Attorney Profile
Stephen D. Hans, Esq.
New York Employment Defense Attorney
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Government audits and employee lawsuits present challenges that make it difficult for small to mid-sized businesses to sustain and continue in business. In today’s economy most businesses cannot afford the financial liability and legal fees that are imposed with these sorts of legal claims. Our firm believes it is critical that the businessperson understand the legal and financial issues and join with us toward seeking an early resolution at an affordable cost.
Background
Mr. Hans began his career in employment law in 1979 when he became counsel to the Amalgamated Transit Union in New York, the union that represents the NYCTA bus operators. In 1980, the transit unions called a historic strike, creating a substantial impact on all New Yorkers. He was directly involved during the twelve days of negotiations with the MTA. Simultaneously, he represented the union in the Supreme Court due to the illegality of the strike. On April 12, 1980, Mr. Hans along with the union leaders, MTA executives, and Governor Carey together reached an agreement to end the strike. He continued representing the union after the strike for numerous years. During those years, he represented many workers in arbitrations, grievances, disciplinary hearings and in various federal and state lawsuits brought against the union.
As time went on, Mr. Hans developed a strong and fervent desire for employment law. He authored several articles on employment law and labor law; appeared and spoke at several CLE seminars and was invited to speak before business groups on the topic of employment law.
In 1990, Mr. Hans became the Chairperson of the Queens County Bar Association. Although the law firm continued representing employees, the firm also began representing small to mid-sized businesses in a wide range of employment law issues. These issues involved claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, contractual disputes and other related matters.
Mr. Hans was appointed to the New York State Appellate Division Grievance Committee in 2011. That Committee is responsible for analyzing and making recommendations regarding grievances filed against lawyers. Mr. Hans also served a Counsel to the sub-Committee of the Transportation Committee in the New York State Assembly.
THE FIRM CHANGES DIRECTION
As the firm continued to represent small and mid-sized businesses, Mr. Hans took note of the shortage of experienced counsel dedicated to representing those clients. The firm made a decision to limit our practice to the representation of small to mid-sized businesses. Interestingly, Mr. Hans was born and raised in Queens where he also attended high school and college. He understands the small business issues, specifically the difficulties of marketing, administration and the legal issues pertaining to employees. By the mid 90’s and early part of 2000, employees were filing lawsuits against their employer on a regular basis. Those issues involved a wide range of claims such as wages, discrimination, sexual harassment, and contractual claims.
Small to mid-sized businesses often do not have the funds to defend against employee lawsuits, but having experienced counsel is essential to their ability to resolve those claims and continue in business.
2000 TO THE PRESENT
By the early 2000’s and continuing to the present, the firm has represented many businesses in the state and federal courts and/or the Department of Labor for wage and hour violations. Employees were filing lawsuits at an alarming rate, and these claims were either exaggerated or contained outright false statements in an effort to gain some form of compensation from their employer.
These lawsuits often resulted in negotiation or mediation since the potential liability and vulnerability of small to mid-sized businesses necessitated expeditious resolution of these claims. Our firm represented employers almost every week in mediation or in the federal court in an effort to protect our clients’ interests. In fact, Mr. Hans also served as a Mediator for other law firms in these claims.
There have been numerous sexual harassment and pregnancy lawsuits filed since 2000. Mr. Hans and his team zealously and carefully defended hundreds of businesses — restaurants, construction companies, retails businesses, doctors and even law firms — bringing their cases to a successful conclusion.
Mr. Hans believes resolving these claims and assisting the businesses with achieving compliance is critically important. Employees today are emboldened and believe that legal action against their employer is something they should engage in or in the alternative, is a method to collect compensation whether they are entitled to it or not. Our firm makes developing and assisting the client with compliance strategies to avoid future claims our priority along with providing an education for the client so that these issues are behind them.
Practice Areas
Bar & Court Admissions
- New York State Bar, 1977
- U. S. District Court; U. S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- University of Mississippi Law Center, Oxford, MS; J.D.
- John’s University; B.A.
Civic Involvement
- Board member and Counsel – Chamber Orchestra of New York
- Counsel and former Board member – Queens Botanical Garden
- Board member – Boys & Girls Club of New York; Queens, New York
Professional Associations & Activities
- Queens County Bar Association, Board of Managers; 2001-2006
- Queens County Bar Association Labor Relations Committee Chairperson; 1998-Present
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Labor Law Panel
- Appellate Division, 2nd Department, Grievance Committee
- 1999- Commentator – Johnnie Cochran TV show as a legal commentator on various employment law topics including commenting on the sex harassment lawsuit with Paula Jones and President Clinton
- Developed a variety of Continuing Legal Education courses for the Queens County Bar
- Author of numerous articles on a variety of employment law topics, such as wage and hour violations, discrimination, severance agreements, and disability issues in the New York area
- Lecturer on employment law topics for business owners
Located in Long Island City, Queens, New York, the attorneys at Stephen D. Hans & Associates represent clients throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Manhattan, Wall Street, Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island; and throughout Westchester County and Nassau and Suffolk. .
30-30 Northern Blvd. Suite 401, Long Island City, New York 11101
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