Employment Law

Avoiding/Preventing Lawsuits

We play an important advisory role for businesses in the Tri-State area, and especially for NYC based businesses.

We advise startups as well as long-standing, established businesses on best practices to avoid litigation and to create a working environment that complies with all employment-related laws. We also have specific experience in counseling and assisting not-for-profit organizations.

Our clients consult with us in setting up employment policies, drafting or updating employee handbooks, and drafting employment contracts or severance agreements. Some examples of matters for which our clients consult with us are best practices policies, medical and family leave issues, providing reasonable accommodations for religious practices and for disabilities, social media policies and appropriate disciplinary measures for violations of employment policies.

We spend a significant amount of time learning about our clients’ businesses and the types of employees they employ. We probe to find out what issues a client encountered in the past and brainstorm with the client to find appropriate solutions. We are always available to answer follow up questions as soon as they arise.

We consult with employers on a variety of employment and HR-related issues, including:

Employment Litigation

When litigation does become necessary, we represent our employer clients in litigation brought in federal and state courts, as well as in the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights.

We have handled a wide range of cases, including harassment and discrimination of all types under federal, state and city laws, as well as breach of employment contract, failure to pay commissions, minimum wage or overtime wages, and failure to provide paid sick leave.

Compliance with Employment Laws

We are often contacted by our employer clients to assist in addressing investigations by city and state agencies such as the New York State Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division and Workers Comp Division, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York City Commission on Human Rights and the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.

We have a significant amount of experience of interacting and negotiating with state and city agencies.

We often confer with and advise clients regarding compliance with the many employment laws with an eye toward compliance and avoiding liability.

Non-Competes and Restrictive Covenants

We are very experienced and skilled in drafting Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreements. We also have significant experience in litigating alleged breaches of such agreements. We advise clients regarding the enforcement of such restrictions and assist them in exercising their rights and preventing loss of key data and customer relationships.

Internal Investigations and Independent Monitor

Our firm has been active in assisting companies in conducting internal investigations. We have seen and dealt with various situations including surprise allegations by whistle-blowers, employee fraud, the threat or occurrence of workplace violence, sexual harassment or assault, and employee illness, injury or tragedy that affects the company and all of its employees.

Our firm has also been retained to serve as an independent monitor following investigations by the U.S. or N.Y.S. Departments of Labor for wage & hour violations. We were tasked with periodic inspections to ensure compliance and to report back to the government agencies.

Clergy and Private School Contracts

Our firm also has an expertise in negotiating and drafting clergy contracts. We have an expertise in clergy compensation and benefits. We have represented dozens of clergy members, churches, and synagogues. We have also represented yeshiva day schools and private day schools in negotiating and drafting contracts for senior-level administration, as well as faculty contracts.

Rabbinical Court (Bet Din) Arbitration

We have extensive experience mediating and litigating civil disputes involving contracts and employment relationships in rabbinical courts such as Bet Din of America and Mechon L’Horaya.