Jeffrey S. Klein chairs the firm’s national Labor and Employment practice. Mr. Klein concentrates in representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment relations law, with a particular emphasis on employment discrimination, healthcare benefits, and trade secrets litigation. He has litigated employment discrimination matters relating to race, sex, age, national origin and disability, and has extensive experience in class actions, arbitrations, and mediation. His practice includes litigation concerning trade secrets/restrictive covenants, wage and hour claims, and complex ERISA and related employee benefits litigation matters. He also regularly serves as outside employment counsel for clients such as Merrill Lynch, MasterCard International, UnitedHealth Group, Avon Products, Perella Weinberg Partners, and Jumeirah Hotels.
Mr. Klein regularly counsels corporate clients on a wide variety of human resources issues such as preventative employee relations programs, non-competition agreements and other restrictive covenants, executive compensation and employment agreements, formulation of employment policies and manuals, affirmative action plans, the resolution of employment law and benefits issues arising from corporate reorganizations, and restructurings or workforce reductions.
Mr. Klein was named again in 2011 as among the “500 Best Lawyers in the United States” by Lawdragon. He has been named one of the "Nation's 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys" by Human Resource Executive and Lawdragon magazines each year from 2008-2011. His peers also have elected him a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers USA, which for many years has recognized him as one of New York's leading employment lawyers. Chambers USA has described him as “one of the firm’s top lawyers”; “super for a wide-angle business point of view, [he] moves quickly between issues with an enormous amount of energy…understands what the client wants, is thoughtful and knowledgeable in terms of strategy and provides excellent case analysis.” Clients in Chambers 2011 noted that he “has a unique ability to make complex legal problems seem simple,” and Chambers 2010 heralded Klein as a “phenomenal leader and truly talented litigator,” whose “advice is second to none and worth every last penny.” Mr. Klein was recognized in the Legal 500 US as “an absolute standout – his advice is sophisticated [and] thoughtful” and he is “excellent with tactics.” In addition, he was named a "Best Lawyer" in the specialty of Labor and Employment Law in The Best Lawyers in America each year from 2005-2012.
A recognized authority on employment litigation, Mr. Klein is a regular speaker at leading industry conferences, and is the author of numerous articles, including a bi-monthly column for 17 years for the New York Law Journal concerning current developments in employment law. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Labor and Employment Law at New York University School of Law. Mr. Klein is a co-author of the treatises, The Corporate Counsellor’s Deskbook (CCH 2012) and Managing Contingent Workers (AMACOM 1996).
Mr. Klein is also a sports law expert and has extensive experience in litigation, contract negotiations, licensing, and endorsement agreements on behalf of numerous professional athletes and management personnel, sports broadcasters, entertainers, players associations, and sports entities. Those for whom he has done work include Joe Torre, Dave Winfield, Jeff Kent, Chuck Greenberg, Al Leiter, Tommy John and Ernie Grunfeld; the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network, The Nicklaus Companies, the National Football League Players Association, Major League Baseball Players Association, National Basketball Players Association, and Ring Magazine; and broadcasters Joe Castiglione, Jeff Torborg, John Rooney, Brad Sham and Spencer Ross. Mr. Klein graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College, received his JD from Columbia University Law School. He has served on the faculty of Cardozo Law School as an adjunct professor and also has taught at Fordham Law School.