Jonathan Stoler

Jon Stoler is a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm's New York office and former Global Practice Group Leader, serving in this role from 2010 through the end of 2023. During his 14 year tenure, Jon was responsible for doubling the size of the practice group, growing it into one of the largest management-side labor and employment practices in the world. Today, Jon leads the practice group’s international labor and employment platform, representing multi-national clients around the globe in a variety of litigation and transactional matters.  

Areas of Practice

Jon's practice encompasses a wide range of labor and employment matters, including the defense of single plaintiff and class action discrimination, non-competition and trade secret matters, employment contract, whistleblower, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, wage/hour claims and related claims. Jon is also frequently called upon to lead high-stakes internal investigations and compliance inquiries for U.S. and foreign corporations worldwide.

Jon regularly represents clients in labor and employment litigations in federal and state courts, in arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association and the Financial Industry Regulation Authority, and in proceedings before various administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor and state agencies throughout the United States. He also represents clients in collective bargaining negotiations, labor arbitrations and all stages of the labor election process, including election campaigns and hearings before the National Labor Relations Board.

Jon regularly counsels both domestic and international clients regarding the preparation and administration of personnel policies and provides advice to clients regarding reductions-in-force, discipline and discharge, employee disability and leaves of absence issues. He also advises management on the labor aspects of mergers and acquisitions and the extraterritorial application of U.S. laws.

Jon is published and quoted frequently on a variety of employment law issues in major academic and business publications such as the National Law Review, The New York Law Journal, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel and Employment Law 360, and is a frequent speaker at national and international programs.

Experience

Representative Clients

Presidio Networked Solutions: After a six-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Jon and his trial team obtained a defense verdict on plaintiff's claims for gender discrimination under Title VII and disability discrimination in violation of the ADA, after securing summary adjudication on plaintiff's alleged hostile work environment and disparate pay claims based on gender discrimination under Title VII, gender discrimination, hostile work environment and retaliation claims under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), and retaliation claim under Title VII.

Excel Sports Management: Jon led a litigation team that secured a preliminary appellate injunction on behalf of this industry-leading sports management and marketing agency against a competitor and former executive, enjoining him from working at a competitor for eight months and from disclosing, using, or relying on client’s confidential information and trade secrets.

BSE Global/The Brooklyn Nets: This client regularly looks to Jon to represent it in a variety of employment litigation and counseling matters.

Ares Management: Jon leads a global team that represents Ares on its employment law matters throughout the world.

Williams Sonoma: Jon obtained summary judgment and defeated motion for class certification in wage and hour class action brought by drivers hired by third-party trucking companies and providing delivery services to Williams Sonoma customers.

U.S. Bank: Jon obtained summary judgment and complete dismissal of all claims filed by a former municipal bond banker asserting unequal pay claims under the EPA, and race and gender discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII and its state and local analogs. He has represented this client in multiple employment litigations including, but not limited to, promissory note recoupment and restrictive covenant enforcement matters.

Zeta Global: Jon prevailed on motion for summary judgment on behalf of Zeta Global in a case brought by a female sales executive alleging fraudulent representations to induce her to join the company, breach of contract relating to commission payments, gender discrimination in pay, hostile work environment, and retaliation and constructive discharge. Jon also argued against the plaintiff’s appeal of the lower court’s dismissal, which was affirmed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Tod’s: Jon serves as U.S. employment counsel for this Italian-based retailer.

Israel Discount Bank: Jon obtained summary judgment in multi-plaintiff action on behalf of Israel Discount Bank resulting in dismissal of 18 causes of action alleging race, color, gender, religious and ethnicity discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, Section 1981, the New York State Human Rights Law and the New York City Human Rights Law.

TP ICAP (f/k/a Tullett Prebon): Jon obtained a complete victory in a case spanning three years against a former employee and their current employer for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference with contract. After a 3-day arbitration, the FINRA panel awarded approximately $2 million in damages and attorneys' fees and dismissed the employee's counterclaims with prejudice. He also obtained a complete defense verdict in a case seeking to hold TP ICAP liable for multi-million dollar bonuses claimed by risk arbitrage brokers. Jon continues to represent this client, one of the world’s largest interdealer brokers, in employment matters throughout the US.

CA, Inc. (f/k/a Computer Associates): Jon successfully represented CA, Inc. in obtaining summary judgment against a former sales executive asserting claims of marital status and national origin discrimination, claims for unpaid commissions and severance, and claims for unjust enrichment and promissory estoppel.

Holsa/EXSA Americas: Jon successfully defended this client and its president against claims of pregnancy discrimination and race discrimination, obtaining a complete dismissal of all claims on a motion for summary judgment.

Mulberry: Jon serves as U.S. employment counsel for this UK-based retailer.

Orient Express Hotels/”21” Club: Jon successfully represented this client in a wage and hour collective action alleging overtime and other claims asserted under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law.

Sun Chemical Corporation: Jon obtained a complete dismissal of breach of contract and ERISA claims asserted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, saving Sun Chemical millions of dollars in potential liability.

Honors

Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2024-2025

Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2015-2025

Labor and Employment Star – Northeast, Benchmark Litigation, 2020-2023

Jon led the Sheppard Mullin team, which was recognized in the Financial Times 2019 North America Innovative Lawyer Report, for a joint project with Syndio to address and remediate workplace pay disparities.

Annual Gala Honoree for Exceptional Pro Bono Service, Brooklyn Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, 2018

Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys, Human Resource Executive, 2015-2019

Jon has consistently been recognized by The Legal 500 as among the best labor lawyers in the U.S.

New York Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2013-2022

Articles

Global Trade Law Blog Posts

• "Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Protection: For America Only," November 13, 2013

Labor & Employment Law Blog Posts

• "FTC Votes to Ban Noncompete Agreements," April 24, 2024

• "EEOC Announces Decision to Collect 2017 Employee Pay Data, in Addition to 2018 Pay Data, by September 30, 2019," May 6, 2019 
• "Employers Must Provide Pay Data to EEOC by September 30," April 26, 2019 
• "Massachusetts – The Latest Jurisdiction to Update Its Pay Equity Laws," August 18, 2016

• "Second Circuit Rules that a “Bare-Bones” Complaint Rephrasing the Text of the FLSA is Insufficient to State an Overtime Claim," August 7, 2013
• "New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act Notice Requirement," January 23, 2012
• "Connecticut Becomes First State to Mandate Paid Sick Leave," July 20, 2011

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• "Legal Issues to Consider in a COVID-19 World," Virtual Reality Location-based Entertainment Summit, October 15, 2020.
• "Regulatory Update: A Review of New York State’s New EEO/Anti-Sexual Harassment Laws," Goldman Sachs 13th Annual Hedge Fund HCM Seminar, New York, New York, October 3, 2018
• "FLSA/Wage and Hour Issues in US Sports," Sports Lawyers Association 43rd Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado, May 19, 2017
• “How the U.S. Presidential Election and the Current Economy Will Impact Labor and Employment Laws in 2013 and Beyond,” Labor and Employment Year in Review, New York, New York, November 15, 2012
• "Labor & Employment Law Update," New York, New York, May 9, 2012
• "Labor & Employment Law: 2011 Year In Review," New York, New York, November 3, 2011
• "Labor and Employment Issues Relating to the Negotiation of International Recruitment and RPO Contracts, and the Facilitation of Overseas Office Openings," APSCo-Henley Business School Executive Conference, London, England, October 7, 2011
• "Labor & Employment Law Update: Spring 2011 Seminar," New York, New York, May 19, 2011
• "Labor & Employment Law Update: 2010 Year in Review," New York, New York, November 10, 2010
• "Labor & Employment Law Update: Leading Court Decisions and Key Legislative Developments in 2010," New York, New York, May 13, 2010
• "Labor & Employment Law Update: 2009 Year in Review," New York, New York, November 5, 2009
• "Labor & Employment Law Update: The First 100 Days of the Obama Administration," New York, New York, May 21, 2009
• "The Perfect Storm: How the U.S. Presidential Election and Recent Economic Events Will Impact Labor and Employment Laws in 2009 and Beyond," New York, New York, November 6, 2008
• "Critical Employment Law Issues to Consider In a Turbulent Economy," New York, New York, June 12, 2008
• "Preventing Employment Discrimination in New York," Lorman Education Services, New York, New York, March 26, 2008
• "Implementing Workforce Reductions: Strategies & Considerations," Continuing Legal Education Program, New York, New York, November 6, 2007
• “New York Employment Law from A-Z,” Lorman Education Services, New York, New York, December 1, 2005.
• “An Overview of U.S. Labor Laws,” National Car & Truck Rental Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 12 – 14, 2005
• “Employee Leaves of Absences: The ADA, FMLA, STD and WC Dilemma,” Continuing Legal Education Program, New York, New York, September 29, 2004
• “Duty of Loyalty and Non-Competition Agreements: A Discussion on Duty of Loyalty and Non-Competition Issues, with emphasis on Successor Enforcement, Temporal and Geographical Limitations and Assignability,” American Bar Association’s 2003 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, August 9, 2003

Events

Digital Media