In late May 2019, the National Law Journal (NLJ) published its list of finalists for its 2019 “Elite Trial Lawyers” awards. These awards recognize law firms in more than twenty areas of practice, including employment, business, finance, civil rights, bankruptcy, and tort law. Phillips & Associates has been nominated in all three employment-related categories: Discrimination, Employment Rights, and Racial Discrimination. New York City has one of the broadest antidiscrimination statutes in the country, and we have positioned ourselves as one of the top employment discrimination firms in the tri-state area.
Phillips & Associates has received recognition as a firm for its work in employment law. Numerous attorneys with the firm have received individual accolades for their accomplishments. We are one of the only employment law firms in greater New York City with an exclusive focus on employee representation. Our clients often have claims against their employers for discrimination and other unlawful practices under statutes like the New York State Human Rights Law and the New York City Human Rights Law.
Our firm has actively pursued justice for clients with discrimination claims under recent amendments to New York City law, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of factors like criminal history, unemployment, and caregiver status. We also represent clients with claims for unlawful practices under the Family and Medical Leave Act, and for minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The NLJ is an online publication that covers national and regional legal issues, offering “trusted and timely legal news and analysis.” Its parent company, ALM Media Properties, LLC, publishes news and information on a variety of business-related topics. The NLJ received more than three hundred nominations for “Elite Trial Lawyer” between February 15 and April 26, 2019. A team of reporters and editors narrowed this down to the list of finalists published on May 29. The NLJ will announce the recipients of the Elite Trial Lawyers awards at an event in New York City on July 18, 2019.
In order to qualify for an “Elite Trial Lawyer” award, potential nominees must meet three preliminary criteria:
1. “At least one significant plaintiffs win between Jan. 1, 2018, and April 1, 2019.” A “significant win” is defined as a victory in a high-stakes trial in which either a substantial amount of money is at stake, or the outcome could affect other cases regionally or nationally.
2. “An impressive track record of wins within the past three to five years,” with no specific definition of “impressive track record” on offer.
3. Commitment of at least fifty percent of a firm’s resource to plaintiff representation.
With more than $110 million in settlements and verdicts, Phillips and Associates would seem to meet the first two criteria rather well. Regarding the third criterion, we devote one hundred percent of our practice to representing employees, who usually bring claims as plaintiffs.
Phillips & Associates’ team of knowledgeable and skilled employment attorneys advocate for the rights of New York City workers in claims for unlawful practices like discrimination and wage and hour violations. Please contact us today at (212) 248-7431 or online to schedule a free and confidential consultation to see how we can assist you.