After Goldberg Segalla’s founder went on a leave of absence earlier this year, the Am Law 200 firm has elected Caroline Berdzik to serve on its management board, its first female partner in the role.

Berdzik, a Princeton, New Jersey, partner who leads Goldberg’s labor and employment and health care groups, stepped into the position this week. Her promotion reflects the Buffalo-based firm’s “growing emphasis” on its employment and labor practice, which is seeing high demand during the pandemic, she said. Her practice has seen about a 20% increase in hours this year from last year, she added, and she’s anticipating more demand as pandemic-related litigation arises.