- Corporate LawHaving gone through a very traumatic journey in battle with my employer, Schwarz, Perry and Heller (“SPH†) fought hard to make sure I could part from my firm with my head held high. I wanted to share my experience so that others who may have the misfortune to be in similar situations and in need of good counsel to help them through it and fight on their behalf can turn to SPH with the confidence that they will have not only excellent lawyers but also compassionate partners. Most law firms and lawyers will fight hard to win your case, in contingency scenarios their income and profits are dependent upon a win. And that, of course, is fair enough. The difference at SPH is their approach and the way they handle each individual case and client, as exactly what we are, individuals. Though they deal with cases that have many similarities, theirs is not a cookie cutter one size fits all approach. The lawyers that partner with you take the time and care to really listen to you to understand what your have gone through and how you personally need to be supported through the journey ahead. They genuinely care about helping those hard done by, even when it means taking on big firms. From my experience, I can attest that SPH will confidently go toe to toe with big corporate law firms (that seek to protect and defend employers) as they fight for your rights and your dignity. I consider myself to be a very strong person but I honestly could not have gotten through the battle against my employer if it hadn’t been for the SPH team’s care and support of me, and their passion and legal strategies to remedy the wrongs that had been done to me. Davida Perry, one of the firms most senior partners, was personally engaged in my case day, night, even weekends if required. In getting to know Davida over a period of several months, I can say that she genuinely cares about helping people and is deeply passionate about righting wrongs. I hope never to be in a situation where I might need a lawyer to help me in this manner again, but if I did, it would be SPH!
- Workers Compensation
- Wrongful TerminationThe labor laws regarding termination in New York do not make it a “right to work” state meaning that you can be fired for no reason. The term “wrongful termination” is misleading because in New York and most other states, without a written agreement for a specific term, employment is “at will.” The NY law allows your employer to fire you on a whim or for a totally arbitrary reason. This makes New York an at-will employment state.
- Employment DiscriminationIf you are an employee who is over the age of 40, the law protects you from age-based employment discrimination. New York State laws and the New York City Human Rights Law protect older employees, as does the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) amended the ADEA in 1990 and offers even more rigorous protections for older workers. For example, under the OWBPA, employers may not exclude older employees from benefits offered to younger workers.
- Employment ContractA contract is basically a promise or set of promises for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law may recognize a duty. Employment contracts are used to mandate the specific terms and conditions the employee must agree to if they decide to accept the position.
- Employment LitigationDispute resolution processes are alternatives to having a dispute decided through litigation instituted in court. ADR may be used to resolve many types of dispute, including employment disputes.
- Severance AgreementThe New York employment lawyers of Schwartz Perry & Heller LLP have experience reviewing severance agreements and go beyond traditional analysis of specific provisions of an agreement and perform a thorough review of all of the facts and circumstances related to your involuntary termination. This comprehensive process helps us see the bigger picture that often is more complicated than merely language written in the agreement. We will ask questions and request your help in providing facts and any materials related to your employment and termination. We can offer our best recommendations only when equipped with knowledge of the facts surrounding your case.
- Sexual HarassmentSexual harassment cases are taken very seriously. Whether it was a co-worker, manager, or a non-employee such as a contractor, client, or vendor, creating a hostile work environment that impedes employee success or performance is considered unlawful sexual harassment.
- Disability DiscriminationIn particular, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the main piece of legislation that protects a disabled worker’s rights to fair employment. Additionally, the ADA states that employers must make reasonable efforts to provide accommodations for any employees, or third-party visitors such as vendors and patrons, with disabilities or perceived disabilities. If you believe that you have been a victim of workplace discrimination due to your disabilities, you can contact Schwartz Perry & Heller LLP. Our New York disability discrimination attorneys can help you file a claim to protect your rights.
- Estate PlanningRonald S. Solow is the firm manager for business development, social media, and client relations. As an attorney, he managed his own estate planning practice in California for 30 years before joining Schwartz Perry & Heller LLP in 2014.