Wendi S Lazar

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Claimed Lawyer Profile

Summary

WENDI S. LAZAR is a partner at Outten & Golden LLP in New York where she co-heads the firm’s Individual Practice and the Executives and Professionals Practice Group. Ms. Lazar practices in many areas of employment law with a focus on executive agreements, including retention, expatriate, non-competition, talent, severance, and compensation arrangements. She also represents teams of executives, founders and partners transitioning during a sale, merger and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Ms. Lazar’s practice is international in scope, and she advises clients and attorneys in the U.S. and abroad on employment, contract, and often related immigration issues. Ms. Lazar represents individuals, partners, and management teams at portfolio and public companies, financial institutions (including banks, hedge funds, private equity companies), and entertainment, advertising and media companies. She also represents law partners and associates, accounting professionals, doctors and medical practitioners in all transactional matters. Ms. Lazar was appointed as a commissioner by the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women, where she heads the Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Bullying Committee.

Ms. Lazar is the Diversity Co-Chair and a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Labor & Employment Section, and is an active member of NELA, ABA and NYSBA committees. She is former Employee Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section’s International Labor and Employment Law Committee.

Practice Area

Employment Law

Additional Practice Areas

Executive and Severance Agreements
Wrongful Termination
Non-competition and Non-solicitation agreements
Entertainment Agreements
Partnership Agreements

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

New York
Since 1993

Languages

English

Education

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law: J.D. | Law; 1993; Honors: Cum Laude

Awards

Best Lawyer 2012-2019: Best Lawyers in America; 2019

Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyer 2013-2018: Lawdragon; 2018

Super Lawyer 2012-2018: Super Lawyers; 2018

500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers: Lawdragon; 2018

Top Women in the Law: New York Law Journal; 2016

New York Metro Super Lawyers Top Women: New York Metro Super Lawyers; 2015

AV “Preeminent” rated attorney: Martindale-Hubbell; 2015

Fellow: College of Labor and Employment Law; 2014

Fellowship in International Law: Ford Foundation

Alexander Fellow: Cardozo Law

Emmy Award: Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Professional Associations

International Women's Rights Committee of the Women's Bar of the State of New York: Former Chair; Current

Diversity Committee, New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Labor & Employment Section: Co-Chair; Current

Work Life Law, UC Hastings College of Law: Board Member; Current

Commission on Women in the Profession: Past Commissioner; Current

Association of the Bar of the City of New York: Former Member, International Human Rights Committee; Current

International Bar Association: Member; Current

New York State Bar Association: Executive Committee, International Labor and Employment Committee; Current

Section of Labor and Employment Law of the American Bar Association: Former Co-chair International Labor and Employment Law Committee; Current

National Employment Lawyers Association: Chair, Executives and Professionals Committee; Current

Publications

Articles & Publications

Zero Tolerance: Best Practices For Combating Sex-Based Harassment In The Legal Profession, Editor: American Bar Association; 2018

Speaking Engagements

Speaker: "u Can’t Change What You Can’t See: Key Lessons from the 2018 Report of on Racial and Gender Bias in the Legal Profession," ABA Employment Rights & Responsibilities Committee, Midwinter Meeting (Las Vegas, NV) 2019
Mod.: "The College of Labor & Employment Program: Setting the Bar: The Elimination of Unprofessional Conduct Toward Women and Minorities," ABA Labor & Employment Section, 12th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference (San Francisco, CA) 2018
Speaker: "TBA," New York State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Fall Meeting (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) 2018
Mod.: "Will Women Survive at Law Firms? Taking up the challenges of a diminishing population amidst the #MeToo movement, diversity challenges, and work-life balance," NYSBA, Labor & Employment Law Section Fall Meeting (Montreal, Canada) 2018
Panelist: "Protecting Business Interests in Int'l Team Moves – Pursuing Litigation, and Enforcing Orders and Awards Across Borders," Global Business Protections 2018 One Day Int'l Restrictive Covenants and Confidential Information Conference (London, UK)
Panelist: "ABA Forum: #MeToo, Time's Up—Sexual Harassment in the Workplace," American Bar Association, Office of the President and the Commission on Women in the Profession, Annual Meeting (Chicago, IL) 2018
Mod.: "#Metoo, #QuellaVoltaChe, #YoTambien, #BalanceTonPorc: Examining Global Policies and Regulations in the Wake of the Sexual Harassment Scandal," ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Int'l Labor and Employment Law Committee Midyear Meeting (Mila
Panelist: "Embracing Transformation in the Legal Industry," Thomson Reuters: The Early Careers Network and the Technology Practice Group (New York, NY) 2018
Moderator: "International Executive Compensation Hot Topics," Practising Law Institute, Cross-Border Employment Law 2018, (New York, NY) 2018
Keynote Speaker: "The Future of Work in the Second Machine Age," Georgetown U. Law Center, The Changing Nature of Low-Wage Work: How Automation & the Gig Economy Impact the Future of Work (Washington, DC) 2018
Panelist: "Please Mind the Gap: A Cross-Border Comparison of New Laws &Initiatives to Equal Pay," ABA Section of Int'l Labor & Employment Law Committee, Midyear Meeting (Dublin, Ireland) 2017
Panelist: "The History & Modification of ABA Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(g) & Best Practices for Compliance," The Seton Hall U. School of Law Legislative Journal & Circuit Review, Diversity & Inclusion: Shaping an Ethical Practice (Ne
Conference Co-chair, Moderator, and Panelist: "Employment issues in the gig economy in the US/UK," ELA, Fifth Transatlantic Conference: Programme (London, UK) 2017
Panelist: "The Challenges of Globalizing Corporate Diversity Initiatives and Overcoming Cultural Impediments," ABA Section of Labor & Employment, Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, (Washington, DC) 2017
Speaker: "Bias, Prejudice & Harassment in the Legal Profession: A Proposal for a New Rule (E)," ABA, Labor & Employment Law Section, ABA Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference (Chicago, IL) 2016
Speaker: "Understanding the Employment and Immigration Implications of Terminating Expatriates: At the Journey’s End," ABA, Section of Labor & Employment, ERR Midwinter Meeting (New Orleans, LA) 2016
Speaker: "Federal Privacy Laws: International Employment Issues and the Impact on Your Practice," 2016 National CLE Conference (Vail, CO) 2016
Moderator: " Learning to Lead: Facing Today's Challenges", 2015 Women of the Section of Litigation Conference: Leading, Litigating, Connecting, American Bar Association, Chicago, IL (2015)
Speaker: Representing the “Sweat Equity” Worker in a Startup or Early-Stage Venture (2015)
Speaker: “Managing Expatriates in the U.S. and Overseas,” PLI International Employment Law 2015, New York, New York (2015)
Speaker: “Restrictive Covenants and Unlawful Competition in Employment Law,” IBA Annual Employment and Discrimination Law Conference: The dynamics of a globalised workforce: challenges and solutions in the modern labour landscape, Rome, Italy (2015)
Speaker: "Restrictive Covenants and Labor Mobility: A Case Study of Non-Competes, and Choice-of-Law Provisions, in the Legal Profession," ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, International Labor and Employment Law Committee Midyear Meeting (2015)
Speaker: "Noncompetes on the Cutting Edge", Law Education Institute, National CLE Conference, Vail, Co. (2015)
Speaker: Private Equity CEO Roadmap Seminar, Hypatia Capital Group, Harvard Club of New York City (2015)
Speaker: "What Works for Women", Women Lawyers 2014 Book Club Series, sponsored by Committee on Women in the Legal Profession & Committee on Career Advancement and Management, New York City Bar (2014)
Speaker: "Challenges Facing Women Lawyers in a Global Practice", American Bar Association Section of Labor & Employment Law, International Labor & Employment Law Committee Midyear Meeting (2014)
Moderator: "Doing Business in the Asia Pacific: Pitfalls and Advantages for Employers and Employees", ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, 8th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Los Angeles, CA (2014)
Speaker: "International Compensation Challenges", Practising Law Institute (2014)
Panelist: "Mediation Strategies in Executive Employment Disputes", New York Law Journal Labor & Employment Law breakfast (2014)
Speaker: "Effective Strategies for Drafting Executive Employment Contracts", NELA 2014 Annual Convention: Blazing the Trail, Courage, Challenge, Change (2014)
Panelist: "Mediation Advocacy Strategies in Executive Employment Disputes", Insights and Strategies on the Effective: Mediation of Employment Disputes, presented by JAMS and the New York Law Journal (2014)
Panelist: "Professional Responsibility and Gender Equity," Edith I. Spivack Symposium, presented by the Committee on Women in the Law, of the New York State Bar Association Program Annual Meeting (2014)
Panelist: "Professional Responsibility and Gender Equity," Edith I. Spivack Symposium, presented by the Committee on Women in the Law, of the New York State Bar Association Program Annual Meeting (2014)
Speaker: "FMLA, ADA, PDA Update," Law Education Institute, National CLE Conference (2014)
Panelist: "The Changing Landscape of Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants" webinar, American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, and the Center for Professional Development (2013)
Speaker: "Tips for Successful Negotiations," Webinar, American Bar Association (ABA) Labor and Employment Law Section (2013)
Speaker: "What's Love Got to Do With It? Work Romances and Sexual Favoritism," Law Education Institute, National CLE Conference (2013)
Moderator: ABA Panelist: "Team Moves and Restrictive Covenants," ELA, Third Transatlantic Conference (2013)
Speaker: “Cross-Border Assignments & Employment Agreements,” Practising Law Institute, International Employment Law 2013 Seminar/Webcast (2013)
Speaker: "Settling the Case and Wrapping Up Employment: Negotiating Strategies, Drafting Realities," Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference (2013)
Panelist: "Where Have all the Women Gone?," International Bar Association, IBA Employment and Discrimination Law Conference (2013)
Co-Moderator: “Restrictive Covenants in Employment Contracts,” American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Labor & Employment Law, International Labor & Employment Law Committee Midyear Meeting (2011)
Panelist: "It's as Easy as a Day at the Beach: Basics of Restrictive Covenants and Duties," American Bar Association, Section of Labor & Employment Law, International Labor & Employment Law Committee Midyear Meeting (2013)
Lecturer: “International Restrictive Covenants in a Global Workplace,” 28th Annual National CLE Conference in Labor and Employment Law (2011)
Commentator: “Economic Dismissal Legislation in Other Countries,” New York University 64th Annual Conference on Labor (2011)
Moderator: “Are You Protected? Privacy, Intellectual Property, Trade Secrets and Non-Competes in Web 2.0,” ABA National Symposium on Technology in Labor & Employment Law (2011)
Lecturer: “Drafting Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Agreements: Supporting the Agreements & Avoiding the Pitfalls,” American Law Institute-American Bar Association Webcast Lecturer: “Non-Competition Clauses and Restrictive Covenants,” New York
Lecturer: “Innovative Ways to Incentivize Employees,” International Bar Association Conference (2011)