Best Law Firms in New York for Litigation - Labor and Employment

Barton LLP, a law firm with offices in New York, California, Tennessee, and Virginia is comprised of an elite team of former partners of “Big Law” who have joined together to create a progressive law firm. To us, legal services are business services, and our attorneys and staff are business-people serving business clients to advance their business goals.

Our mission is to provide our sophisticated corporate, financial services, investment fund and entrepreneurial clients with the highest quality legal services delivered in an effective and efficient manner. We accomplish this because we are an organization that does not follow the traditional multi-layered and leveraged law firm model. We believe that a better product, value and client experience is achieved by providing our clients with highly skilled senior attorneys who work directly on their matters with appropriate support from a strong, but lean team of associate attorneys and staff.

We are committed to developing long-term relationships by partnering with our clients so that we thoroughly understand their organizations, objectives and long-term goals. We offer in-house training programs to our clients and take a proactive approach to reviewing clients’ business practices, contracts and relationships to avoid or reduce the incidents of litigation and risk whenever possible.

Our firm structure and experience allows us to offer a wide array of alternative fee arrangements. We understand that hourly billing is frequently not in our client’s best interest, nor does it necessarily represent the value of our services. Our clients provide their goods and services in a competitive marketplace, and yet they rarely, if ever, use an hourly based pricing model. We know that clients have to manage their resources and create efficiencies to stay within budget – and they want lawyers who are able to do the same.

Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha’s New York roots reach back to 1856, and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal.

Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, with a global reach, and represent clients locally, regionally and nationally. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. The firm’s practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates. 

Harris Beach Murtha is the exclusive member firm in Connecticut for Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent firms with in-depth experience in more than 125 countries worldwide. As part of the Lex Mundi global network, Harris Beach Murtha can provide clients with preferred access to more than 22,000 lawyers around the world – all from a single point of contact. Lex Mundi allows Harris Beach Murtha to seamlessly handle clients’ most challenging cross-border transactions and disputes. 

The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, Niagara Falls, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.harrisbeachmurtha.com.

McDermott Will & Schulte is an international law firm serving businesses, institutions and individuals across a wide range of legal matters. With offices throughout the United States and Europe, including Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt and Washington, D.C., the firm advises clients on complex transactions, regulatory concerns, litigation and industry-specific challenges. Since first earning attorney recognition in 1983, the firm has continued to build a broad legal practice shaped by changing markets and evolving client needs.

The firm is known for its work in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, tax law, health care law, intellectual property and high-stakes litigation. Its attorneys also counsel clients in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence law, fintech, privacy and data security, biotechnology and life sciences. McDermott Will & Schulte represents clients ranging from growing companies to multinational organizations, helping them navigate business decisions, disputes and regulatory matters with practical legal guidance.

McDermott Will & Schulte has earned recognition across numerous practice areas in Best Law Firms rankings, including bankruptcy and restructuring, employment law, real estate law, securities regulation, patent law, antitrust law and international trade and finance law. The firm also has 357 lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers, reflecting peer-reviewed acknowledgment across a broad range of legal disciplines.

Clients turn to McDermott Will & Schulte for counsel that is strategic, business-minded and tailored to the industries they serve. Whether handling cross-border transactions, intellectual property disputes, health care compliance or complex commercial litigation, the firm focuses on delivering clear legal solutions that align with each client’s long-term objectives.

Phillips & Associates | Sexual Harassment, Discrimination & Employment Lawyers

Phillips & Associates is a New York employment law firm that represents employees in workplace sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation matters. The firm litigates employment cases only and has represented employees, not employers, since 2011. Every verdict and settlement it reports comes from an employment case, because employment litigation is the only litigation the firm handles. Its focus is workplace power dynamics, the situations in which supervisors, executives, business owners, law firm partners, physicians, managers, or founders use control over pay, promotions, assignments, scheduling, reputation, or continued employment to pursue, pressure, exploit, retaliate against, or punish employees.

The firm is ranked by Chambers and Partners in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide, Labor and Employment, Mainly Plaintiffs in New York, recognized in Best Law Firms 2026, and listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for Litigation, Labor and Employment.

Phillips & Associates has recovered for employees across the full range of federal, New York State, and New York City protected categories, including race, color, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, criminal history, caregiver status, marital status, military status, domestic violence victim status, and height and weight, as well as retaliation, whistleblower, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, medical and family leave, and wage and hour claims. The firm also handles workplace relationship harassment and retaliation, including matters in which a person in authority pursues an employee, a relationship with a superior goes wrong, or an employee is punished after rejecting an advance or ending a relationship.

Since 2011 the firm has handled more than 9,500 matters, litigated nearly 2,000 cases, filed more than 2,500 EEOC charges, and recovered more than $360 million for employees, including more than $60 million in 2025. It maintains more than 900 client reviews at a 4.8 average. The firm's attorneys have appeared before more than 110 United States District Judges and more than 70 United States Magistrate Judges, including a verified presence before nearly every currently sitting District Judge in the Southern District of New York and Eastern District of New York.

The firm has litigated against more than 550 distinct management-side defense firms, including Jackson Lewis, Littler Mendelson, Ogletree Deakins, Fisher & Phillips, Seyfarth Shaw, Morgan Lewis, and Proskauer Rose, on behalf of employees at Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, healthcare systems, national media organizations, and global law firms. That courtroom record gives the firm leverage to resolve matters favorably, often confidentially and before a complaint is filed. Employers and defense firms negotiate differently when they know the firm is prepared and able to take a case to trial.

The firm's published decisions include binding Second Circuit precedent. In Vasquez v. Empress Ambulance Service, authored by Judge Guido Calabresi, the Second Circuit adopted the cat's paw theory of retaliation and extended it to nonsupervisory employees. In Roberts v. Genting New York, the Second Circuit clarified the WARN Act operating-unit standard and revived a class action on behalf of 177 employees. The firm's New York decision in Crump v. New York City Housing Authority is cited by other courts for multiple propositions of New York City Human Rights Law doctrine. Its trial results include a $1.8 million federal jury verdict in Pardovani v. Crown Building Maintenance, a race-based hostile work environment case in the Southern District of New York.

The firm's matters have drawn national and international coverage. Firm attorneys represent a former fashion model in a federal lawsuit alleging sexual assault by Sean Combs and Harvey Weinstein, represent a former America's Next Top Model contestant in a federal lawsuit alleging sexual assault by Kanye West, and filed an early New York Adult Survivors Act case against Sean Combs. The firm's work has been covered by the BBC, Forbes, Bloomberg Law, Reuters, Rolling Stone, NBC News, People, and the New York Post.

High-profile and sensitive matters are handled by senior attorneys and dedicated litigation teams rather than a single public-facing name, with discretion, confidentiality planning, and practical judgment about reputation risk, retaliation, and media exposure. The firm represents employees and survivors whose careers, privacy, and futures may be affected by coming forward, and many of these matters are resolved without ever becoming public.

The firm was founded by William K. Phillips. Before practicing law, he served as a Vice President at Fieldstone Private Capital Group, a New York investment bank, where he handled international mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings. That background informs how the firm approaches valuation, leverage, negotiation, and the way institutions weigh risk when disputes involve senior executives, partners, physicians, high earners, founders, or potential public exposure.

Every client is represented by a dedicated litigation team led by a partner or senior litigator, typically a lead attorney, a supporting attorney, and a paralegal who stay involved from intake through resolution. The firm's attorneys bring more than 200 years of combined employment law experience, and many of its partners have litigated together for more than a decade. Unlike firms that rely on rotating attorneys or remote handoffs, Phillips & Associates works together in the office, collaborating in real time on litigation strategy, evidence development, witness preparation, damages analysis, and case valuation. All attorneys and staff are trained in trauma-informed representation.

The firm's founder created the National Plaintiffs' Summit on Sexual Harassment and Employment Discrimination, a national conference that brings together leading plaintiff-side employment lawyers, trial attorneys, and advocates from across the country, and the firm produces the Not in the (Company) Newsletter podcast.

Many clients contact the firm before reporting misconduct to human resources, resigning, signing a severance agreement, responding to an internal investigation, or filing with the EEOC or a state agency. Early strategic advice often shapes the outcome and helps employees avoid steps that can weaken a claim.

The firm works on contingency, with no attorney fees unless it recovers, and serves employees from six offices across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida, in New York City, Garden City, White Plains, Princeton, Philadelphia, and Miami. Free and confidential consultation. 866-229-9441.

Firm overview (short)

Phillips & Associates is a New York employment law firm representing employees only since 2011, ranked by Chambers and listed in Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms 2026. It concentrates on workplace power dynamics and litigates discrimination across every protected category, along with sexual harassment, sexual assault, retaliation, whistleblower, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, and workplace relationship harassment. The firm has recovered more than $360 million for employees, litigated nearly 2,000 cases against more than 550 defense firms, and holds binding Second Circuit precedent in Vasquez v. Empress Ambulance Service. Its courtroom record gives it leverage to resolve matters favorably, often confidentially and before filing. The firm works on contingency. Free and confidential consultation. 866-229-9441.

Practice areas

Employment Law - Individuals, Litigation - 

Workplace Sexual Harassmen, Discriminaion & Retaliation

Firm focus areas

Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Employment Discrimination, Workplace Relationship Harassment and Retaliation, Retaliation, Whistleblower, Hostile Work Environment, Wrongful Termination, Pregnancy Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, Race Discrimination, Age Discrimination, National Origin Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination, Criminal History Discrimination, FMLA and Medical Leave, Wage and Hour, Workplace Power Dynamic

With six offices and more than 250 lawyers, Rivkin Radler provides practical, efficient legal services tailored to our clients’ needs. We follow internal best practices that exceed standard professional and ethical requirements. Our work is clear, responsive, and delivered on schedule, allowing clients to move forward with clarity and confidence.

We focus on strong advocacy and long-term client relationships. Many clients have worked with our firm for decades, reflecting our ongoing commitment to responsiveness, communication, and thoughtful counsel.

We advise successful individuals, middle-market businesses, and large corporations across a wide range of industries. For clients who prefer to communicate in their native language, our attorneys and staff offer services in French, Haitian Creole, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Panjabi, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Urdu.

Our firm represents clients across 23 practice areas: Appeals; Banking; Bankruptcy; Class Actions; Commercial Litigation; Complex Torts & Product Liability; Construction; Corporate; Directors & Officers Liability; Employment & Labor; General Liability; Health Services; Immigration; Insurance Coverage; Insurance Fraud & Recovery; Intellectual Property; Medical Malpractice Defense; Privacy, Data & Cyber Law; Professional Liability; Real Estate; Surety; Trusts & Estates; and Tax.

The firm’s work has been recognized by respected industry organizations:

• Chambers USA ranked our Insurance Coverage Practice Group in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer category
• Chambers USA ranked our Health Services Practice Group in the Healthcare category
• The Legal 500 listed our Insurance Coverage Practice Group in the “Industry Focus – Insurance – Advice to Insurers” category

Rivkin Radler is committed to fostering diversity within an inclusive environment that values individuals, encourages different perspectives, and supports thoughtful collaboration.

We employ professionals with a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, creating a culture that supports professional growth and thoughtful problem-solving. Our attorneys are active in professional organizations, support nonprofit initiatives that serve the public interest, and contribute to legal scholarship.

For client convenience, the firm maintains six office locations: Albany, N.Y.; Hackensack, N.J.; Jacksonville, Fla.; New York City, N.Y.; Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; and Uniondale, N.Y.

Headquartered in Albany, New York, the attorneys and professional staff of The Towne Law Firm, P.C. (TLF) comprise a general practice law firm advising clients and trying cases in a broad range of legal fields. From matters as small as a traffic ticket to the most complex business disputes, you may rely on our experience and availability. Our offices are spread across New York and the Northeast, but the scope of our legal practice ranges from transactional to litigation services. Our team approach ensures our clients are provided with comprehensive service and personalized attention.

Our relentless dedication to your legal needs and the legal profession means we are there for you when you need us over the long haul.

Since our founding in 2009, our attorneys have secured the payment of nearly $22 million dollars to the families of New York State Retirees, fought to assure victim’s rights were secured in litigation claims and defended individuals and entities subjected to unjust claims for compensation. We handle all phases of litigation including mediation, arbitration, trials and appeals and advise clients in all corporate and personal legal matters.

The Towne Law Firm, P.C. supports and encourages its attorneys and staff to make a difference in the world, especially in the communities where we live and practice. Firm members are regularly recognized for generous donations of time and support in our legal practice areas throughout the Northeast, as well as throughout the United States and abroad.

Wigdor is widely considered the top employment litigation and sexual harassment and sexual assault law firm nationwide.

Our employment lawyers represent individuals and groups in matters involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wrongful termination, executive compensation, employment agreements, restrictive covenants and other employment-related litigation. We also represent survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Our mission is to fight aggressively for our clients who have experienced employment discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual assault. Our attorneys advocate tenaciously for our clients in both high profile and confidential matters.

With decades of experience, remarkable results and a powerful reputation as a law firm to listen to, Wigdor gives a voice to those who have suffered and empowers our clients to achieve their best outcomes. Because many of our lawyers came from large law firms representing corporations, we have the perspective on how company-defendants will fight these cases and use this information successfully to our clients’ advantage.

We are known for our unrivaled trial skills and negotiation capabilities. No other employment litigation law firm has our courtroom experience and record of success.

Yankwitt LLP is a trusted law firm in Westchester County, focusing on complex, high-stakes litigation cases. Established in 2009, it stands out as the only firm of its nature outside Manhattan in New York, composed entirely of senior attorneys with backgrounds in prominent national and New York City law firms, as well as experience as federal prosecutors and/or federal law clerks. With one of the largest litigation teams in Westchester County, Yankwitt LLP serves businesses and high-net-worth individuals across various legal matters. It is known as a referral choice for Am Law 100 firms unable to take on certain cases, providing quality representation in Westchester County. Local firms also seek Yankwitt LLP for adept trial counsel in significant litigation matters.

Yankwitt LLP attorneys handle cases involving contract disputes, business separations, employment litigation, and tort actions, along with family law, trusts and estates, bankruptcy, and real estate litigation. The firm’s Criminal Defense & Investigations Practice defends individuals and companies involved in prominent white-collar cases and internal and government investigations. Additionally, Yankwitt LLP serves as general counsel for businesses both in Westchester, New York City, and nationally.

The firm’s clientele includes a broad spectrum of businesses across different industries, facing diverse commercial, civil, and criminal legal challenges. Notable entities like Walgreens, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Mavis Discount Tire, Million Air, Landry’s, Hillstone, and Hunter Point Capital are among the esteemed clients the firm represents. Yankwitt LLP also assists local organizations such as the Westchester Reform Temple, the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester, and the City of Rye with unique and challenging legal matters.

In the arenas of criminal defense and government investigations, the firm represents individual clients threatened with financial and personal liberty jeopardy, including notable figures facing multi-agency charges.

The firm’s efforts and quality client representation have been acknowledged by various industry publications and organizations consistently. In 2023, Yankwitt LLP was awarded the Business Council of Westchester Hall of Fame Award for Small Business Success, a notable achievement in Westchester County. The firm was also recognized as a top 10 Best Small Company to Work for in New York and Westchester and received the Best of Business Award in Westchester. For five consecutive years, Yankwitt LLP and its attorneys have been included in Benchmark Litigation and Chambers USA as the only Westchester-based firm in these rankings. The attorneys are frequently recognized in publications like Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Martindale Hubbell.