Carolyn Richmond

Practice Areas

Carolyn is Chair of the firm’s Hospitality Practice Group and a former Co-Chair of the national Labor & Employment Department.

Her practice largely consists of representing and counseling employers in the hospitality industry, specifically restaurants, hotels/resorts, centralized kitchens, caterers, nightlife operators, private clubs, commercial properties and fitness centers. Outside of the hospitality industry, Carolyn’s clients include employers in the private equity, music and retail industries.

In particular, Carolyn has extensive experience litigating wage and hour class actions, ADA Title III matters, restrictive covenants and employment discrimination cases. Known for providing her clients with 24/7 service and attention, she also counsels clients extensively with respect to workplace issues such as the hiring process, diversity awareness training, union avoidance, employee policies, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and advising hospitality startups and private equity firms. In addition to her litigation and counseling practice, Carolyn is a firm believer in alternative dispute resolution. She has represented clients throughout her career in arbitration and mediation proceedings.

Carolyn’s experience counseling employers facing traditional labor relations issues has spanned her three-decade career. In addition to providing advice and counsel concerning union avoidance and “management best practices," she has also litigated a number of representation cases, unfair labor practice cases, and represented many employers across the hospitality industry in union organizing campaigns.

Over the past few years, Carolyn has also developed a niche practice advising employers on legal matters connected to high-profile crisis management situations. She has led coordinated teams responding to the #metoo crisis, food poisoning and spoilation issues, employee death, race and vaccination crises. All have been front-page news events and have included elements of employment law, criminal law, media response and coordination with various state and federal agencies.

Of late, Carolyn is called upon by her peers in the legal community to mediate difficult disputes in the wage and hour and discrimination areas. The respect she enjoys on both sides of the bar and her deep understanding of the legal issues and needs of all parties for practical solutions has made her a sought-after mediator. In particular, Carolyn’s experience as a General Counsel has been an added plus in bridge-building.

In 2019, Cornell University’s ILR School awarded Carolyn the Judge William B. Groat prize, the school’s highest honor. Carolyn is very active with the university, sitting on a number of boards and advisory councils, and has guest lectured on contemporaneous employment law issues.

Career

While previously affiliated with several national law firms, Carolyn also served as General Counsel to B.R. Guest Restaurants & James Hotels, where she was responsible for the legal and business affairs for both expanding restaurant operations and the development of the James Hotel brand. This experience gave Carolyn an insider's perspective into both the business and legal needs of her clients.

Professional Memberships

Les Dames d'Escoffier | President's Council of Cornell Women, Cornell University | Dean's Advisory Council, Cornell University, School of Industrial & Labor Relations | Advisory Board, Center for Applied Research on Work, Cornell University, School of Industrial & Labor Relations | dvisory Board, Center for Hospitality Research, Cornell University | Labor Counsel, New York City Hospitality Alliance | Legal Momentum

Education