Department profile
Phillips Lytle LLP

Labor & Employment

USA Guide 2026 : New York: Upstate

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Phillips Lytle LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Phillips Lytle LLP

Phillips Lytle Labor & Employment attorneys have been defending and counseling employers since the firm's founding 185 years ago.  Our attorneys are well-versed in the labor and employment problems and issues employers face today and have real-world, hands-on experience helping solve them.  Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of employment law and litigation, federal and state wage and hour law and litigation, labor relations law, OSHA, workplace torts, employee disloyalty,  non-compete agreements, contract claims, wrongful discharge, risk management, and alternative dispute resolution, among other areas. Phillips Lytle regularly handles matters in federal and state courts and before federal and state agencies that regulate the labor and employment arena, including the EEOC, NLRB, OSHA, and federal and state departments of labor. 

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Labor & Employment - New York: Upstate

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Phillips Lytle is particularly noted for its handling of a broad range of traditional labor matters. The practice manages wage and hour collective and class actions, discrimination and harassment claims and employment contract disputes. The team routinely acts for clients in investigations and actions by federal and state Departments of Labor and in defense of whistle-blower claims.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Phillips Lytle provided on-going advice and guidance to PCB Piezotronics on the full spectrum of labor and employment issues affecting the workplace, such as compliance with wage and hour laws, compliance with discrimination laws, reasonable accommodations, leaves under the FMLA, employee discipline, and developing and implementing workplace policies.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Phillips Lytle provide guidance on employment matters not in a dictatorial fashion. They collaborate with us by listening to what our goals are and then offering options.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

  • Phillips Lytle provides pragmatic common-sense advice to our company and is always quick to respond to our requests for assistance.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

  • Phillips Lytle has a great understanding of multiple perspectives and possibilities and guides our company in a steady direction considering the big picture.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

  • I appreciate them for their promptness in responses, pressing matters forward to resolution and persuasive legal drafting of correspondence.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

  • They have a lot of experience in labor issues and a good mix of employees with varied backgrounds and specialties who work well as a team so they can provide great answers to questions and legal advice to us.

    Labor & Employment respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Linda T. Prestegaard
    Linda T. Prestegaard

    Linda T. Prestegaard

    Linda Prestegaard is an experienced employment litigator with a proven track record of success in the defense of a wide range of employers in state and federal courts.

    • We trust her legal acumen and judgment completely. Linda also has excellent client service and is always prepared to help with any matters on which we need her support.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Linda meshes very well with our team and is a pleasure to work with. She has my full trust and confidence when she helps us.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Linda is no-nonsense, very pragmatic and to the point. She is very experienced in the labor area.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Linda is amazing. She is knowledgeable about our company and industry. She is also understanding and very thorough.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • James R. Grasso
    James R. Grasso

    James R. Grasso

    James Grasso advises a varied clientele that includes local counties, not-for-profit healthcare providers and manufacturers. He works on both contentious and non-contentious labor and employment issues.

    • He has outstanding knowledge of labor law and is super responsive and practical.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Jim is a fantastic attorney. He is extremely responsive and always reachable. He is very knowledgeable about labor and employment law and provides us with pragmatic, smart advice.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • Kevin J. Mulvehill
    Kevin J. Mulvehill

    Kevin J. Mulvehill

    Kevin Mulvehill heads the labor and employment practice at Phillips Lytle and is experienced in a wide range of traditional labor matters as well as offering strength advising on employment issues.

    • It was great working with him. He was very responsive, professional and had a very calming demeanor.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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  • James R. O'Connor
    James R. O'Connor

    James R. O'Connor

    James O'Connor is noted for a whole range of contentious and non-contentious labor and employment matters, including matters involving discrimination, wrongful terminations, internal investigations, restrictive covenants and collective bargaining.

    • James is among the best labor lawyers I have worked with in my career.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • James always takes the time to explain things objectively and then gives his best advice on the given matter. I'm very fortunate to have him in our corner.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • James has been wonderful to work with, and we value and appreciate the knowledge, time and direction he has provided.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • He is an excellent attorney who maintains close relationships with clients and is very responsive to their needs.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA

    • Jim is the partner we have been looking for. He is responsive, attentive and truly takes the time to understand our needs and relate to us.

      Labor & Employment respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at Phillips Lytle LLP (4)

New York: Upstate

Members

Provided by Phillips Lytle LLP

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