Helen A. Rella is a member of Wilk Auslander’s Global Practice group, advising corporations, individuals, and governments conducting business in the U.S. and abroad. Helen’s industry experience spans media, broadcasting and entertainment; luxury retail and manufacturing; banking and finance, and the oil and energy sector. Helen has in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities for global clients in South America, Central America, Europe,and the Middle East.

Helen is an experienced litigation and trial lawyer with a formidable record of representing clients in a wide range of complex commercial matters. Her specialties include breach of contract, employment, unfair competition, defamation, licensing, and intellectual property disputes. She has handled trials and appeals in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and mediation and proceedings before administrative agencies.

• Represented one of Italy’s leading hotel conglomerates in an action before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission involving review of its entire U.S. workforce for compliance with U.S. labor and employment laws. Helen was successful in defeating the claim brought and in avoiding substantial damages that would have otherwise been assessed against her client.
• Conducted wage and hour analysis of a 500+ employee work force, represented a corporate employer before the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) wage and hour division, and defeated the DOL’s overtime wage pay claim. Helen successfully reduced the initial DOL assessment from $500,000 to less than 10% of amount claimed and established appropriate policies and procedures to ensure future compliance.
• Assisted a multi-brand luxury jewelry manufacturer in defeating claims of workplace harassment and hostile work environment. Helen established appropriate policies and procedures to ensure future compliance.
• Represented international luxury goods manufacturer in infringement and unfair competition action. Helen’s services were instrumental in shutting down operations of the competitor, resulting in cost savings to the client and preservation of the client’s product in the marketplace.
• Defended an international perfume manufacturer in defeating an age discrimination action alleging $12 million in damages. Exposed a rogue employee’s improper actions, leading to an out-of-court settlement in which the employee reimbursed company for legal fees incurred in defense of the action in exchange for an agreement not to prosecute employee for bringing frivolous action.
• Successfully negotiated a settlement and release agreement with an Italian expatriate running the U.S. division of an Italian corporation. Helen navigated the complexities of both U.S. and Italian employment and labor laws in ensuring the validity of the settlement agreement and obtaining a cost-effective result for the client.
• Established and implemented employment policies and procedures for an international textile corporation, having manufacturing and retail operations across the U.S. and abroad. Helen provided hands-on training of the client’s management team and continuous support in handling day-to-day issues.
• Successfully argued before the New York Appellate Division, First Department, in favor of the turnover of assets, both domestic and international, in a case that is now considered a standard in judgment enforcement, involving a judgment of approximately $400 million relative to the then largest bond default in U.S. history. The Court ordered the international defendants to turn over their assets, wherever located, to the firm’s client. (Gryphon Domestic et al. v. APP International et al.).
• Assisted international client in implementing a reduction in its workforce in compliance with the WARN Act.