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Desktop Image: Zuckerman, Lyle S.
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Lyle S. Zuckerman

Partner

Co-Leader, East Coast Labor and Employment Law Practice

T 212.603.6452 New York
Employers count on me for pragmatic, creative, bold solutions to their workplace issues — delivered with a dash of wry humor.
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Lyle Zuckerman is the co-leader of Davis Wright Tremaine's East Coast employment services practice in our New York office. With more than 20 years of experience, including as in-house counsel, Lyle takes immense pride in providing practical, business-savvy employment law advice that promotes his clients' HR culture and organizational mission. When a dispute arises, Lyle is a highly-reputable litigator with a fierce but professional reputation. He regularly defends employment discrimination, wage-and-hour, and breach of contract matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies as well as in arbitration and litigates fast-paced restrictive covenant matters. Lyle is an accomplished appellate advocate as well, having won reversals of lower court errors, resulting in pretrial dismissals for his clients.

Lyle devotes a significant portion of his practice to traditional labor law. He provides labor relations education for management and represents employers' interests in collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, and NLRB proceedings. Clients trust him to develop and implement their overall labor strategy. His love of labor law dates back to clerking for the NLRB Division of Judges in New York City.

Lyle is active in myriad industries, most notably in retail, luxury fashion, media and entertainment, education and other nonprofit organizations. Lyle is rated a "recognized practitioner" by Chambers, and Legal 500 recommends him in the Labor-Management Relations category.

Practice Highlights

High-profile litigation

Defended international media conglomerates in nationwide, multi-thousand-person class actions, securing immensely favorable settlements following early motion practice.

Customized employee training

Designing and delivering highly interactive and engaging training, including focusing on anti-harassment, labor relations education for management, and supervisory best practices.

Efficient defense

Obtained pre-answer dismissal of NYC Human Rights Law claim in favor of luxury fashion company.

Employment Litigation

Roe v. St. John's University

Won motion to dismiss university student's Title IX claims alleging gender discrimination in disciplinary proceeding, and successfully argued appeal at Second Circuit Court of Appeals before a "hot bench" which issued a majority, concurring, and dissenting opinion. 2021 WL 1224895 (E.D.N.Y. 2021), aff'd ___ F.4th ___, 2024 WL 357997 (2d Cir. 2024)

Matthews v. Gucci Am., Inc.

Won motion to compel arbitration of employment discrimination claims pursuant to parties' mutual arbitration agreement (Court issued 21-page decision). 2022 WL 462406 (E.D. Pa. 2022)

Flatiron Health, Inv. v. Carson

Successfully obtained preliminary injunction against former employee enforcing post-employment non-competition obligations. 2019 WL 6334840 (S.D.N.Y. 2019)

Spellman v. Gucci Am., Inc.

Won CPLR 3211 motion to dismiss luxury retail store manager’s NYC Human Rights law gender discrimination and harassment claim. 2015 NY Slip Op. 31728 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2015)

Henry v. Warner Music Group*

Successfully opposed plaintiff's motion to remand to New York state court a putative class action filed on behalf of unpaid interns, which had been removed by the defendant to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act. 2014 WL 1224575 (S.D.N.Y. 2014)
*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
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Labor Relations

Collective bargaining

Negotiated initial a successor labor contracts for clients in diverse industries, including for publishing/media entities (e.g., Sports Illustrated, The New Republic, Verso Books), nonprofit organizations (e.g., ASPCA, International Rescue Committee, Film Forum), and manufacturing/warehouse establishments (Burberry, Gilbert Displays).

Other notable labor relations matters

Advised nonprofit client in decertification campaign and election affecting nationwide remote workforce; successfully obtained Decision holding that client had withdrawn from multi-employer bargaining association despite failing to follow formal withdrawal procedures (Case 29-RC-257409); successfully had dismissed multiple ULPs (upheld on appeal) against charter school client alleging failure to bargain over layoffs, demotions, salary changes announced and/or implemented days after representation election (Case 29-CA-318170).

Arbitrations

Successfully obtained awards denying grievances that challenged discharges for violations of national publisher's moonlighting policy and work schedule manipulation by pilot for national airline. Successfully obtained award denying grievance by university professor alleging class assignment violation.
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Admitted to Practice

  • New York, 1996
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1997
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 1997
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 2000

Education

  • J.D., Fordham University School of Law, 1996
    • Fordham Urban Law Journal
    • Fordham Moot Court Board
  • B.A., Lafayette College, 1993

Professional Recognition

    • Named one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Labor & Employment (New York), 2020-2024; Named a "Recognised Practitioner" in Labor & Employment (New York), 2016-2019
    • Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Labor Law - Management by Best Lawyers, 2024-present
    • Selected to "New York Super Lawyers" in Employment and Labor, Thomson Reuters, 2012-2024
    • Selected to "New York Rising Stars" in Employment and Labor, Thomson Reuters, 2011
    • Named to "The Legal 500 U.S. Edition," for Labor and Employment-Labor-Management Relations

Background

    • Shareholder, Vedder Price, New York, N.Y., 2009-2014
    • Partner, Kauff, McClain & McGuire, New York, N.Y., 2004-2009
    • Associate General Counsel, St. John's University, New York, N.Y., 2003-2004
    • Associate, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, New York, N.Y., 2002-2003
    • Associate, Kauff, McClain & McGuire, New York, N.Y., 1998-2002
    • Associate, Proskauer Rose, New York, N.Y., 1996-1998
    • Law Clerk, National Labor Relations Board Division of Judges, New York, N.Y., 1996
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Publications
06.10.24
News
New Chambers Rankings Affirm Davis Wright Tremaine's National Leadership in Key Industry Sectors Read More
05.16.24
Presentations
Panelist, "Quick-Fire Challenge, Master Lawyer Edition: FTC Noncompete Final Rule, New Salary Basis Test, EEOC Harassment Guidance, and New York Update," Labor & Employment Law Update for New York-Area Clients 2024, Convene, New York
Publications
08.17.23
News
2024 Edition of Best Lawyers Recognizes More Than 175 Davis Wright Tremaine Attorneys for Excellence Read More
Publications
06.05.23
News
Chambers USA Recognizes Davis Wright Tremaine for Leadership Across Key Industry Sectors and Honors the Firm for Excellence in 51 Practices Read More
Publications
05.21.21
News
Davis Wright Tremaine Recognized by Chambers USA for Industry-Leading Excellence in Key Practice Areas Read More
Webinar
05.06.21
Webinars
Employment, Benefits & Immigration
"Watch Your Words – Managing Employee Discourse in the Workplace," New York Labor & Employment Law Update, Davis Wright Tremaine, Read More
Webinar
05.06.21
Webinars
Employment, Benefits & Immigration
"Workplace-Related Legal and COVID-19 Issues and Updates," New York Labor & Employment Law Update, Davis Wright Tremaine Read More
Publications
04.28.20
News
Davis Wright Tremaine Recognized by Chambers USA for Industry-Leading Excellence in Key Practice Areas Read More
Coronavirus COVID-19 virus cells
03.20.20
Insights
COVID-19
All Non-Essential Employees Across New York State Required to Stay Home Read More
Publications
05.29.19
News
Davis Wright Tremaine Recognized by Chambers as One of the Country’s Leading Law Firms for Business Read More
New York State
03.07.19
Insights
New York
NYSDOL Withdraws Its Proposed Regulations Relating to Predictive Scheduling Read More
New York State
01.30.19
Insights
New York
NYC Imposes Additional Employer Obligations Related to Lactation Accommodation Read More
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