Case Studies

Thomas B. Wassel has been advising employers on a wide range of labor and employment law matters since 1983. He has extensive experience in providing general labor and employment advice covering all aspects of Federal and State law for private and public employers, including utilities, municipalities, educational institutions, banks, health care institutions, and public and private corporations. He has provided advice for ensuring client compliance with all Federal, New York State, and local Human Rights laws (including issues of racial, sexual, and religious discrimination and harassment), as well as important employment laws such as the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act. In the course of his representation, Mr. Wassel assists clients in developing policies and procedures designed to comply with all applicable laws, to minimize employer liability. Should litigation arise, Mr. Wassel works closely with the firm's Litigation department in developing trial strategies.

Mr. Wassel also has extensive experience advising municipal clients in all aspects of civic and educational affairs. He has served as general and special counsel to municipal zoning, planning, and architectural design review boards, as well as school boards in educational, labor, and real property tax matters. He regularly counsels clients on compliance with the Civil Service Law, Education Law, and all other statutes affecting local government.

Mr. Wassel regularly advises the Firm's educational clients on areas such as student rights and obligations, faculty rights and obligations, discrimination and harassment claims, and all other employment-related topics.

Mr. Wassel also advises clients seeking to review their real property assessments.

Professional & Community Activities

• New York State Bar Association
  • Member, Executive Committee of the Municipal Law Section
  • Member, Labor Law Section
• Served as Chair of the Municipal Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association
• Member, Labor Law Committee of the Nassau Bar
• Currently President-Elect and Membership Chair of the Long Island Chapter of the Labor and Employment Relations Association
• Adjunct Professor, SUNY-Old Westbury, 2011- Present
• Adjunct Professor, Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, 2007-2008