Martin Schmelkin

About Martin Schmelkin

I focus on employment and employee benefits issues for hedge funds, private equity firms, asset managers and investment banks. I have nearly 30 years of experience in employment law, representing clients in all aspects, including counseling on recruitment, hiring, employment agreements, compensation, promotions, disciplinary action and terminations. Additionally, I have experience advising on litigation strategy, coordinating the implementation of policies and programs across multiple global jurisdictions, and leading workplace training programs. I have a wealth of experience with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and programs, including the interplay with Environmental Social Governance (ESG) reporting. I also counsel financial services firms on employment related FINRA arbitrations and regulatory filings.I bring a unique perspective to clients, having worked for 15 years in the legal department of Goldman Sachs, where I was a managing director and associate general counsel in the employment law group. While there I spent time in the firm\'s Hong Kong office covering employment law matters throughout Asia and also had responsibility for employment law in non-U.S. offices in the Americas. I serve as an Associate Lecturer on Labor & Employment Law at Columbia University, and am a member of the Executive Board of the Cornell University School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR) Alumni Association.

Experience

1. Employment & Employee Benefits Partner

   McDermott Will & Schulte

   Aug 2025 — Present

Education

• New York University School of Law

  Juris Doctor (J.D.), Law

  1991 — 1994

• Cornell University ILR School

  Bachelor’s Degree, Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR)

  1987 — 1991