Labor & Employment Law in New York City

Comprehensive Employment Litigation

The Watanabe Law Firm’s employment law firm in New York City represents individuals and management in employment and employment-related matters. The law firm’s employment practice focuses in the areas of employment counseling, litigation, and executive representation in the New York area. Headed by Laura A. Watanabe, who practiced employment law with nationally recognized law firms, the law firm’s employment practice is recognized as providing effective and cost-efficient representation.

Employment Counseling

The law firm provides employment counseling to clients on a continuing basis regarding discrimination, harassment, immigration, wage and hour, disability, family and medical leave issues, pension and benefit plans, restructuring and reorganization compliance issues, affirmative action practice, and other employment-related matters. Having represented small emerging companies, Fortune 500 companies and individuals in these matters, the Firm has a breadth of experience that lends itself to a wide variety of labor and employment matters that arise with regard to corporate function or individual employment.

Employment Litigation

The Firm’s employment litigation practice in New York extends to litigation of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, race and national origin discrimination, age, and disability discrimination claims. In litigating employment claims, the law firm’s attorneys have appeared in federal and state courts and before federal, state, and local agencies charged with enforcement of fair employment practices.

Executive Representation

The Firm represents management and executives in matters regarding hiring, retention, and termination. As part of this practice, we negotiate employment, retention, and severance agreements in the New York area, addressing issues such as compensation, pension and benefits, and non-compete and non-disclosure agreements.

Non-Compete Agreements and Trade Secrets

A significant part of the Firm’s practice involves the drafting, negotiation, and the enforcement or defense of non-competition and confidential information/trade secrets agreements for both individual executives and businesses. The enforceability of non-competition agreements vary from state to state. Confidential information/trade secrets agreements oftentimes place a restriction upon future employment. Our Firm has extensive experience in non-competition and confidential information/trade secrets agreements. It is critical for prospective employees to have such agreements reviewed in advance of beginning employment. It is likewise critical for businesses to have agreements which are protective of their business interests. Having represented both professionals and businesses, the law firm provides effective solutions to non-compete and confidential information/trade secrets matters which are protective of their respective interests.

Employment-Related Litigation

In addition to traditional labor and employment litigation, the Firm represents management and individual executives in employment-related litigation matters. The Firm’s experience before various federal and state agencies provide management and individuals with counsel to effectively address matters subject of investigation or prosecution as a result of employment-related actions.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

The law firm has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution of employment claims in New York and the surrounding areas. Recognizing that litigation of matters before courts can be a costly and time-consuming proposition, we appreciate that some matters may be resolved more efficiently through arbitration or mediation. When a client is required to submit to arbitration or desires alternative dispute resolution to resolve a dispute, we develop strategies designed to achieve the most favorable result.

For employment law matters, contact Laura Watanabe at 212-486-7005 or by completing our contact form.