• Kevin B. Leblang, chair of the Employment Law department, advises and represents management in employment litigation and advisory matters. Kevin counsels employers on the full spectrum of employment law matters, ranging from the adoption and application of employee relations policies to the evaluation and minimization of litigation risks of employment decisions. He also conducts training sessions designed to avoid litigation and has successfully mediated dozens of disputes before JAMS, the American Arbitration Association and private mediators.

    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.

    Experience

    • Represented CBS Corp. in the successful resolution of an arbitration dispute with former CEO Leslie Moonves, resulting in dismissal of the arbitration proceeding and a $120 million grantor trust reverting to CBS in its entirety.

    • Successfully represented a multinational banking and financial services company in an action by a former senior executive seeking $34 million in allegedly unpaid compensation based on claims of breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and violations of New York labor laws, obtaining summary judgment from the district court and a unanimous affirmance on appeal to the 2nd Circuit.

    • Representing a large media company in connection with claims of breach of contract and defamation arising out of the termination of a former senior executive for sexual harassment and failing to cooperate in an investigation.

    • Obtained dismissal of a suit brought by a former employee of a large insurance company alleging a SOX whistleblower claim.

    • Successfully represented a large investment bank in a federal court action brought by a former employee alleging gender discrimination.

    • Successfully represented an international financial institution in a matter brought by a former executive for deferred compensation and defamation, winning a complete dismissal of the claims after a FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) hearing.

    • Represented a media company in defending a discrimination claim brought in federal court in New York by a former on-air personality.

    • Successfully represented a sports franchise in a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by a former player.

    • Obtained summary judgment in favor of a client on all gender discrimination and harassment claims brought by a highly compensated employee seeking extensive damages in New York federal court.

    • Obtained summary judgments in favor of several large financial institutions facing sexual harassment, gender discrimination, race discrimination, and wage and hour claims in federal courts in New York.

    • Secured the 2nd Circuit’s affirmance of a district court’s denial of a motion to vacate an arbitration award where a unanimous FINRA panel dismissed discrimination claims at the conclusion of a claimant’s case in chief.

    • Obtained dismissal in arbitration of a multimillion-dollar compensation claim based on allegations of breach of implied contract and fraudulent inducement.

    • Obtained favorable arbitration awards in dozens of cases brought by former employees, including claims for compensation and deferred compensation, discrimination, harassment, tort claims, and breach of contract.

    Credentials

    Education

    • J.D., Fordham University School of Law, 1984
    • B.S., Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 1981

    Bar Admissions

    • New Jersey, 1986
    • New York, 1985

    Court Admissions

    • U.S.C.A., 2nd Circuit
    • U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York
    • U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Bar Association, Member, Labor and Employment Law Section
    • New York County Lawyers Association
    • New York State Bar Association, Member, Labor and Employment Law Section
  • *No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the Super Lawyers selection methodology can be found here.