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."
Hon. Steven M. Gold
Steven M. Gold is a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York. He was appointed to the
bench in 1993. Judge Gold earned his B.A. degree from Wesleyan University in 1977 and his J.D. degree from Yale Law School in 1980.
He was law clerk to United States District Judge Herbert F. Murray of the District of Maryland from 1980 until 1981. From 1981 until 1985 he was an associate with the law firm of Orans, Elsen & Lupert. Judge Gold became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York in 1985, rising to Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.
He left in 1990 to become General Counsel for the Department of Investigation of the City of New York, a position which he held until his judicial appointment in 1993.
Jennifer Calamia, Esq.
Jennifer Calamia is an associate in the Firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. Ms. Calamia represents employers in arbitrations, administrative proceedings and state and federal litigation in all manner of employment disputes including wage and hour claims, allegations of discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment and sexual harassment. Ms. Calamia also regularly conducts investigations and advises employers on multi-state employment policies, industry-specific regulations and compliance with all federal, state and local employment laws.
In addition to her practice, Ms. Calamia serves as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University School of Law where she teaches a course on advanced appellate advocacy skills. She has also spoken on panels and given CLEs on general litigation practices, as well as employment and civil rights-related topics.
She was selected as a New York Metro Rising Star in the Labor and Employment Practice Area for 2023 by Super Lawyers publication.
Ms. Calamia is fluent in Spanish, Italian and Sicilian, and is certified to translate written Spanish, Italian, French & Portuguese.
Ms. Calamia is admitted to practice in New York, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York and Eastern District of New York. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from City University of New York, Baruch College and her Juris Doctorate from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.