I am the Vice Chair of the Labor and Employment Department at Cozen O'Connor and the Office Managing Partner in New York, where I assist my clients' management teams throughout the United States with accomplishing their goals in litigation, negotiation, and through day-to-day counseling.- Trial lawyer representing employers in court (federal and state), in arbitration, and before government agencies on issues including wage and hour (including class and collective actions); discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; FMLA, ADA, and state leave laws; breach of contract; SOX whistleblowing; WARN; Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and other Covid-19 legislation; and other employment law matters.- Podcast host since February 2017 - "Employment Law Now" available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and at www.employmentlawnow.com (2020 and 2021 JD Supra Readers Choice Award for Top Podcast and Thought Leadership).- Invited speaker at national conferences and webinars, including the ABA, AELC, NELI, and industry/trade associations, invited guest on television and radio/internet programs, and quoted in national and local journals and newspapers on employment law developments and trends.- Adjunct Professor of Law in Employment Law, Touro Law School, New York (2002-2014).- Provide in-person and web-based employment law training to corporate executives, managers/supervisors, HR professionals, and other employees on employment law requirements and trends, including cultural sensitivity in the workplace; harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; the use and pitfalls of social media; accommodation and leave-related issues; manager ABCs; and other customized issues unique to the organization.- Legal and business counselor for day-to-day advice to employers on all employment law issues from hiring to firing.- Draft and review employment and severance agreements; reduction-in-force plans; employee handbooks and individual policies; non-compete and non-solicit agreements; and other documents used in conjunction with the employer-employee relationship.- Lead Firm's 2020 Coronavirus Taskforce, including conducting Covid-19-specific webinars and podcasts; creating an employer Covid-19 toolkit of templates and policies; and counseling employers on return-to-work, WARN, Covid-19 legislation, and other pandemic issues.mschmidt@cozen.com ; @MSchmidtEmpLaw ; www.employmentlawnow.com