Management Human Resource
Resume:
CLAUDIA M. COHEN,
ESQ
Edgewater, New Jersey 07020
*************@*****.***
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC., Weehawken, New Jersey
February 2006 - Executive Director, Head-Employment Litigation,
Wealth Management-US
February 2011
Legal Responsibilities:
Counseling: Provided innovative, business-oriented advice and
counsel to senior business management and human resource
staff on various employment law matters, including
acquisitions, best practices to minimize employee
dissatisfaction and avoid liability, compensation and
benefits (including 409A), disability and other leaves,
discipline, discrimination, harassment, hiring, performance
management, restructurings, reductions-in-force, termination,
transformation management and wage and hour compliance
(including employee classification). Counseled employee
relations staff on investigation of employee complaints and
policy issues. Drafted and revised Firm policies as business
or legal conditions warranted. Drafted offer letters,
discipline memoranda, separation agreements and other
employment-related documents. Negotiated settlements with
counsel for current and/or former employees. Provided
counsel to the Head of Diversity and other senior members of
the Firm on diversity issues. Designed and provided
interactive management training on employment law and human
resource related topics.
Litigation: Responsible for all aspects of management of a
significant employment litigation docket of on average 50+
cases with success rate of over 95% which included claims
before state and federal agencies, federal and state courts,
and arbitral forums (FINRA, JAMS) of discrimination,
harassment, whistleblowing, breach of contract, fraud and
various other torts. Supervised outside counsel. First
chaired arbitration proceedings that were handled in-house
with 100% success rate. Defended Firm against discrimination
and wage and hour class actions.
Administrative Responsibilities: Managed staff of attorneys,
paralegals and administrative assistants. Managed outside
counsel expense of between $6-10 million including budgeting
and fee negotiation. Chair of the Legal Department's
eDiscovery Committee. Chair of the Legal Department's Legal
Processing Office Committee which has resulted in over $15
million in savings. Member of the Legal & Compliance
Diversity Committee and Co-Chair of its Mentoring Program.
EPSTEIN, BECKER & GREEN, P.C., New York, New York
November 2001 - Shareholder, Partner, Counsel, Employment Law and
Litigation
February 2006
September 1990 - Associate, Employment Law and Litigation/Commercial
Litigation
June 1999
Advised and counseled management-side clients on employment
law matters, including acquisitions, compensation and
benefits, disability and other leaves, discipline,
discrimination, harassment, performance management,
reductions-in-force, termination and wage and hour compliance
(including employee classification). Drafted employment
policies and handbooks. Investigated claims of
discrimination and harassment. Educated clients on sexual
harassment prevention and other employment laws. Handled all
phases of employment litigation, including representing
clients before state and federal agencies (all phases); state
and federal courts (all phases including trials); and
arbitral forums such as NASD and NYSE (now FINRA), AAA and
JAMS (all phases including hearings). Advised and counseled
clients on non-compete and non-solicitation matters and
handled the litigation thereof. Negotiated settlements with
counsel for current and/or former employees. Significant
contact with senior executives and in-house counsel
(including General Counsels).
June 1999 - MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC., New York,
New York
October 2001 Employment Counsel
Advised and counseled human resource staff on employment law
matters, including compensation and benefits, discrimination,
discipline, harassment, hiring, performance management,
reductions-in-force, termination, wage and hour compliance.
Supervised human resource staff on EEO compliance, corporate
employee relations and best practices to minimize employee
dissatisfaction and avoid liability. Supervised human
resources staff in responding to employee complaints and
handling investigations. Participated in investigation of
charges of discrimination and harassment made against senior
managers. Responded to letters from employees' counsel and
attempted to negotiate settlements, if applicable. Reviewed
and revised responses to administrative charges. Supervised
outside counsel on litigations and special projects. Created
client alerts regarding recent court decisions and
legislation. Organized training programs for human resource
staff. Updated employee handbooks and company policies and
plans to ensure compliance with applicable laws as well as
best practices. Involved in acquisition matters, including
coordinating reductions-in-force.
EDUCATION New York University School of Law, New York, New York
J.D., May 1990
The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Accountancy, cum laude, May 1987
PROFESSIONAL Admitted to practice in New York
ASSOCIATIONS Limited Law License in New Jersey
Admitted to practice in United States District Courts for Eastern and
Southern Districts
of New York
American Corporate Counsel Association, Labor and Employment
Committee, 1999-2001, 2006-present
OTHER Presenter, Employment Issues in the Financial Services Industry, 2006
Presenter, Trends in e-Discovery, Legal Tech 2010
Co-Editor, New York Employment Law Letter, November 2002 -
January 2006
Author, New York Employer's Duties Upon Learning of Breach of
Security of Its Computer System, Epstein Becker &
Green Client Alert, December 2005
Author, Fourth Circuit Holds That Employees Cannot Waive
Family and Medical Leave Act Rights Without Prior
Department of Labor or Court Approval, Epstein Becker
& Green Client Alert, August 2005
Author: NLRB Reverses Itself Again - Holds That Non-Union
Employees Have No Weingarten Rights, Epstein Becker &
Green Client Alert, June 2004
Author, Severe Acute Problem: Expert Advice on How to Craft
a SARS Policy, Corporate Counsel Magazine, July 2003
Author, Increasing Your Bottom Line by Promoting Diversity,
International Legal Strategy Magazine, April 2004
Presenter, It's a Wrap: Avoiding Year-End Employment
Pitfalls, Epstein Becker & Green Breakfast Briefing,
December 2005
Presenter, Electronic Communications in the Workplace, The
Five O'clock Club, July 2005
Presenter, Are You At Risk for Your Employee's Electronic
Communications, Thompson Interactive, January 2005
Presenter, Promoting Diversity, Preventing Harassment: You
Can Have One Without the Other, Thompson Interactive,
March 2003
Presenter, The Ins and Outs of Hiring and Firing, Epstein
Becker & Green Breakfast Briefing, September 2002
Presenter, Update on Employee Handbooks, ACCA, December 1999
REFERENCES Furnished upon request.
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