Business Details
32 Years
experience
Trusted Education & Employment Law Services in East Syracuse
We are a regional law firm headquartered in East Syracuse, New York, with offices in Rochester and Binghamton. Our staff of attorneys is widely recognized for their expertise in all areas of education and employment law and dedicate their practices to serving public school districts, BOCES, and private sector employers throughout Upstate New York. Our firm's depth and breadth of experience in school and employment law have enabled us to serve the various needs of our clients and consistently exceed expectations. We are an AV-rated firm and are proud to have been named one of Central New York's Best Places to Work for six consecutive years. Our practice encourages a proactive and preventative approach to promoting safe, productive environments for educating students and managing organizational compliance.We offer a blend of expertise and practical advice resulting from years of hands-on business and operational management experience. We analyze and resolve both unique and routine challenges confronted by educational institutions and employers. Our team provides practical day-to-day counsel, promotes effective management through policy development and training, and strives to position clients to avoid litigation through proactive counseling. We recognize the importance of both leadership and compliance in organizational success. When litigation is unavoidable, we provide focused and efficient representation in all types of alternative dispute resolution.
Services
Education Law
Employment Law
Labor Relations
Special Education
Tax Certiorari Defense
Student Residency Determination
Capital Projects
HR Management
Training Workshops
Employment Litigation
Details
- Year established: 1994
Highlights and features
- We have been recognized as Central New York's Best Place to Work for six consecutive years
- Our attorneys provide hands-on business and operational management experience since 1994
- We offer customized training programs and monthly legal alerts for proactive compliance
- Our team includes former NLRB staff and municipal personnel directors with specialized expertise
- We maintain an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
Associations and certifications
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
What people say
Best Place to Work
Expertise in education law
Proactive approach
Dedicated service
Timely responses
Services
Education Law
We provide comprehensive legal services for public schools and BOCES, focusing on proactive compliance and operational management. Our attorneys address student residency issues, special education requirements, and board policy development. With decades of experience, we help educational institutions navigate complex legal challenges while maintaining focus on educational priorities.
Employment Law
Our practice represents employers in all aspects of employment and labor relations law. We offer strategic solutions for compliance, policy development, and dispute resolution. Our team provides training programs and legal guidance to help organizations maintain workplace compliance and avoid litigation through proactive counseling and comprehensive risk management strategies.
Labor Relations
We assist both unionized and non-union employers with collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance resolution. Our attorneys have extensive experience in NLRB proceedings and provide strategic guidance for union organizing campaigns. We help clients develop effective labor strategies while ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations governing employment relationships.
Special Education
Our firm specializes in special education law compliance under IDEA and Section 504. We provide preventive counseling to help schools meet federal and state requirements. Our services include policy development, staff training, and representation in administrative proceedings related to special education services and accommodations for students with disabilities.
Training Workshops
We offer customized training programs for school administrators and business leaders on current legal issues. Our workshops cover topics like data privacy, employment law compliance, and student discipline. These sessions provide practical guidance to help organizations maintain legal compliance and implement effective risk management practices in their operations.
People
Nicholas Fiorenza
Partner
Co-founding partner with extensive experience in education and employment law, bringing decades of legal expertise to public and private sector clients.
Susan T. Johns
Partner
Specializes in special education law and school district legal compliance with a focus on practical solutions for educational institutions.
Joseph G. Shields
Partner
Provides strategic legal counsel in labor relations and employment law matters for both public and private sector employers.
Colleen W. Heinrich
Partner
Focuses on school law compliance and policy development with particular expertise in student rights and constitutional law matters.
Katherine Gavett
Partner
Specializes in employment law defense and workplace compliance strategies for organizations across various industry sectors.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialize in?
We specialize in education law and employment law, representing public school districts, BOCES, and private sector employers throughout Upstate New York.
Which geographic regions do you serve?
We serve clients throughout Upstate New York from the Southern Tier to the North Country, including Syracuse, Rochester, and Binghamton.
Do you offer training programs for school administrators?
Yes, we provide customized training workshops on topics like student residency, special education compliance, and board policy management for educational institutions.
What sets your firm apart from other law practices?
Our unique focus on education and employment law, combined with decades of experience and proactive compliance strategies, distinguishes our practice.
