Lecturer Bios
Louis Pechman, Esq.
Louis Pechman represents both employers and employees before federal
and state courts and government agencies in all areas of workplace law,
including employment discrimination, union-management relations,
employment contracts, ERISA, non-competition agreements, independent
contractor issues, and wage/hour disputes. As a practitioner for over twenty
years in the labor and employment field, Mr. Pechman offers both individual
employees and employers practical guidance on improving the employment
relationship and, where appropriate, terminating that relationship.
Prior to forming his partnership ten years ago with Laurie Berke-Weiss,
Mr. Pechman has worked as a labor and employment attorney at three
Manhattan law firms, as in-house labor counsel with the New York Daily News,
and as a Field Examiner with the National Labor Relations Board. Admitted to
the New York and New Jersey Bars, he is a graduate of the Cornell University
School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the Fordham University School of
Law.
A frequent contributor to the New York Law Journal and other business
and legal publications, Mr. Pechman often gives presentations on employment
law topics, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, sexual harassment,
and the development of human resource policies and procedures. He has
lectured at the Fordham University School of Law, New York University, the
Extension Division of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor
Relations, and the American Bar Association. From 1994 through 1998, he was
Chair of the New York County Lawyers' Association Committee on Labor
Relations and Employment Law. Since 1996, Mr. Pechman has developed and
moderated NYCLA's annual program on "How to Handle an Employment
Discrimination Case."
Katherine Greenberg, Esq
Katherine Greenberg is an Assistant Commissioner in the Law Enforcement Bureau of
the New York City Commission on Human Rights, where she oversees the Bureau's
investigation and prosecution of employment cases.
Katherine began her employment
at the Commission as a Supervising Attorney. Previously, Katherine worked as a Staff
Attorney at the Legal Aid Society, where she represented individuals and groups in
discrimination, wage theft, and FMLA claims and clerked for the Honorable James C.
Francis IV of the Southern District of New York. She earned her JD from NYU School of
Law and holds an MA from Kings College London and a BA from Vassar College.
Hon. Judith C. McCarthy
Hon. Judith C. McCarthy is a federal magistrate judge for the United States District
Court, Southern District of New York. Judge McCarthy joined the court on April 14,
2014. Prior to joining the court, she served as executive vice president and general
counsel of the New York Power Authority. She has also served as an assistant attorney
general-in-charge at the New York State Attorney General's Office. And she was a first
deputy general counsel for New York City Human Resources and deputy assistant chief
for the New York City Law Department.
Judge McCarthy earned her undergraduate
degree from Barnard College and her JD from The City University of New York Law
School
Valerie J. Bluth, Esq.
Valerie J. Bluth is a member of the Labor & Employment practice group. Ms. Bluth’s labor and employment practice is wide-ranging, as she guides businesses on employment-related issues from employee onboarding through post-termination disputes.
In that regard, Ms. Bluth regularly advises clients regarding employment discrimination and harassment, wage and hour compliance, employment policies and practices, unemployment insurance and Workers’ Compensation claims, internal investigations, reasonable accommodations, leave of absence management, terminations and disciplinary actions, labor-management relations, grievance processing, collective bargaining agreement interpretation and application, alternative dispute resolution and a variety of other workplace issues, including for clients with operations in multiple states and in connection with corporate transactions. Ms. Bluth also routinely drafts employment, restrictive covenant and non-disclosure agreements as well as employment policies and employee handbooks, and develops and presents training programs for managers and staff regarding various principles of workplace law.
Additionally, an experienced litigator, Ms. Bluth defends employers against all types of employment claims asserted in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings. She also represents clients in traditional labor matters, including labor arbitrations and National Labor Relations Board proceedings.
Ms. Bluth has represented and advised both small businesses and large corporations, in both unionized and non-unionized settings, in the hospitality, security, financial services, startup, real estate, analytics, advertising, publishing, automotive, retail, information technology, performing and visual arts, construction, luxury brand, cosmetics, journalism, and healthcare industries, among others, as well as in the nonprofit, education and municipal sectors.
Ms. Bluth is also a regular speaker on employment-related topics at hospitality industry webinars and has served as a panelist for employment-related CLE classes.
Ms. Bluth received her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and her Juris Doctor degree from Fordham Law School. Ms. Bluth is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, and District of New Jersey.
Jeremiah Iadevaia, Esq.
Jeremiah Iadevaia advises employees in matters involving discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower claims, breach of contract and restrictive covenant disputes, and wage and hour violations. He is a capable and compassionate advisor to those experiencing challenges in the workplace.
Jeremiah grew up in a working class family and remembers watching his dad, a union leader, fight for workers’ rights throughout his childhood. Now a father of three young children, he strongly identifies and empathizes with the challenges that working parents face. Jeremiah recognizes that many employment disputes can be resolved without a lawsuit. By providing expert advice and support, he empowers his clients to negotiate effectively with their employers. When an employer refuses to come to the table, however, he will not hesitate to take the case to court. A skilled litigator with experience before administrative agencies and trial and appellate courts at both the state and federal levels, Jeremiah is a fierce protector of every employee’s right to a fair and safe workplace.
After more than 13 years of practicing employment law, Jeremiah recognizes that discrimination takes many forms, and is creative in his approach to advocacy and litigation. In his time at the firm, he has:
- Represented a law firm partner who suffered gender and age discrimination at a global law firm, which then retaliated against her for making a complaint
- Represented an Executive Vice President of Finance who raised discrimination and retaliation claims against an international company
- Represented a Chief Communications Officer who alleged gender discrimination and retaliation claims against a worldwide advertising company
- Represented an executive who alleged a pervasive pattern of age discrimination against a Fortune 500 company
- Represented an Editor-in-Chief of a beauty magazine who was discriminated against because of her disability, and then faced retaliation when she raised a complaint
- Represented a security guard who alleged race discrimination and whistleblower retaliation claims against multi-purpose arena
- Represented a sign-maker claiming wage and hour violations, secured a judgment on his behalf, and preserved the judgment after one of the defendants declared bankruptcy
Jeremiah is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education events, including the Practicing Law Institute, the New York City Bar Association, and the New York County Lawyers’ Association.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Clerkship: Hon. Debra Freeman, Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
