Employment Law

We have a full service employment law practice, counseling businesses, schools and universities, and executives, officers, directors and trustees, on matters involving virtually every aspect of employer-employee relations.

Employment Litigation

We defend against filed claims and offer and use alternative methods to resolve disputes, including arbitration, mediation, and claim negotiation. We are experienced in many areas of employment litigation, including the following:

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination. We advise employers, including universities and others, on the defense of claims, as well as on preventive policies and procedures to help minimize or avoid claims in the future. We offer assistance and advice with respect to, among other things, sexual harassment; reverse discrimination claims; zero tolerance statements; complaint procedures; investigations and investigative procedures; negotiation and resolution of claims, including the defense of claims of sexual harassment by supervisors, co-workers or independent contractors; stalking; retaliation; and invasions of privacy.

Employment Discrimination. We provide on-going representation and defense of discrimination claims, made administratively or before state or federal courts, relating to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); Title VII; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA); Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA); New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws; and the other local, state and federal laws governing employment.

Wrongful Discharge and General Employment Claims. In addition to discrimination claims, we represent employers in their resolution of claims of breach of contract, alleged violations of employee handbooks or personnel policies, emotional distress, defamation, invasions of privacy, and negligent supervision.

Non-Litigation Services

We provide personalized services to clients to promote a productive work environment and to enhance employer-employee relations.

Personnel Policies and Handbooks. We work to develop, draft, revise and implement personnel practices and policies and provide compliance advice on local, state and federal non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity requirements. We seek to improve our clients’ employer-employee relations to produce a productive workplace. Policy assistance includes the areas of sexual harassment and discrimination; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations; employee discipline and terminations; Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and disability and benefits eligibility, among others.

Employee Benefits. We provide advice on pension and medical claims, including those made under ERISA; coverage and termination of pension and retiree benefits; COBRA rights and violations; Department of Labor investigations; and unemployment insurance claims, among others; and policy assistance in these and related areas, including Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) releases; termination of benefits; COBRA entitlements; disability and sick leave claims; the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and separation agreements.

Executive Compensation and Other Individual Services. We advise individual and corporate clients on issues relating to employment agreements; compensation packages, including stock options; insurance policies and pension plans; non-competition and proprietary information agreements; corporate consolidations and reductions in force; and separation and retirement agreements.