John McKenzie was named Kastner Westman & Wilkins’ Managing Shareholder effective January 2024. He replaces Jim Wilkins, who served as K|W|W’s Managing Shareholder for four years, but will now focus more of his time on serving clients and mentoring K|W|W’s less senior lawyers.
In recent years, K|W|W has undergone significant growth, adding both experienced lawyers and recent law school grads. The 15-attorney boutique labor and employment law firm represents management exclusively.
McKenzie is a distinguished labor and employment attorney and dedicated community servant. He’s leveraged a background in corporate human resources and banking to understand his clients’ particular business challenges and develop practical and timely strategic decisions around them. His community service includes past leadership positions with Leadership Akron, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Old Trail School and others.
Peer recognitions and awards for McKenzie include Ohio SuperLawyers, Best Lawyers, Crain’s Cleveland Business “Notable Leaders in Employment and Labor Law,” AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and American Lawyer’s “Cleveland’s Top-Rated Lawyers.”
“I feel very fortunate that at the same time that I wanted to devote a greater percentage of my time to client service, John was ready and willing to step up to the important role of leading K|W|W,” said Wilkins. “K|W|W is on a very healthy trajectory right now and John is the perfect person to ensure our continued commitment to providing outstanding service to our clients while maintaining K|W|W as a great place to work.”
“As K|W|W approaches its 25th anniversary, we’ve worked hard to build a team that will thrive for many years to come,” McKenzie observed. “Serving clients is always our #1 priority and it will remain mine, even as I assume the responsibility for managing K|W|W’s incredible team of attorneys and staff,” McKenzie said.
Wilkins will remain a member of the K|W|W leadership team, along with McKenzie and K|W|W’s other shareholders, Tom Green and Amanda Smith.
The firm’s clients range from Fortune 500 companies to smaller regional businesses, and both local institutional employers and public sector entities.
The firm provides employers with counsel and representation in all aspects of workplace law, including defense of employment litigation and EEO charges, labor negotiations and arbitrations, affirmative action compliance, alternative dispute resolution, DE&I, employee benefits, human resources consulting, occupational safety and health, trade secret and non-compete litigation, wage and hour issues, workers’ compensation, and workforce management.