Christopher J. Collins

Christopher Collins is a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm's New York office.

Areas of Practice

For more than 25 years, Chris has represented employers in litigation alleging employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, as well as cases involving non-compete agreements and compensation disputes. In litigated matters, he has represented clients in a wide range of fields, including financial services, insurance, technology, retail, management consulting, professional services, entertainment, media and advertising.

In addition to court litigation (including jury trials), he routinely represents employers in FINRA arbitrations, before administrative agencies and in mediation. He also represents companies and executives in employment contract negotiations.

Chris also has a substantial advice and counseling practice, partnering with clients on policy design, litigation avoidance strategies, and compliance best practices, including issues involving progressive discipline, disability accommodation and minimizing exposure to retaliation allegations. He also routinely conducts training on a variety of employment law compliance subjects. He also advises employers on effective internal investigation practices, and conducts independent investigations of workplace issues for clients.

Honors

Labor and Employment, Legal 500, 2016

Insights

Articles

Labor & Employment Law Blog Posts

• Connecticut Tells Employers to 'Stay Safe, Stay At Home', March 23, 2020
• New Jersey Governor Murphy Announces Statewide Stay At Home Order, Closure of All Non-Essential Retail Businesses, March 23, 2020
• NYC Bans Discrimination Based on Sexual and Reproductive Health Decisions, April 24, 2019
• New NYC Law Requires Employers to Engage in “Cooperative Dialogue” for Workplace Accommodations, July 31, 2018
• New York City Temporary Schedule Change Law Now in Effect, July 25, 2018
• Second Circuit Holds that FLSA Settlements Require Court or Department of Labor Approval, September 18, 2015
• NYC Council Votes to Sharply Restrict Employer Use of Criminal Background Checks, June 12, 2015
• Supreme Court Sides with EEOC in Abercrombie & Fitch Hijab Case, June 12, 2015
• Sixth Circuit Holds That Ford Motor Co. Was Not Required to Accommodate Telecommuting, April 23, 2015
• Major Shakeup at NYC Commission on Human Rights, December 1, 2014
• The EEOC’s Assault on Separation Agreements - A Bump in the Road, But It’s Far From Over, October 29, 2014
• DOL Proposes to Amend FMLA Definition of “Spouse” to Include Same-Sex Marriages, July 17, 2014
• Expected Executive Order Protecting LGBT Employees has Implications for Employers, June 23, 2014
• Court Upholds New Jersey’s Ban on Unemployment Discrimination in Job Advertisements, February 6, 2014
• NLRB Abandons Fight Over Mandatory Workplace Poster Rule, January 22, 2014
• New York Unemployment Benefits No Longer Available to Former Employees Receiving Severance, January 10, 2014
• New York City Now Requires Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant Workers, October 2, 2013
• New Jersey Law Now Protects Employees Who Ask fellow Employees (or Former Employees) for Their Salary Information, September 26, 2013
• New Jersey Employers May Not Like State's New Social Media 'Privacy Settings,' September 12, 2013

Speaking Engagements

• Developments in Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank and the SEC Whistleblower Program, 13th Annual Labor and
•Employment Law Conference, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, November 9, 2019

Events

•Labor & Employment Law Update - Year in Review - New York
Fall 2018, 10.30.2018

•Labor & Employment Law Update - New York
Spring 2017, 05.23.2017

•Accommodating Disabilities with Acumen, Protecting Data with Diligence, and Avoiding Class Actions with Class
Retail Best Practices, 09.29.2015

•The Williams Institute NYC Mixer
05.18.2015

•Sheppard Mullin's Spring 2015 Labor & Employment Law Update
05.05.2015

•2014 Labor & Employment Year In Review
11.13.2014

•2013 New York Labor & Employment Year In Review
Grand Hyatt New York, 11.05.2013