Laura D. Barbieri
Of Counsel
Laura D. Barbieri has over twenty-two years of experience as a trial attorney, with over 25 jury and bench trials before federal and state courts, and administrative agencies. Joining Schoeman, Updike & Kaufman in 1995, Ms. Barbieri has spent the last eleven years in the private sector. She advises in-house counsel, management and supervisors in avoiding and preventing litigation where possible. And, if litigation is contemplated or commenced, she is an experienced team leader who brings her negotiating and litigation skills to every stage of litigation, trial, and appeal.
In the area of employment counseling, Ms. Barbieri works with in-house counsel, managers and human resource professionals in establishing and maintaining an inclusive, fair and balanced work environment. She assists managers in structuring a workplace that exemplifies the unique culture of the company so that its employees may contribute to the company’s success to their fullest abilities, including:
- Training managers and supervisors on equal employment issues, diversity in the workplace, sexual harassment prevention
- Advising employers on preparing employee manuals and personnel policies
- Advising management on matters of affirmative action, employee medical privacy and disability accommodations
- Assisting managers and supervisors in handling sensitive matters such as sexual harassment complaints
- Counseling companies on establishing and promoting flexible work arrangements, telecommuting policies, and providing child care and elder care resources for employees
Ms. Barbieri’s practice also includes the representation of educational organizations, including private universities, secondary and primary schools, and child-care agencies.
She has represented a variety of religious organizations, including church congregations, synagogues, synods and parochial schools. She has specialized knowledge and experience counseling religious organizations with employment matters, property acquisitions and sales and compliance with New York’s Religious Corporations Law and Not-For-Profit Law.
Ms. Barbieri is a versatile litigator with experience in multiple practice areas including employment, commercial, estate, criminal defense and legal malpractice litigation. In the area of employment, representative engagements include:
- Crews v. Trustees of Columbia University (S.D.N.Y., Title VII gender discrimination and failure to promote)
- George v. Atlantic District Lutheran Church (S.D.N.Y., Title VII race discrimination and wrongful termination)
- Milton v. Alvarez (S.D.N.Y., Section 1983 and malicious prosecution)
- Sigmone v. Cornell Medical School (N.Y. Sup., disability discrimination and constructive discharge)
- Kim v. Columbia University (NYSDHR, age and hostile work environment)
- Johnson v. Columbia University, et al. (S.D.N.Y., Title VII race discrimination and failure to hire)
- Davis v. Adelphi University, et al. (E.D.N.Y., Title VII race discrimination and hostile work environment)
- O’Gorman v. Holland (S.D.N.Y., Pregnancy discrimination, ADA)
- Walker v. Columbia (Second Circuit, Title VII race discrimination)
- Lapsley v. College of Physicians and Surgeons (S.D.N.Y. Title VII, race and gender discrimination)
- Botehlo v. Presbyterian Hospital, et al. (S.D.N.Y. Title VII, race and failure to promote)
Other representative engagements include:
- Madison Advertising Mngmt. v. Mavis (TRO enjoining departing partner from taking client lists)Real Estate Litigation
- Chinese Immanuel Church v. Immanuel Lutheran Church (church property dispute)
- Estate of Gerald Marks (will contest)
- People v. Sinanovic (assault)
- Gabrielli v. Dobson & Pinci, et al. (legal malpractice)
In the course of her career, Ms. Barbieri contributed to a variety of criminal justice projects including:
- Policy Advisor, Community Policing, assigned to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Wasserman Associates, 1995
- Policy Advisor, New York City Housing Authority, Wasserman Associates, 1994-1995
- Management Information Systems Designer, United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, assigned to the NY County District Attorney’s Office, 1992-1993
- Program Designer, CACE: Computer-Aided Case Evaluation, award winning expert computer system, featured in a Harvard Business School Case study and presented at the 1992 New York State Division of Criminal Justice conference, the 1990 National District Attorney’s Association conference and the 1990 Harvard University Executive Session for State and Local Prosecutors
- Program Consultant, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, developing case studies for the Harvard University Executive Session for State and Local Prosecutors, 1989-1990
Bar and Community Service:
Pace University of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, 1995-2005 (Appellate Advocacy; White Collar Crime; Constitutional Criminal Procedure; Lecturer, Prosecutor Ethics; Lecturer, Negotiations; Health Law Alumni Advisory Board, Co-Chair, 1999-2001; Faculty Advisor, National Moot Court Competitions, 2002-2004; National Health Law Moot Court Competition, 2000-2002)
Disability Rights/Health Law Clinic volunteer
Interfaith Community Outreach volunteer
Bar Associations:
- New York Women’s Bar Association (Co-Chair, Litigation Committee, 2006 to present)
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section (Co-Chair, Technology Subcommittee, Employment and Labor Relations Committee, 2003-2004; Labor & Employment Law Committee, member)
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Secretary, Committee on State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction, 1996-1998)
- New York State Trial Lawyers, member
- National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, member
- Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, member
Publications & Speaking Engagements:
“Sensitive Security Information,” April 8, 2004, presentation to leading government security equipment manufacturer (international aerospace contractor, Silver Springs, MD).
“September 11 Legislation,” March 2004, presentation to insurers of defendants’ in In re September 11 Litigation, New York, NY.
“HIPAA for Employers,” February 2004, Lorman Publications, New York, NY.
“Resolving Workplace Issues Under the ADA,” January 2003, Lorman Publications, New York, NY.
“Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and Workers’ Compensation,” 2002, Lorman Publications, New York, NY.
“Cross-Examinations Basics,” 1998, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, New York, NY.
“Last Chance Agreements for Employers” (unpublished guidance for employers on issues of alcohol and substance abuse).
A Civil War: A Community Legal Guide to Fighting Drug Markets, a 300-page guide for neighborhood-level strategies to combat street-level drug markets, a pro bono project of the NYS Bar Association, 1993.
“The Drug Elimination Program in the New York City Housing Communities: An Evaluation Report,” New York City Housing Authority, 1993.
