Employment

Our employment lawyers work with clients on a day-to-day basis, in order to react quickly and effectively to employment issues as they arise, and to minimize legal risks and reduce the threat of lengthy and costly litigation. We have experience across a broad array of industries and business areas.

Our services focus on every aspect of the employment relationship, including:

• Drafting documents relating to the employment relationship, such as offer letters, employment agreements, stock option agreements and plans, phantom equity plans, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.
• Preparing and revising employee handbooks and manuals and establishing legally compliant policies and procedures for the workplace.
• Advising in the termination of employment relationships, including preparing severance agreements, separation agreements and releases, and COBRA compliance.
• Conducting workplace investigations on issues such as discrimination, harassment, fraud and theft.
• Analyzing companywide employment practices, including proper classification of employees under wage and hour laws and maintenance of employee records.
• Training on employment-related subjects, including interviewing, workplace harassment and discrimination, disciplinary and termination procedures, and computer and email usage.
• Providing tax advice in connection with all types of employment-related matters.

We are highly experienced in the defense of lawsuits brought under federal, state and local statutes, as well as regulations relating to employment matters, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. We also have expertise in cases involving breach-of-employment contracts, employee theft of trade secrets and proprietary information, and violations and enforcement of non-compete agreements.

We have successfully represented our clients before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the NYS Division of Human Rights, the NYS Department of Labor, in state and federal courts, and in arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association, NASD and FINRA.

• 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. We were successful in defeating the claim brought, and in avoiding substantial damages that would have otherwise been assessed.
• Established and implemented employment policies and procedures for an international textile corporation having manufacturing and retail operations across the U.S. and abroad. We provided hands-on training of the client’s management team and continuous support in handling day-to-day issues.
• Represented an Italian equipment manufacturer in negotiating a structured settlement of employment-related claims asserted by the former CEO of its U.S. subsidiary.