Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Prior to opening her own firm, Meredith served as an attorney at Advocates for Children of New York (AFC). While at AFC, Meredith practiced in the area of special education law. Prior to joining AFC, Meredith worked in the Trusts and Estates Department at the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.

Meredith graduated with a B.S. ''with Honors'' from Cornell University and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Before entering law school, Meredith completed a Fulbright Scholarship focusing on the study of disabilities and special education, for which she received a Masters of Education. After receiving her Masters, Meredith taught in the New York City public schools. Meredith is a recipient of the 2006 and 2008 Empire State Counsel Awards for her dedication to public interest work in the area of special education law. Meredith is a member of the New York State Bar.

HOWARD E. GILBERT, ESQ. of the LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD E. GILBERT maintains a private practice law firm devoted exclusively to Labor and Employment Law matters. Mr. Gilbert’s experience is extensive, spanning more than twenty-nine (29) years as an attorney, professor, negotiator, arbitrator, and mediator involving a wide array of labor and employment disputes in both the private and public sectors.

The firm serves a diverse range of clients. Mr. Gilbert provides daily counsel regarding employment discrimination and harassment of all types, labor-management issues, employee relations, contract administration and interpretation, executive compensation, ERISA, discipline and discharge, and wage and hour issues.

Mr. Gilbert’s litigation experience is extensive, encompassing various administrative agencies, and the federal and state courts, at both the trial and appellate levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court and N.Y.S. Court of Appeals.

Over the years, Mr. Gilbert has handled literally hundreds of administrative proceedings including contractual grievance arbitrations, disciplinary hearings, unfair labor practice hearings, representation cases, organizational campaigns, and employment discrimination matters. He regularly appears before such agencies as the EEOC, State Division of Human Rights, American Arbitration Association, National Labor Relations Board, Public Employment Relations Board, and Merit Systems Protection Board. Mr. Gilbert has also regularly supervised or handled comprehensive collective bargaining negotiations.

Typical issues involve discipline and discharge, executive compensation disputes, sexual harassment, whistleblowing, contract administration and interpretation disputes, arbitrability, commissions, seniority, compensation, employee and labor relations policy, family and medical leave, reasonable accommodation, past practices, retirement compensation, overtime, denial of benefits, past practices, management rights, promotion and upgrading, transfers, health care, unfair labor practices, compliance with Employee Handbooks, layoffs, subcontracting, wage and hour, increase of production work rules, employment discrimination, unfair labor practices, union representation issues, and health and safety issues. The firm also handles disputes concerning administration of collective bargaining agreements, Handbook policies, and complex collective bargaining negotiations.

Mr. Gilbert currently serves as an Arbitrator and Neutral Chairperson for both Nassau and Suffolk County District Courts. Mr. Gilbert has been a neutral appellate Hearing Officer on behalf of the Chancellor, New York City Board of Education in various disputes. Mr. Gilbert is a certified Labor Mediator and Arbitrator for the Employment Discrimination Resolution (EDR) and Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) panels of the Nassau County Bar Association.

Mr. Gilbert has lectured or taught numerous seminars and courses in such topics as Employment Discrimination Law, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblowers, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Employment At Will, Discipline and Discharge, Labor Law, Civil Service Law, and Fair Employment Practices. Mr. Gilbert has been an Adjunct Professor for Cornell University/New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Mr. Gilbert is a member of the American, New York State, Suffolk County, and Nassau County Bar Associations, where he serves on various committees. He is a member of the Industrial Relations Research Association.

Mr. Gilbert is a graduate of Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts (top 5%) (B.A. Double Major: English and Psychology), and has a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University School of Law (1980). He successfully completed the National Institute of Trial Advocacy in August 1984.

The LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD E. GILBERT prides itself in providing the highest quality legal representation. Its overall objective has been and continues to be a specific commitment to outstanding, meticulous, and immediate service, caring, and developing an ongoing personal relationship with each of its clients.