Joan M. Canny

Of Counsel

Joan M. Canny is of counsel in Morgan Lewis's Labor and Employment Practice. Ms. Canny's experience includes representing clients in National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) administrative proceedings, as well as in federal court litigation against the NLRB. She also advises employers in all areas of labor relations, including conducting seminars on union avoidance, managing company responses to union organizational drives before a NLRB election petition is filed, handling NLRB representation cases, managing union organizational campaigns, and defending charges of unfair labor practices before the NLRB and in the courts. Chambers notes that Ms. Canny has a "'stellar reputation' for her 'adroit handling' of union-avoidance issues" and "continues to ascend Chambers' rankings."

Ms. Canny has represented employers in labor and employment actions, including collective actions, and has represented clients and amicus in the U.S. Courts of Appeal on labor and employment and administrative law matters. She has assisted clients in designing and implementing personnel policies and procedures and conducting internal audits to identify potential legal problems, and has provided clients with advice regarding all aspects of the employment relationship, accommodation issues under the American with Disabilities Act, Federal Family and Medical Leave Act issues, drug abuse and testing, workplace violence, harassment and discrimination complaints, and I-9 issues.

Ms. Canny also has represented employers at all stages of litigation, including trial and appeal, in matters arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act—including class claims and individual claims for benefits, breach of fiduciary duty actions, and litigation over employer contributions to multiemployer benefit plans. She has additionally litigated several employment cases involving electronic evidence and discovery and the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Ms. Canny is a program co-chair of the ABA Labor & Employment Law Section's Technology in the Practice and Workplace Committee and has been a frequent speaker on issues relating to technology and employment law.

Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Ms. Canny practiced labor and employment law at a Florida-based law firm and in New Orleans and Washington, D.C.

Ms. Canny received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989. After law school, she clerked for Judge W. Eugene Davis of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Ms. Canny received her M.P.P. from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1989 and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Yale University in 1984.

Ms. Canny is admitted to practice in Florida and before district courts in Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia. She is board certified by the Florida Bar in labor and employment law.