Jonathan L. Sulds

Jonathan L. Sulds: Leading Labor & Employment Counsel

Jonathan L. Sulds is a highly respected and experienced attorney specializing in labor and employment law. Since 1974, he has provided strategic legal guidance to leading employers across a diverse range of industries, offering comprehensive solutions encompassing the entire employee lifecycle – from engagement and protection to management and reward. Jon’s profound understanding of complex legal landscapes, coupled with his decades of experience, makes him a trusted advisor for organizations seeking to navigate the ever-evolving challenges of workforce management. He’s not just a lawyer; he’s a proactive partner dedicated to safeguarding your business interests and mitigating risk.

Jon’s expertise spans a vast spectrum of legal matters, consistently demonstrating his ability to handle high-stakes situations with precision and strategic acumen. His representation includes collective bargaining negotiations, advising on traditional labor relations, navigating intricate ERISA litigation, addressing wage and hour disputes, defending against discrimination complaints, securing restrictive covenants, managing duty of loyalty and trade secret claims, and assisting with regulatory compliance matters, including Dodd Frank and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) whistleblower cases. He routinely advises on international employment matters, including global executive arrangements and corporate campaigns.

Jon’s track record is punctuated by significant achievements, often involving high-profile cases. Recent examples include successfully negotiating the project labor agreement for a groundbreaking new sports stadium, a testament to his negotiation skills and industry knowledge. He spearheaded two nationwide wage and hour class action lawsuits against a leading national package delivery company, successfully challenging the exempt status of numerous managerial positions. Furthermore, Jon gained a decisive dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a dominant player in the finance industry against a startup he represented, skillfully defending the client's hiring practices. His strategic advice helped one of America’s most iconic brands to effectively terminate an Internet and regulatory agency-based corporate campaign designed to damage its reputation, protecting its brand integrity and business objectives. He even led a 40-lawyer team spanning ten GT offices advising a major media company on complex personnel restructurings.

Jon’s client roster reflects his exceptional reputation. He recently represented the nation’s leading telecommunications company in multiple “Blackberry” wage and hour cases, highlighting his familiarity with complex employment law issues. He also represents an American specialty retailer in a nationwide collective action and advises the fiduciaries of a major pension plan in a class action lawsuit alleging ERISA violations related to a defined benefit structure. Jon is the principal collective bargaining spokesperson for a leading magazine publisher, adeptly navigating the challenges of a print-to-Internet transition, and he’s currently advising on the structuring of collective bargaining and multiemployer pension plan and healthcare strategies for a company with extensive collective bargaining agreements across the country.

Jon is a frequent lecturer and writer, demonstrating his commitment to staying at the forefront of legal developments. He is the author of the acclaimed *New York Employment Law* treatise (Matthew Bender/LexisNexis, 2d Ed, updated annually), a comprehensive resource widely recognized for its depth and accuracy. His dedication to the legal profession is further underscored by his numerous accolades, including being recognized as an “Employment Law – Management” and “Labor Law – Management” expert, consistently earning a top rating of “AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5” from Chambers USA and being named a “Top Rated Lawyer” by *Law360*, *The American Lawyer*, and *Corporate Counsel* magazines.

Practice Areas:

• Employment Law - Management
• Labor Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment
• ERISA Litigation
• Wage and Hour Litigation
• Discrimination Litigation
• Restrictive Covenant Litigation
• Trade Secret Litigation
• Collective Action Defense
• Union Negotiations

Awards & Recognition:

• Recognized: Employment Law - Management, Recognized: Labor Law - Management, Recognized: Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Practice Area: Labor Law - Union
• Practice Area: Litigation - ERISA
• AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
• Law360 “Employment Practice Group of the Year,” 2011 & 2013
• The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazines, “Top Rated Lawyer” — Labor and Employment, 2013
• Super Lawyers magazine, New York Super Lawyers, 2009-2013
• Chambers USA Guide, 2007-2013

Education & Affiliations:
Jon L. Sulds is based in New York, NY. He’s a respected voice in the legal community, consistently recognized for his expertise and dedication. His unwavering commitment to his clients’ success is what sets him apart.