• Robert N. Holtzman represents employers in employment law and executive compensation matters and is Co-chair of Kramer Levin’s Executive Compensation practice. Robert counsels employers regarding the full range of legal and business issues that touch upon or concern the employment relationship, including advisory matters involving investigations of discrimination and whistleblower complaints, the design and implementation of appropriate policies and practices and employment issues that arise in connection with corporate transactions. He also designs and conducts training of managers and other employees.

    When disputes arise, Robert represents employers in litigation in federal and state court, as well as in administrative proceedings and arbitrations, and in connection with virtually every type of claim that may be asserted by employees – discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, gender, sexual preference, disability and national origin; retaliation; whistleblower claims; claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law; breach of contract; enforcement of restrictive covenants; wrongful discharge; and a wide variety of tort claims. He also has represented employers and senior executives in class action litigations alleging sexual harassment, gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination and wage and hour violations.

    Robert advises and represents companies and executives in connection with the design, implementation, drafting and negotiation of executive compensation arrangements, including employment, severance/separation, change-in-control, noncompetition, non-solicitation and nondisclosure agreements. He also represents private equity funds and companies in the design and drafting of equity and other incentive compensation arrangements. Robert also regularly represents buyers, sellers and management teams in connection with mergers and acquisitions, and other transactions.

    Among his most notable recent work, Robert represented a Big Four accounting firm in connection with an action commenced by a competitor arising out of its hiring of a team of former employees; Roto-Rooter Services Co. in connection with a class and collective action alleging violations of the wage and hours laws of multiple states; and a prominent financial institution in connection with a claim of gender discrimination and sexual harassment. He also represented a $10 billion hedge fund in connection with the exit of one of its founding partners, and advised an asset manager with more than $25 billion in assets under management in connection with the restructuring of its restrictive covenants and long-term incentive compensation arrangements.

    Legal 500 US has repeatedly recognized Robert in the area of employment law.

    Experience

    • Advised Atlantic Street Capital Partners in its sale of All Star Auto Parts, a specialty distributor of alternative automotive parts, to BBB Industries LLC, a supplier of replacement parts backed by Clearlake Capital Group LP. 

    • Represented Sentinel Capital Partners in its acquisition of SPL, a leader in testing, inspection, and certification services for energy and environmental markets.

    • Advised Atlantic Street Capital on its latest platform investment in Fund IV, ACIS, one of the largest and fastest growing commercial facility services providers in the state of Texas.

    • Advised NewPoint Real Estate Capital LLC in its acquisition of certain assets of Housing & Healthcare Finance LLC, including its FHA multifamily and healthcare origination business and its loan servicing portfolio. 

    • Advised The NPD Group, a global market information provider, in its acquisition by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman.

    • Advised Alliant Insurance Services, a leading distributor of diversified insurance products and services in the U.S., in its acquisition of Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distributor in the U.S.

    • Represented Paine Schwartz Partners in its acquisition of Kynetec, an agricultural and market research company.

    • Represented Stone Point Capital LLC in a strategic investment by funds managed by Stone Point Capital in Allied Benefit Systems LLC, a leading independent third-party administrator of group health benefits to self-insured employers.

    • Advising Sentinel Capital Partners in the sale of Pet Supplies to Franchise Group Inc., an all cash transaction valued at approximately $700 million.

    • Advising BlackRock, Inc. in its definitive agreement to acquire Aperio Group LLC, a pioneer in customizing tax-optimized index equity separately managed accounts, from Golden Gate Capital for $1.05 billion.

    • Represented Stone Point Capital LLC in its acquisition, along with GreyLion Capital, of Hyphen Solutions, the leading provider of cloud-based residential construction management software.

    • Advised Stone Point Capital and its Trident funds in the acquisition of PrismHR, a leading HR technology platform.

    • Represented Paine Schwartz Partners in establishing an animal health & nutrition investment platform, Axiota Animal Health, Inc., with a strategic acquisition in Warburton Technology Limited, a leading producer of trace-mineral injections for cattle.

    • Represented Waterfall Asset Management in connection with its acquisition of a controlling interest in Flex Fleet Rental, a leading provider of medium-term truck rentals to commercial customers.

    • Represented Jun Group Productions in its sale to Advantage Solutions.

    • Advised Stone Point Capital LLC in an agreement by which funds managed by Stone Point acquired Sabal Capital Partners LLC.

    • Represented Brown (RI) Investment Company LLC and MyOfficeProducts Holdings Inc. in the sale of their subsidiaries, HiTouch Business Services LLC and MyOfficeProducts LLC, to Staples Inc.

    • Advised Stone Point Capital LLC and its Trident funds in an investment in Gordon Brothers Group LLC, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the industrial, consumer products and retail sectors. 

    • Represented Alliant Insurance Services, the largest specialty insurance brokerage firm in the U.S., in its agreement to acquire Crystal & Company, a leading global provider of insurance and employee benefits consulting services.

    • Represented Stone Point Capital LLC in its acquisition of LegalShield, a subscription-based provider of legal plans and a provider of identity theft solutions, from funds controlled by MidOcean Partners.

    • Represented a Big Four accounting firm in connection with an action commenced by a competitor arising out of its hiring of a team of former employees.

    • Represented Roto Rooter Services Co. in connection with a class and collective action alleging violations of the wage and hours laws of twelve states and a parallel class arbitration proceeding.

    • Represented a prominent financial institution in connection with a claim of gender discrimination and sexual harassment.

    • Represented a $10 billion hedge fund in connection with the exit of one of its founding partners.

    • Represented an asset manager with more than $25 billion in assets under management in connection with the restructuring of its restrictive covenants and long-term incentive compensation arrangements.

    • Advised Stone Point Capital in the acquisition of Clark Consulting, the bank-owned life insurance distribution and servicing unit of Aegon USA LLC by Greenspoint, a newly formed joint venture between funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC and A2 Capital Insurance Services.

    • Advised The NPD Group, Inc. in the sale of its DisplaySearch and Solarbuzz businesses to IHS Inc.

    • Advised Millennium Partners in the sale of its Sports Club/LA and Reebok Sports Club/NY health and fitness club business and certain related assets to Equinox Fitness for approximately $110 million.

    • Advised Stone Point Capital in the acquisition of LTCG Holdings Corp., the parent of Long Term Care Group Inc., the recognized leader in business process outsourcing for long-term care insurance.

    • Represented chief executive officer of private company in connection with sale to a new private equity sponsor, including associated employment, incentive, and investment documents.

    • Represented Del Monte Pacific Limited in connection with employment issues arising out of its $1.7B acquisition of the consumer foods business of Del Monte Corporation.

    • Represented acquiror in connection with negotiation of new employment and executive compensation arrangements with executive management team.

    • Represented an employer and its chief executive officer in class action alleging sexual harassment and wage and hour violations.

    • Advised a broker-dealer in connection with the wind-down of its business and termination of operations.

    • Successfully represented a partner in an arbitration proceeding arising out of a failed business. Obtained an award fully exonerating the partner and awarding damages and attorneys’ fees for breaches by and conduct of the other partners.

    • Represented a large New York City hospital in connection with the wind-down of its operations, including the layoffs of thousands of employees.

    Credentials

    Education

    • J.D., Columbia Law School, 1992
      • Editor, Columbia Law Review, 1991-1992
      • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
    • B.A., Economics, summa cum laude, University of Pennsylvania, 1989

    Bar Admissions

    • New Jersey, 1993
    • New York, 1993

    Clerkships

    • Honorable Peter K. Leisure, U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York, 1992 - 1993

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S.C.A., 2nd Circuit
    • U.S.C.A., 6th Circuit
    • U.S.D.C., District of Connecticut
    • U.S.D.C., District of New Jersey
    • U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Michigan
    • U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York
    • U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York

    Professional Affiliations

    • New York State Bar Association: Chair, Commercial and Federal Litigation Section; Member, Executive Committee, Commercial and Federal Litigation Section; Member, Labor and Employment Section
    • American Bar Association: Member, Labor and Employment Law Section
    • New York City Bar Association
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