Howard M. Wexler

Practice Areas

Labor and Employment, Labor Management Relations, Single-Plaintiff Litigation, Wage-Hour Litigation

Career

Howie Wexler is a strategic labor and employment advisor and litigator who focuses on high-stakes, complex workplace disputes and traditional labor relations. He serves as Co Lead of Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s New York Labor & Employment practice.

Howie represents management in high-stakes employment litigation and arbitrations across federal and state courts, as well as before key agencies including the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Department of Labor. His practice spans the full spectrum of employment litigation, with particular depth in complex, multi-plaintiff discrimination matters, systemic claims, and class and collective actions. He regularly defends employers against allegations involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under federal, New York, and New Jersey law, as well as high-exposure whistleblower claims, including under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act. He is also a trusted advisor in sophisticated wage-and-hour litigation, including nationwide and regional class and collective actions involving misclassification, off-the-clock work, and pay practice challenges.

In the labor arena, Howie counsels employers in traditional collective bargaining negotiations, labor strategy, and grievance arbitrations. He is known for navigating complex union dynamics and delivering practical, business-oriented solutions in high-pressure bargaining environments and contentious labor disputes.

Beyond litigation and labor relations, Howie partners with clients to proactively manage workplace risk. He regularly advises on internal investigations, executive-level employment issues, reductions in force, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including the FMLA and ADA. He also works closely with companies to develop and implement policies, training, and compliance frameworks designed to prevent disputes before they arise.

Howie is a frequent commentator on cutting-edge labor and employment issues and is regularly interviewed and quoted by leading media outlets, including Law360, Bloomberg, and CBS News.