Areas of Practice

Discrimination

Federal, State, and other laws prohibit terminations (and other adverse actions, e.g., cutting hours, failing to hire or promote, etc.) based upon age, disability, race, gender, pregnancy, religion, sexual orientation and other legally protected characteristics. Our firm can provide experienced representation in these cases.

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Sexual harassment (and harassment based on other legally protected characteristics) is unlawful. It can be difficult for an individual to recognize whether what they are experiencing constitutes legally actionable “harassment” within the meaning of the law. Our firm can help individuals make that determination and navigate through the situation. We can also handle harassment-based legal actions.

Wage & Hour, Contracts, Unpaid Commissions & Bonuses

Legal remedies are available to employees who have not been properly paid. Failures to pay overtime, minimum wage, commissions, bonuses, or to pay what is promised by a contact, are actionable. Some statutes even provide for liquidated damages (i.e., a doubling of the amount owed) and the requirement that the defendant pay your attorneys fees.

Non-Competes, NDAs, Restrictive Covenants & Employment Agreements

Various statutes provide protections and remedies for individuals who are fired (or otherwise harmed) for having disclosed, reported, or objected to an employer’s activity. It can be difficult to navigate through the law to determine what is legally “protected activity.” We can help you make that determination and provide guidance on how to best deal with the making of these kinds of disclosures. We can also litigate matters when someone has been fired or mistreated for having engaged in whistleblowing.

Litigation, Agency Practice and Arbitration

Individuals should know what they are getting into when they sign agreements. These kinds of documents have contractual weight behind them and can severely restrict a person’s rights, including what compensation they are entitled to, where they can file suit if there is a dispute, and whether the can continue to work in their field upon separation from employment, etc.

Our firm can help negotiate such agreement — or even just provide a review and advise you.

Of particularly concern are non-competes, which can be subject to unclear and fluid application of law, and are not always fully enforceable. Should negotiation not work, the firm is experienced in litigating these matters.

We also have experience in executive compensation and negotiating employment agreements.

Negotiated Severances and Settlement Agreements

We have decades of experience litigating in state and federal courts throughout New Jersey and New York, including at the trial and appellate levels.

Additionally, we handle matters with administrative agencies such as the EEOC, Department of Labor, and NLRB. We also arbitrate claims before arbitration bodies including JAMS and AAA.

In lieu of filing legal actions, we can also work towards negotiating private severance agreements / settlements. It can be quite worthwhile to get legal representation before a termination to be able to steer events to your advantage.

Even if an individual is not contemplating litigation, we can still provide the service of reviewing a severance agreement to help: (i) understand the import of its language; and (ii) try negotiating for more favorable terms.

Whistleblowing & Retaliation