Christopher Maugans

Employment and Labor

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Municipal and Government Law

Class Action Litigation

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 also maintains a traditional labor law practice, representing employers in collective bargaining agreement negotiations and labor arbitrations.

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 courts. 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]

Organization of Public Employer Negotiators

Buffalo Niagara Human Resources Association

WNY Labor and Employment Relations Association

“DOL Issues Six Opinion Letters Interpreting the FLSA and FMLA,” Client Alert, January 2026

“New York State End of Year Employment Law Update,” Client Alert, December 2025

“New York Law Expanding PERB’s Jurisdiction Faces Multiple Legal Challenges,” Client Alert, October 2025

“US Department of Labor Takes Steps to Present Employers with Options to Resolve Wage and Hour Violations,” Client Alert, September 2025

“New York State Limits Damages in Pay Frequency Claims,” Client Alert, May 2025

“New York Freedom of Information Law Amendment Mandates New Policy,” Client Alert, September 2024

“What NY State Employers Need to Know about 2024 Employment Law,” Client Alert, January 2024

UB School of Law, State University of New York at Buffalo

Juris Doctor

State University of New York at Buffalo

B.S. and M.B.A.

AV Preeminent – Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Chambers USA – Labor and Employment: Upstate New York

Chambers and Partners

Litigation – Commercial, Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers

Labor and Employment: Management – Ones to Watch

Best Lawyers

Litigation: Labor and Employment – Ones to Watch

Best Lawyers

Excellence in Labor and Employment Law

American Bar Association/Bureau of National Affairs