Kevin B. Leblang

Kevin also represents management clients in litigation in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies and arbitrators. He litigates claims alleging all forms of discrimination, breach of contract and myriad tort claims — including defamation, wrongful discharge, and negligent hiring or supervision — arising out of the employment relationship. He also advises and represents employers in the rapidly growing field of employee noncompetition law.

Kevin has secured favorable rulings in dozens of cases brought by former employees in state and federal litigation, as well as in arbitration, including successfully defending employers against claims for compensation and deferred compensation, discrimination, harassment, tort claims, and breach of contract. Among his most recent representations, Kevin defended a global banking and financial services company against an action by a former employee alleging sexual orientation discrimination, obtaining dismissal of all claims. He successfully represented a major insurance company, obtaining dismissal of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) whistleblower and discrimination claims. Kevin and his team were also successful in obtaining summary judgments in favor of several large financial institutions facing sexual harassment, gender discrimination, race discrimination, and wage and hour claims in federal and state courts in New York.

Chambers USA and Legal 500 have repeatedly recognized Kevin as a leading lawyer in the area of employment law. Chambers USA lauds Kevin’s “considerable experience handling discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims,” noting that sources describe him as “practical and savvy,” “commercial, knowledgeable, easy to deal with and has got his clients’ interests at heart” and say “his strengths are his great responsiveness, practical and sound advice, and his judgment,” and “he is super smart and strategic.” Other market sources describe Kevin as “a seasoned professional who is both smart and pragmatic,” saying he “gets to fair solutions and compromises” but is also “a fierce litigator who knows how to manage a courtroom proceeding with efficient, deft skill.” Clients praise him, stating that he is “highly knowledgeable and has excellent judgment” and that he is a “first-class employment litigator” who is “excellent in client relations and communications” and “very pragmatic in high-profile litigation.”

One client notes: “Kevin is so practical and unafraid to tell us when we’re barking up the wrong tree. He will never tell you what you want to hear, only what you need to hear. Kevin has seen and done everything and really gets the issues in a nuanced way.” Other Chambers sources say, “Kevin is an industry leader in employment litigation defense in the financial services industry,” and “Kevin is a superlative lawyer who understands his clients and the law. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an experienced lawyer.” And another client recently told Chambers: “He is the best employment counsel I have ever worked with. He is knowledgeable, dedicated and the only counsel I would ever use.”

Human Resource Executive also ranked Kevin as one of the nation’s most powerful employment law lawyers 10 years in a row, and Lawdragon named him to its Top 100 list for employment law.