Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP

As labor and employment law has become more complex, and as regulatory requirements have multiplied, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna has become a leader in providing the full range of services to meet our clients’ needs.

Our labor, employment and governmental experience provide a solid foundation for successful litigation and effective counseling and training in preventive strategies for our clients. We now have one of the largest practices representing private and public sector employers in New York State.

In the private sector, the Firm represents a variety of firms, ranging from FORTUNE 500 companies to mid-size and small, private and not-for-profit entities. We represent clients in diverse industries including: consumer products, construction, chemical, education, food, health care, transportation, technology, utilities, manufacturing, and energy.

In the public sector, we represent a number of public authorities and public benefit corporations as well as counties, towns and villages, and school districts from Rockland County to the Canadian border and from Rochester to the Massachusetts border.

The Firm and its Labor and Employment Law Practice Group take a fundamentally different approach to the attorney-client relationship than that of many lawyers. We believe that being fully-integrated in our client’s daily activities and making ourselves available to answer routine questions for their managers before they take action, are critical to avoiding litigation and other legal problems. Moreover, from an economic perspective, our approach generally results in cost savings for our clients over the long-term because issues can be spotted and addressed before they become legal problems. This approach is highly-valued by our clients.

Our Firm and our practice group are well-regarded by other lawyers and clients in the field, in part because of our success on behalf of our clients, in unionized and nonunionized environments. We have substantial expertise and experience in the following areas:

• Employment discrimination

• Sexual Harassment

• Disability law, including Americans with Disabilities Act

• Wrongful termination

• Disciplinary matters

• Traditional labor law (public and private sectors)

• Negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements

• Grievance arbitrations

• Unfair labor practices and representation proceedings (private sector)

• Improper practices and representation proceedings (public sector)

• Constitutional rights

• Wage and hour, under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York State law

• Employee benefits and Family Medical Leave Act issues

• Drafting and negotiation of employment and severance agreements

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna maintains a diverse practice, providing a broad range of services with a special emphasis on matters relating to the intersection of the public and private sectors. Much of the Firm's work involves the representation of entities that are regulated or otherwise affected by public policy and public bodies.