Valerie Bluth

About Valerie Bluth

I have spent my entire career practicing employment and labor law. I primarily represent and advise employers, but also represent executives and employees in limited circumstances. I am proud to have been selected as a Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Star from 2015 to 2023 and now a Super Lawyer for 2024 in the area of Employment & Labor Law.Throughout my career, I have litigated a range of employment law matters in federal & state courts & before administrative agencies regarding claims asserted under- Title VII- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)- Rehabilitation Act- Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)- New York Labor Law- NYS Human Rights Law- NYC Human Rights LawThough I am a seasoned litigator, my passion is counseling and compliance. In that regard, I regularly counsel clients regarding legal & practical issues that arise in the workplace, including- Employment policies, including on a multi-state basis- COVID-19 compliance- Internal investigations- Avoiding & addressing harassment in the workplace- Social media issues- Reasonable accommodation & leave management- Wage/hour compliance- Terminations & disciplinary actions- Independent contractor and exempt classification issues- Unemployment Insurance & Workers\' CompensationI also regularly- Negotiate and draft employment, restrictive covenant, settlement & separation agreements- Draft employment policies & handbooks- Negotiate settlements with opposing counsel- Take & defend depositions - Train managers & staff regarding principles of workplace law I have a broad educational and practical background in traditional labor law, including- Collective bargaining agreement analysis & administration- Grievance, arbitration and NLRB proceedings (including as first chair in a NLRB trial before an ALJ)I have represented both small businesses and large corporations including those with operations in a multitude of states, in both unionized and non-unionized settings, in the hospitality, real estate, construction, financial services, analytics, startup, advertising, automotive, retail, luxury brand, cosmetics, journalism, education, healthcare, nonprofit and municipal sectors.I also regularly speak on employment and workplace-related issues, including in a regular quarterly hospitality industry webinar series and on various CLE panels.[MAY CONSTITUTE ATTORNEY ADVERTISING]

Experience

1. Partner

   Ellenoff Grossman & Schole Llp

   Dec 2018 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Firm profile: Labor & Employment news feed:

Education

• Cornell University

  B.S., Industrial and Labor Relations

  2001 — 2005

• Fordham University School of Law

  J.D., Law

  2005 — 2008

Skills

• Hearings
• Class Actions
• Dispute Resolution
• Civil Litigation
• Westlaw
• Wage & Hour
• Legal Research
• Legal Assistance
• Employment Law
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Employment Discrimination
• Traditional Labor Law
• Courts
• Mediation