Who are the most influential voices in Employment Law?
Key takeaway
Google AI Mode, ChatGPT and Gemini rank Orly Lobel highest using academic citation evidence; Copilot ranks Jonathan Crotty highest using readership awards. Their answers do not establish a single top 10 because they use different measures of influence. Google AI Mode, ChatGPT and Gemini cite the same Leiter Reports list of most-cited U.S. labor and employment law faculty for 2019-2023. They place Orly Lobel, Cynthia Estlund, Catherine Fisk, Pauline Kim, Samuel Estreicher and Kate Andrias in the same order.
Where they differ
Academic influence versus practitioner readership
Membership and ordering within the academic lists
Disagreement (3)
Orly Lobel is the most influential voice in Employment Law
Jonathan Crotty is one of the top 10 most influential voices in Employment Law
Benjamin Sachs is ranked 8th in influence
Verdict
ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Mode all put Orly Lobel first and agree on the order of the next names, so backing is firm. Copilot alone gives a different list led by practitioners such as Anne Yuengert.
What engines actually searched
The sub-queries each engine actually searched before answering.
Cited, but not mentioned
4 sites cite this answer without naming anyone
Full responses
5 of 5 engines that answered. Full stored text as captured, with dashes shown as hyphens. Nothing is summarised.
Orly Lobel
Cynthia Estlund
Catherine Fisk
Pauline Kim
Samuel Estreicher
Kate Andrias
Benjamin Sachs
Nicole Buonocore Porter
Angela Onwuachi-Willig
Michael Selmi 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023 – Leiter Reports
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Gemini2,523 characters · October 6, 2026-
Orly Lobel 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Cynthia Estlund 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Catherine Fisk 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Pauline Kim 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Samuel Estreicher 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Kate Andrias 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Matthew Bodie 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Benjamin Sachs 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Nicole Buonocore Porter 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
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Michael Selmi 10 most-cited Labor & Employment Law faculty in the U.S., 2019-2023
Orly Lobel****is the most influential voice and top-cited scholar in employment and labor law in the United States , according to empirical academic impact data. USD Law Professor Orly Lobel is the Most-Cited Labor and10 most
The following ranking of the top 10 most influential individual voices and academic authorities in Employment Law is ordered from most to least influential based on recent scholarly citation metrics and impact factor data: [Leiter Reports]
- ** Orly Lobel**
- ** Cynthia Estlund**
- ** Catherine Fisk**
- ** Pauline Kim**
- ** Samuel Estreicher**
- ** Kate Andrias**
- ** Matthew Bodie**
- ** Benjamin Sachs**
- ** Nicole Porter**
- ** Michael Selmi** [Leiter Reports]
Would you like information on the key publications and core legal theories associated with any specific person on this list?
- Orly Lobel
- Cynthia Estlund
- Catherine Fisk
- Pauline Kim
- Samuel Estreicher
- Kate Andrias
- Matthew Bodie
- Samuel Bagenstos
- Michael Selmi
- David Weil
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Copilot2,361 characters · October 6, 2026Here’s a ranked list of the top 10 most influential individual voices in Employment Law in 2025, based on recognition from leading industry awards, surveys, and publications:
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Jonathan Crotty – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Zachary Zagger – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Anne Yuengert – Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Robin E. Shea – Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Benjamin Ebbink – Fisher Phillips Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Rhonda Levy – Littler Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Jesse Coleman – Seyfarth Shaw LLP Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Kathleen McLeod Caminiti – Fisher Phillips Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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George Carroll Whipple III – Epstein Becker & Green Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
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Jill Ripke – Ashurst Perkins Coie Labor & Employment - 2025 Readers Choice Awards - JD Supra
These individuals were selected as the top 10 authors and thought leaders in labor and employment law by JD Supra’s 2025 Readers Choice Awards, which evaluated over 8,000 contributors in the field. This ranking reflects their influence through writing, thought leadership, and impact on employment law discourse.
Would you like me to also highlight global rising stars (from International Employment Lawyer’s “Tomorrow’s Leaders 2025”) or focus strictly on established U.S. voices?