Strategic Representation in Workplace Disputes
Attorney Lisa B. Lerner represents employees, executives, and professionals in complex employment law matters, developing customized strategies tailored to each client's objectives. Whenever possible, Lisa works to resolve disputes efficiently and confidentially through strategic negotiation, comprehensive demand letters, and mediation. When arbitration or litigation becomes necessary, she provides experienced representation and works closely with trusted co-counsel to pursue the best possible outcome while remaining actively involved throughout the matter.
Practice Areas
Employment Discrimination and Retaliation
Employment discrimination occurs when an employee is treated unfairly based on membership in a legally protected class, such as race, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, marital or family status. Federal and state laws safeguard your legal rights to a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. Unlawful retaliation occurs when an individual experiences an adverse employment action after reporting discrimination. We provide sophisticated advocacy for employees who are victimized by unlawful discrimination and retaliation in the workplace.
Wrongful Termination and Workplace Investigations
We represent employees challenging wrongful termination, constructive discharge, and other unlawful employment actions. The firm also advises employees who are the subject of internal corporate investigations and represents current and former employees who are asked to participate as witnesses in workplace investigations. In addition, we negotiate strategic departures and advise clients regarding restrictive covenants, including non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and non-disparagement agreements.
Sexual Harassment
Employers are prohibited from engaging in sexual harassment and from fostering or creating a hostile work environment. We regularly represent employees who have been victimized by unlawful quid pro quo harassment, and/or subjected to a toxic/hostile work environment on the basis of sex.
Severance Agreements
Our firm offers advice and counsel, and engages in negotiations in connection with severance agreements to ensure fair and equitable terms for departing employees. We help resolve bonus disputes, and protect all forms of compensation, including commissions, bonuses, and deferred compensation.
Whistleblower Retaliation
Whistleblower retaliation occurs when an employee reports, complains, or objects to any unlawful activity, such as discrimination, wage theft, fraud, defamation, or SEC or FINRA regulatory violations, and thereafter experiences an adverse employment action as a result. The law protects employees who object internally, to Human Resources, or externally to a regulatory body. New York has one of the most comprehensive whistleblower statutes in the country, which protects good-faith reports of wrongdoing even if the underlying conduct is eventually found to be lawful. Our firm provides expert advocacy for clients victimized by whistleblower retaliation.
Executive Representation
Representing executives, senior managers, and highly compensated professionals in employment contract negotiations, executive compensation disputes, severance agreements, workplace investigations, discrimination and retaliation claims, negotiated departures, and other complex employment law matters.
FINRA Registered Representatives
Representing registered representatives, investment bankers, financial advisors, research analysts, traders, portfolio managers, and other financial industry professionals in employment disputes, FINRA arbitrations, compensation disputes, U5 disclosures, severance negotiations, employment agreements, and regulatory matters. Lisa also advises clients regarding the negotiation of Form U5 language to protect their professional reputations and future career opportunities.
Mediator and Client Testimonials
“In addition to your eloquence and advocacy skills...you are very skilled in making the mediator want to work for you and your client to the greatest extent possible in advocating for a good settlement. This is a rare skill for lawyers....Your strategy works best for your clients in mediation."
Partnering with you was a pivotal, life-altering experience for me. I often look back not just on our success, but on the unwavering presence you maintained throughout my case. You served as a profound inspiration, setting a benchmark for how I aspire to conduct my own professional life. Dealing with last year's emotional turmoil was incredibly difficult; however, what you provided surpassed mere financial restitution. You empowered me to advocate for myself, sparking a deep shift in my confidence and self-identity. Your approach is remarkably empathetic, yet clinically precise and thorough—you truly acknowledge the human being behind the legal matter. Having a champion in my corner who defended my interests with both genuine heart and rigorous, sharp expertise meant the world to me.
— VERONICA Z. Client
RETIRED SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE & Mediator
Lisa B. Lerner is the founder of The Law Offices of Lisa B. Lerner, PLLC, an employment law firm with offices in New York City and Westchester, New York dedicated primarily to representing employees, executives, and professionals in complex workplace disputes. She advises clients in matters involving wrongful termination, employment discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, whistleblower claims, executive employment agreements, severance negotiations, wage and bonus disputes, workplace investigations, pre-hire negotiations, and other employment law matters. Lisa began her career as a law clerk to the Honorable John E. Sprizzo, formerly of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She subsequently practiced as a litigation associate at Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP, where she represented major banks and financial institutions and later helped co-found the firm's employment law practice. A certified mediator, Lisa is recognized for her strategic judgment, thoughtful negotiation skills, empathy, and ability to resolve complex employment disputes efficiently while protecting her clients' legal rights, professional reputations, and long-term career interests.Earlier in her career, Lisa represented employers in employment litigation and administrative proceedings before dedicating her practice primarily to representing employees. Her experience on both sides of workplace disputes provides valuable insight into how employers investigate claims, assess legal risk, develop litigation strategies, and make settlement decisions. She draws upon that experience to develop effective legal strategies tailored to each client's objectives, whether through confidential negotiations, mediation, arbitration, or litigation with experienced co-counsel when necessary.Lisa regularly represents executives, senior managers, professionals, and FINRA-registered financial industry professionals in sophisticated employment matters, including executive compensation disputes, employment agreements, severance negotiations, workplace investigations, and the negotiation of Form U5 language to protect clients' professional reputations and future career opportunities. Clients value Lisa's practical, responsive, and individualized approach. She understands that employment disputes often affect far more than legal rights; they can have lasting psychological and professional consequences for a client's career, financial security, and reputation. She works closely with every client to develop a strategy designed to achieve the best possible outcome while minimizing unnecessary disruption and expense.Lisa received her Juris Doctor, with honors, from The George Washington University Law School (formerly The George Washington University National Law Center). She earned a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Union College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut and is a certified mediator.