Diane M. Perri Roberts represents businesses in contract disputes and employment matters in federal and state court as well as in mediations and arbitrations.
Employment Litigation
Ms. Perri Roberts counsels clients in a wide array of employment litigation matters, including:
•All forms of discrimination and harassment
•Americans With Disabilities Act
•Family and Medical Leave Act
•New York and federal wage claims
She also defends employers in labor matters brought before the EEOC, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and OSHA.
Counsel to Employers
In addition to representing employers involved in litigation, Ms. Perri Roberts guides business owners in managing their risk of exposure to employment claims. She counsels employers on management and labor issues, such as:
•Disciplinary matters, such as suspensions and terminations
•Employee handbooks and manuals
•Personnel policies
•Internal investigations into discrimination and harassment complaints
•Restrictive covenants and non-competition agreements
•Employment contracts
•Severance agreements
•OSHA and other regulatory compliance requirements
•Computer and other electronic communication
•Unemployment appeals
•Department of Labor audits
Awards and Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America
Named to Best Lawyers in America 2025 and 2026; recognized for Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law
Super Lawyers
Named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers from 2014 to 2025 for Business Litigation and Employment & Labor; no more than five percent of attorneys within a state are named to this publication.
Shira A. Scheindlin Award For Excellence In The Courtroom
2018 recipient of the award, which is given by the New York State Bar Association to a female litigator who has distinguished herself in the courtroom in either the Federal or State Courts in New York and who has shown a commitment to mentoring young attorneys in the legal community. Recipients are selected by a panel of distinguished litigators and judges from across New York State
Who’s Who in Law
Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s final 2012 issue of “Who’s Who in Law” for Business Litigation
Super Lawyers Top 25 Women List
Lawyers who receive the highest point totals among those selected to Super Lawyers are recognized in Upstate New York Super Lawyers “Top Lists,” which includes the “Top 25 Women List.” Super Lawyers refers to their “Top Lists” as the “best of the best.”
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating
The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Legal Elite of WNY
Named to the 2013, 2016, and 2020 editions of Business First/Buffalo Law Journal ‘s Legal Elite of WNY for Business Litigation
New York State Sexual Harassment Training and Policy
New York State has instituted Sexual Harassment Prevention laws, which require all employers to meet minimum standards set forth by the state. Diane Perri Roberts has remained at the forefront of developments in these laws and is experienced in ensuring clients are in compliance with sexual harassment standards through services that include:
•Policy: Create or revise existing sexual harassment policies for businesses
•Training: Develop and conduct sexual harassment training for employees
•Investigations: Conduct investigations when sexual harassment complaints are filed
•Defense: Defend employers engaged in litigation regarding workplace sexual harassment
Contact Diane Perri Roberts for guidance on the policy and training your company needs to have in place to be in compliance with the New York State’s requirements. Also, click on the following resources prepared by Diane Perri Roberts, which will update you on the latest developments regarding New York State’s new law regarding Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Policy.
New York State Releases Draft of Sexual Harassment Policy & Training Requirements
Every employer in New York State must have a sexual harassment policy and training program in place that meets minimum standards set forth in models issued by New York State’s Department of Labor and Division of Human Rights. While the final standards have not yet been issued, drafts of the models have recently been released.
New York State Employers Must Comply With New Sexual Harassment Law
In April, the clock started ticking for employers in New York State to take action to add or reform policies addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. New laws have been introduced which institute significant changes regarding sexual harassment policies in the workplace and public and private employers alike are being affected. The new laws will prohibit the use of mandatory, binding arbitration for alleged unlawful discriminatory practice based on sexual harassment and prohibit the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual harassment settlement agreements except in certain cases. These laws will also interact in new ways with the changes to the federal tax code that were enacted in December 2017.
Buffalo Law Journal Feature: Attorneys and Employers Prep for New State Sexual Harassment Law
The Buffalo Law Journal published an article on New York State’s upcoming sexual harassment training and policy requirements for employers. The article summarizes the requirements, provides the current deadlines for compliance, and reviews some of the potential challenges the new requirements will pose for employers. Diane Perri Roberts was one of the attorneys interviewed fro this article to provide insight on New York State’s sexual harassment law.
