Career
Christopher Maugans concentrates his practice on representing employers on a wide variety of matters involving employment and labor law. With a focus on serving both public- and private-sector clients, Chris handles matters involving workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage and hour issues, misappropriation of company trade secrets, and enforcement of restrictive covenants in employment agreements, including non-compete, non-solicit, and confidential provisions.
Chris serves as a resource to employers by providing proactive counseling on thorny employee issues relating to reasonable accommodations under the ADA, medical leaves under the FMLA and state law, and disciplinary matters. He draws from his prior experience working in-house in a dual human resources and legal counsel role in order to provide practical and strategic solutions to complex workplace problems.
In the area of risk management, Chris helps businesses comply with the ever-changing federal, state, and local laws that affect the workplace. He helps employers draft workplace policies, employee handbooks, and employment agreements. Chris is also frequently retained to conduct internal investigations into workplace claims and/or guide employers through the investigatory process.
Chris regularly represents clients before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR), and in state and federal court. He also represents employers through investigations by the New York State Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Chris also maintains a traditional labor law practice, representing employers in collective bargaining agreement negotiations and labor arbitrations.
Contact Chris at: [email protected]
Professional Memberships
Organization of Public Employer Negotiators
Buffalo Niagara Human Resources Association
WNY Labor and Employment Relations Association
Awards
American Bar Association/Bureau of National Affairs – Excellence in Labor and Employment Law, 2014
Best Lawyers Ones to Watch – Labor and Employment Law: Management, 2022
Best Lawyers Ones to Watch – Litigation: Labor and Employment, 2021-22
Chambers USA – Upstate New York Labor and Employment, Up and Coming, 2023-24
Super Lawyers – Upstate New York Rising Stars, 2017-23