Two labor and employment partners are returning to Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads after a 15-year stint at Ballard Spahr, filling a newly created gap in Montgomery McCracken's labor and employment practice.

Frank Chernak and William Kennedy had left for Ballard Spahr in 2002 as part of a large group lateral move. They are now returning to Montgomery McCracken as chairman and vice chair of the labor and employment practice.

Earlier this week, the same practice group had lost two partners and two associates in Philadelphia who departed for Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart. Montgomery McCracken chairman Louis Petroni said his firm was already in talks with Chernak and Kennedy when it learned about the group going to Ogletree.