By Brendan O'Brien

Feb 8 (Reuters) - Proskauer Rose has hired Washington employment lawyer Connie Bertram from Cooley.

Bertram will help lead the firm's labor and employment practice in Washington and will co-head its government regulatory compliance and relations group and its whistle-blowing and retaliation group.

Bertram has defended employers in whistle-blower and restrictive covenant cases as well as trade secret claims and disputes involving executives. She has also counseled federal government contractors and subcontractors on whistle-blower, affirmative action and compliance issues.

"In addition to her demonstrated skills as a litigator and trial lawyer, Connie is a highly regarded authority on government contractor compliance and whistle-blower issues," said Elise Bloom, co-chair of Proskauer's labor and employment law department. "Given the recent surge in federal labor laws and regulations, Connie will play a key role in helping clients navigate Washington's legal waters."

Bertram joins a number of high-ranking women in Proskauer's labor and employment law department, including Bloom, former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vice chair Leslie Silverman and former senior White House appointee Carolyn Doppelt Gray.

Also joining from Cooley is Guy Brenner, who will be senior counsel and co-head of Proskauer's non-compete and trade secrets group. Brenner has particular expertise in independent contractor, restrictive covenant and trade secret litigation and counseling as well as in resolving executive claims and disputes, Proskauer said.

Proskauer's labor and employment law department has 160 attorneys and 13 offices around the world.

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