clients. As those who have followed Lawdragon’s 20-year journey know, we are passionate about lawyers and have spent our careers on a mission to provide better information about lawyers to those who need it. Those individuals denoted with an asterisk are members of our Hall of Fame.