News Release
Employment Attorneys Desmond, Cooper Join McGlinchey in New Orleans
Read Time: 2 minsMcGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce the expansion of its Labor & Employment group with the addition of two accomplished highly experienced attorneys, Susan Fahey Desmond and Susanne Veters Cooper, to its New Orleans office. In 2023, McGlinchey has strategically added 10 new attorneys in New Orleans, and five to the Labor & Employment group in Louisiana. Susanne returns to McGlinchey after working as in-house counsel since 2018, making her the sixth “boomerang” attorney to return to McGlinchey in since January, 2022.
“Having worked with both of them previously, it brings me great joy to welcome Susan and Susanne to our growing team here in New Orleans,” said Mag Bickford, Managing Member of McGlinchey’s New Orleans office and Chair of the Labor & Employment group. “I can attest first-hand to the wealth of nuanced practical knowledge they bring to our firm and our clients, enhancing our capabilities and fortifying our team’s leadership in employment law. And, most importantly, their commitment to client success mirrors our own.”
Susan Desmond brings over 35 years of experience and joins the team as a Member (Partner). She focuses on minimizing the cost and disruption of employment disputes for a diverse range of clients, including hospitals, banks and credit unions, manufacturing companies, offshore oil companies, school districts, and others. Her experience includes defending wage and hour, wrongful discharge, non-compete, Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), and other claims. Desmond is sought after for her litigation counsel in discrimination lawsuits and class actions, as well as her ability to navigate Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges and other administrative complaints. Most critically, she works with management and HR to resolve issues before they develop into contentious litigation.
Susan was listed among the “Top Lawyers in New Orleans” in 2023 by New Orleans Magazine and has been recognized by Chambers U.S.A., Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell in the area of employment law. She holds a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law and is licensed in Louisiana and Mississippi.
“I have been impressed with McGlinchey and its attorneys for many years,” Susan said. “After I met more of the team and learned about the firm’s culture, rejoining my former colleague Mag became a no-brainer for me. I’m excited to continue growing my practice here.”
Susanne Cooper joins the firm as Of Counsel, helping companies maintain successful employer-employee relationships through sound advice, counsel, and litigation support. With 20 years of experience, including in-house legal and HR counsel to the healthcare, restaurant, and entertainment industries, she provides strategic guidance on discrimination and harassment, employee attendance issues, EEOC charges, FMLA compliance, and challenges related to retaliation, whistleblower, and wrongful discharge claims. Susanne is dedicated to developing practical and cost-efficient strategies for dispute resolution and offers valuable training for managers on workplace policies and practices.
A German citizen, Susanne serves as Louisiana’s Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany. She is licensed in Louisiana and holds an LL.M. in Sports Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Arbitration and Mediation from Tulane University Law School, as well as a J.D. in Employment Law and Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Humboldt University Law School, Berlin.
“I am excited to return to private practice by coming back to McGlinchey,” Susanne said. “The firm has great systems in place to support its lawyers in growing their practices. I look forward to adding my skills to the growing Labor and Employment team.”