Stephen Zweig concentrates his practice in three areas -- executive compensation, labor relations and employment litigation. In executive compensation, he litigates breach of contract, non-competition and trade secret misappropriation cases. He also negotiates employment and separation agreements for companies as well as senior level executives, with particular focus on compensation and benefit packages and post-employment separation payments and restrictions. Stephen's negotiation strategies are derived from over 30 years experience resolving employment and labor disputes. He also designs and drafts non-qualified deferred compensation, short and long-term incentive bonus, and equity and quasi–equity plans.
In labor relations, Stephen assists companies in numerous industries in maintaining a non-union workforce, in collective bargaining negotiations, and in class action wage and hour litigation. He also represents employers as management counsel to Taft-Hartley multi-employer pension and welfare benefit funds.
In employment litigation, at trial and in other proceedings, Stephen has represented international investment and commercial banks, brokerage, insurance and other financial industry firms, law, accounting and consulting firms, as well as companies in the electronics, computer, food service, retail, health care, staffing, security, shipping, stevedoring, and social service industries.
Stephen is a pro-bono counsel to a national charity for learning disabled and ADHD children, counsel to The Executives' Association of Greater New York, Inc., and is a frequent lecturer on issues before employer associations, industry groups, and corporations.
Recent Experience
- Discrimination lawsuits against Bankers Trust Company and National Westminster Bank, USA, dismissed after jury trial.
- Multiple collective action wage and hour overtime lawsuits in the health care industry, resolved without any damages assessed to the health care companies.
- Fiduciary breach lawsuits against Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, resolved with substantial settlements for the clients, Taft Hartley welfare and health benefit funds.
- Employment contract and trade secret misappropriation lawsuits, each resolved to the company's benefit.
Recent Presentations
- "Weathering the Great Recession: Modifying Compensation and Benefit Programs While Retaining Your Key Employees," Greater New York Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2009
- "Deferred Compensation – The Latest Guidance From the IRS," Greater New York Association of Corporate Counsel, October 2005
Recent Publications
- Chapter Author, Treatise, Executive Compensation, BNA Books, 2002
- "Negotiating Separation Agreements," Financial Executive, September 2009
- "Top Ten Workplace Mistakes to Avoid This Year," Mondaq.com, Martindale.com, Employment Law 360, June 2009
- "Is 'Coke' the Real Thing: The FLSA Companionship Exemption," New York Law Journal, April 27, 2007
- "After Worldcom and Tyco – Executive Compensation, LPBA Journal, Winter 2003-2004
- "Sept. 11: Considering Stress Induced Absences," New York Law Journal, December 4, 2001
Honors and Awards
- "New York Super Lawyers" (2008 and 2009) and "Super Lawyers – Corporate Counsel Edition" (2009) by Law & Politics magazine
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell