Employee Rights

Arthur Schwartz is a Principal Attorney at Advocates for Justice Chartered Attorneys. Mr. Schwartz has been representing unions, workers, and Lower Manhattan community residents for over 32 years. He is widely recognized as one of New York City’s top labor and employment lawyers.

Nationally renowned and highly respected litigation boutiques — The Law Offices of Neal Brickman, P.C., and Brickman & Bamberger — have pooled their talent and resources to form Brickman Leonard & Bamberger, P.C. While the firm’s name has changed, the attorneys continue their focus on resolving complex legal problems with innovative solutions. The firm has a demonstrable history of achieving extraordinary results. Brickman Leonard & Bamberger, P.C., prides itself on providing exceptional, high-quality, and cost-effective legal services. Our attorneys are not ashamed to say that they care about their clients. Developed over time, our passion has significantly and positively contributed to satisfactory outcomes for their causes. The firm has a growing and sophisticated practice coupled with the ability to concentrate diligently on its matters in order to achieve the best possible result at more flexible fees. We invite you to contact our law firm by calling 212-986-6840. At that time, we will be pleased to provide personal references and an initial consultation without commitment or obligation on your part.

A native of New York, NY, Robert Kitson obtained his law degree from the State University of New York, Buffalo School of Law in 1995. He was an Editor on the Buffalo Law Review. Mr. Kitson has tried over forty jury trials in both New York and California. After leaving New York, Mr. Kitson was a founding party of Litt, Estuar & Kitson, LLP, a civil rights firm in downtown Los Angeles, CA. In 2013, Mr. Kitson accepted Mr. Myers’ invitation to join the firm to serve the role as lead trial counsel on various cases and to serve as Chair of Complex Litigation at The Myers Law Group, A.P.C. Since joining the firm in 2013, Mr. Kitson has continued his great success as a trial attorney obtaining multiple plaintiff jury verdicts. Mr. Kitson’s success on behalf of clients at both The Myers Law Group, APC., as well as at his previous firm includes: Obtaining a $3.3 million judgment on behalf of a Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Captain who was retaliated against after he reported discrimination and harassment by higher-ups in the fire department (Lewis S. Bressler v. City of Los Angeles) Spending seven months as co-counsel with Barrett S. Litt in McClure v. City of Long Beach, resulting in a $22.5 million verdict Obtaining a $1.1 million dollar judgment on behalf of a family subjected to living in substandard housing conditions (Ramirez v. Estrada) Tennie Pierce v. County of Los Angeles — $1.49 million settlement on behalf of African-American firefighter subjected to discrimination and retaliation Confidential — $1.2 million settlement of a case in which the Plaintiff was raped by an on-duty police officer after a DUI stop Confidential — $950,000 settlement of an unpaid overtime/missed meal and rest breaks class action. In addition to his trial experience, Mr. Kitson has briefed and argued cases before both the California Court of Appeal and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In recognition of Mr. Kitson’s tenacious representation he was named by his peers as a Super Lawyer for the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.

Thad Guyer is based in Seattle, and during the pandemic in Belgrade, Serbia. He has over 30 years of litigation experience representing whistleblowers against governments, international organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. As Adjunct Senior Litigation Counsel for the Government Accountability Project in Washington, DC, he has argued cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts nationwide, and in the tribunals of the United Nations, World Bank, International Labour Organization (Geneva), and Latin American and African Development Banks. He has represented whistleblowers assigned to projects and missions in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, East Asia, and Europe. In addition to CLEs on whistleblower rights and corporate compliance in the U.S., he has been a speaker in Tokyo, Saigon, Beijing, Hong Kong, Rome, Paris and Bratislava. He currently a lecturer on European whistleblower rights at University of Belgrade.

Alexander Castro is a seasoned labor and employment attorney with a wealth of experience gained from practicing at national and global law firms. He has now shifted his focus to serving South Florida’s businesses, residents, and government entities, delivering top-tier legal services with a personalized approach. Drawing from his own experience as a business owner, Alex ensures that legal strategies align seamlessly with his clients’ operational goals. Alex has successfully handled hundreds of cases involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, breach of contract, wage and hour disputes, misclassification, and more. His in-depth understanding of employment law makes him a strong advocate in courtrooms, arbitration settings, and before government agencies. Known for his ability to focus on the critical issues, Alex helps his clients avoid unnecessary stress and uncertainty in legal proceedings. His expertise spans multiple industries, including financial services, retail, healthcare, technology, construction, and education, among others. From recruitment and hiring to termination and post-employment disputes, Alex provides comprehensive legal support at every stage of the employment lifecycle. Alex is also skilled in drafting and negotiating various employment agreements, such as severance packages, independent contractor agreements, and non-compete clauses. In addition, he assists employers in developing and implementing lawful workplace policies and offers training to ensure compliance in areas like equal employment opportunity, workplace safety, and diversity and inclusion. Clients trust Alex for his proactive approach, helping them navigate complex workplace challenges and fostering environments of compliance and productivity.

I have been representing employees and employers in work related issues for more than 20 years. I have litigated cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as before numerous administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings, the National Labor Relations Board and civil service boards in numerous cities, counties and law enforcement agencies in Florida. I am licensed to practice before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U. S. Supreme Court, as well as federal trial courts in Florida. I have handled a wide variety of employment law cases, including those involving discrimination based on age, race, disability, gender, national origin, sexual harassment, retaliation, medical leave disputes, minimum wage and overtime issues, and non-compete agreements. I have drafted employee handbooks, employment agreements, and have litigated non-compete cases. I have counseled both employees and employers on all types of workplace disputes, including those involving discipline and termination. I served as the Legislative Chair for the Volusia chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, and have lobbied for work related legislation in Tallahassee. I have represented large corporations and small businesses, as well as individual employees. I have represented employees and employers for various government agencies, including local school districts, cities and counties, and universities. My goal is to provide the highest quality representation at a reasonable cost.

Mr. Cooper is the founding partner of the firm. He graduated from Vermont Law School with a J.D. in 1995, where he was an Editor of the Vermont Law Review. During his career as a litigator for over twenty (20) years, he has handled thousands of cases from inception through disposition. He has practiced in New York State Supreme Court, the Appellate Divisions of the New York Supreme Court, and the Federal District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He has also argued before the New York State’s highest court, the New York Court of Appeals. Mr. Cooper has lectured on the topic of wage theft in New York at LaGuardia Community College. Since he formed Cilenti & Cooper, PLLC in 2009, Mr. Cooper’s practice has been largely devoted to representing individuals who are unable to pay for the services of an attorney.

Zachary (“Zach”) W. Lombardo is a partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. He is a Board Certified Specialist in City, County & Local Government Law by The Florida Bar and is the City Attorney for Everglades City. Zach’s primary focus is helping public and private clients in a wide variety of land use and local government matters, including strategizing both advocacy for as well as opposition to: comprehensive plan amendments, re-zoning, and planned unit development (PUD) zoning and amendments, conditional uses and comparable use determinations, variances and non-conforming uses, land development code amendments, official interpretations and zoning verification letters, building code appeals, floodplain determinations, code enforcement, utility conveyance, right-of-way permits and vacations, easement use agreements and vacations, and litigation related to the above. He frequently appears before the Marco Island Planning Board, the Marco Island City Council, the Collier County Planning Commission, the Collier County Hearing Examiner, and the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County. Beyond land use, Zach helps public and private clients navigate various local government and environmental matters such as: public records, property tax appeals, agricultural tax exemptions, bid protests and public contracts, interlocal agreements, environmental resource permits, sovereignty land leases, and litigation related to the above He is an experienced litigator in state and federal court both at a trial court level and on appeal. In his business matters and contract drafting, Zach focuses on practical solutions. Active in the community, Zach is a lifelong environmentalist and an Eagle Scout. He is committed to doing what he can to improve the quality of the environment in the Western Everglades. A Southwest Florida native, he enjoys canoeing the waterways of Collier and Lee Counties with his family and playing the harmonica.

For over Twenty-Five (25) years, Matt Abbott, “The Outlawyer®,” proudly represents the legal needs of those with personal injury and wrongful death claims. He focuses on the litigation areas of tractor-trailer accidents, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bus accidents, slip and fall accidents, and defective product liability. In short, Matt is a “real deal” trial lawyer who makes insurance companies pay full value on claims they don’t want to. He and his legal team strive to make sure his clients are informed, educated, and up to speed on their cases, so they have all the information needed to make informed decisions about their claim. His goal is to ensure clients feel as comfortable as they can throughout the insurance claim and litigation process. No case is too large nor too small for Matt. When insurance companies won’t do the right thing, Matt steps in to hold them accountable and make them pay. Matt grew up in Pell City, Alabama, and moved to Huntsville in 1987. He graduated from Grissom High School, where he was Drumline Captain for two (2) years and an award-winning Jazz Band drummer. Matt accepted a scholarship and played snare drum with the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band in 1992. After having “too much” fun, Matt came back to the Tennessee Valley as a scholarship drummer for the Calhoun Community College Jazz Band. During this time, Matt earned a living playing in rock bands throughout the Huntsville and Decatur areas while also working as a forklift operator for a lumber company. Matt graduated from Calhoun Community College with Honors before enrolling at Auburn University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree with Honors in 1997. In 2000, Matt graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University as Class President, where he excelled in the school’s trial advocacy program, earning multiple awards, including a National Championship in 2000. Matt was admitted to the State Bars of Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, where he remains recognized to practice in all state and federal courts. Matt began his practice with a large Birmingham personal injury law firm in 2000. He went on to work at a smaller personal injury law firm in Pell City, Alabama, eventually opening his own personal injury law firm in 2007. Since that time, Matt has represented clients all over the state based out of his office in Birmingham, expanding with a second location in Huntsville to serve the needs of the Tennessee Valley in 2023. “The Outlawyer” is a registered trademark obtained in 2016 and used by Matt to capture/display his cavalier and independent spirit as a person, community leader, patriot, and lawyer for the people. In his spare time, Matt loves to hunt, fish, target shoot, attempt golf, experiment with cooking, and attend live music venues that serve cold beer. “If you believe in the USA, the red, white, and blue, fireworks, and the spirit of rock and roll, then I am the lawyer for you!” -Matt Abbott, The Outlawyer®

Lee H. Staley is a principal with the firm the Houston office. Lee is a native of Wichita Fall, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1996 with a B.A. and then from South Texas College of Law, cum laude, with a Juris Doctor degree. Lee is licensed in the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas, along with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.