Felice B. Ekelman

Felice B. Ekelman is a Principal in the New York City, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and is a member of the firm's Board of Directors. Ms. Ekelman approaches the attorney-client relationship as a business partnership, and clients rely on her to develop both legal and business strategies and when necessary to litigate “bet the company” cases.

Ms. Ekelman places paramount importance on understanding her clients’ businesses, their goals and tolerance for risk. She has decades-long relationships with clients because of her ability to communicate with senior management, develop consensuses in problem solving, and work with clients to execute their goals. Known for her ability to develop thoughtful and creative solutions to complex workplace issues, clients trust her judgment.

When litigation is necessary, Ms. Ekelman stands at the ready. She has experience defending a broad range of employment law claims, including the defense of discrimination and harassment actions. Ms. Ekelman has first-chair trial experience including a significant number of wage and hour class and collective actions as well as hundreds of matters in arbitration.

Ms. Ekelman has in-depth knowledge, having served clients in several industries including hospitality, real estate, heathcare and retail. She is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Restaurant Industry Team. Ms. Ekelman has defended a substantial number of major restaurant groups in wage and hour claims, and investigates claims of wrongdoing asserted by employees and customers. Her experience in the hospitality industry is well established, and she is regularly asked to speak about workplace law issues at industry events. Ms. Ekelman also represents real estate firms and retailers, and is well versed in the workplace issues unique to those industries.

Representative Experience

•Conducted internal investigations for Fortune 50 finance company to address alleged gender discrimination/retaliation matters by senior executives
•Investigated racial discrimination claims asserted by high-profile guest regarding treatment by restaurant group
•Represented Fortune 50 healthcare employer in complex class action litigation involving independent contractors
•Represented Fortune 50 retailer in complex class action litigation
•Represented major restaurant groups in workplace issues including the defense of discrimination and harassment claims
•Represented public sector employers in various complex class action and collective action litigations involving thousands of employee claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act

Published Works

5 Recent Trends in Employment Law Affecting Your Business, National Pawnbrokers Association (August 2019) [Author]

Felice B. Ekelman In the News

Monica H. Khetarpal Honored on the 2019 40 Under Forty List by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer

October 3, 2019 • Jackson Lewis

Felice Ekelman, Douglas Klein and Alison Benz Author 5 Recent Trends in Employment Law Affecting Your Business

September 11, 2019 • National Pawnbrokers Association

Jackson Lewis Publishes Q1 Diversity and Inclusion Committee Newsletter 2018

April 30, 2018 • Jackson Lewis

Felice B. Ekelman Publications

article

Options for Enticing Workers to Return from Unemployment after COVID-19 Shutdowns

May 4, 2020

newsletter

Restaurant Industry Workplace Law Update - Fall 2019

December 13, 2019

article

New York High Court Upholds State Labor Department Interpretation of ‘Live-In’ Home Health Employee Rule

March 27, 2019

Webinars

webinar

Inside the Amendments to New York City’s Fair Workweek Law and Earned Sick Leave Law: Deciphering Employers’ Obligation to Accommodate Employees’ Requests for Temporary Schedule Changes

1 - 1:30 PM EST
Archived

webinar

Beyond Weinstein: A Primer on US/UK Laws Governing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (For US-based HR Professionals)

12 - 1:00 PM EST
Archived

webinar

Preparing for New York State and New York City’s New Sexual Harassment Prevention Mandates: What Hospitality Employers Should Consider Now

3 - 4:00 PM EST
Archived

Felice B. Ekelman Blog Posts

Wage and Hour

Second Circuit to Decide Whether Court Approval of FLSA Settlements Applies to Accepted Offers of Judgment

October 24, 2017