Doug Schwarz leads the firm’s New York Labor and Employment Group. He represents public and private companies and nonprofit institutions in matters concerning all aspects of labor and employment law. Doug tries cases and argues appeals in federal and state courts, in arbitrations, and before administrative agencies.

He counsels clients on human resource matters, including employee benefits; employee separations; drafting and enforcing non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, employment agreements, and executive contracts and compensation plans; developing and administering human resource policies, manuals and handbooks, and employee benefit plans; compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements in areas such as wage and hour (overtime pay) and disability accommodation; preventing and investigating harassment and discrimination complaints; planning and managing reductions in force; developing and implementing affirmative action and diversity plans; and addressing workplace privacy and safety issues. He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

Doug represents clients in a range of other discrimination matters, including housing, education and public accommodations discrimination, and cases involving accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state and local law.

Doug has served in government as commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), a role in which he oversaw the investigation of claims of discrimination, mediated discrimination disputes, adjudicated cases at public hearings and led numerous policy initiatives. He also served as an assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General and as a law clerk to the Hon. Franklin S. Billings Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont.