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Ned H. Bassen

Partner

Ned H. Bassen is Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment department. His work is recognized by such publications as Chambers USA, Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Labour and Employment, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. He is included in Human Resource Executive’s The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys Top 100 and in Lawdragon’s The Guide to World-Class Employment Lawyers. He also has been selected by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell as a “2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment.”

The most recent edition of Chambers USA notes that “clients appreciate his ability to inspire confidence with his knowledgeable and personable approach to matters.” Past editions have made the following comments: “Clients praise [Mr. Bassen’s] ‘encyclopedic knowledge’ of employment law and his ‘finely tuned instincts and well-balanced judgment.’ His skill in the courtroom does not go unnoted, with sources reporting: ‘He is able to distill facts to their essence and forcefully and effectively argue his client’s position.’”

Mr. Bassen has had an expansive labor and employment practice for 40 years. It ranges from litigating on behalf of and counseling defense contractors, financial institutions, universities and other nonprofit institutions to individuals accused of wrongdoing in connection with employment, including, for example, principal targets in the well publicized Dewey & LeBoeuf bankruptcy. His defense in such matters has included, for example, bankruptcy, employment discrimination, trade secrets, false claims, corporate raiding, employment defamation and arbitration in the U.S. and internationally. Mr. Bassen is regularly quoted by the media, including, most recently, The Wall Street Journal and The Am Law Daily.

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Committee on Development of the Law Under the National Labor Relations Act
  • Member, New York State Bar Association, Labor Law Section, Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity Law
  • Member, Industrial Relations Committee of the U.S. Council for International Business
  • Member, Employment Disputes Committee of the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution
  • Member, Labor And Employment Research Association

Recognitions

  • Fellow, The College of Labor And Employment Lawyers
  • Board of Advisors, The Center for Labor and Employment Law, St. John’s University School of Law
  • Burton Award for Legal Achievement, Distinguished Writing Award In Law
  • Nominated to appear in Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Labour and Employment, 2013
  • The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel, “Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment”, 2013
  • Chambers USA - Labor & Employment
  • Lawdragon, “The Guide to World-Class Employment Lawyers”
  • Euromoney’s Guide To The World’s Leading Labour And Employment Lawyers
  • The Best Lawyers In America – Labor And Employment Law
  • The Leading Employment Lawyers in the United States
  • Super Lawyers – New York
  • Who’s Who In American Law
  • The Best Of The U.S.’s List Of The Best Service Professionals In The United States

Practice Groups and Other Information

Education Information

  • Cornell Law School, J.D., 1973
    Note and Comment Editor, Cornell Law Review
  • Cornell University, B.S., Industrial and Labor Relations, 1970
    Civil Liberties Award

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1974

Highlighted Matters

  • Representation of the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Dewey LeBoeuf LLP in bankruptcy proceedings and related litigation.
  • Representation of JPMorgan Chase in a corporate-raiding NYSE arbitration.
  • Representation of Barclays Capital in FLSA overtime cases.
  • Representation at Newspapers First in a disability discrimination/wrongful termination lawsuit in California State Court with summary judgment obtained.
  • Representation of Sumitomo Bank in several matters before various fair employment practice agencies, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in federal district courts in New York and Atlanta, which includes obtaining withdrawal with prejudice and summary judgment with costs.
  • Representation of Lockheed Martin in an age discrimination and False Claims Act lawsuit in federal court, Southern District of New York, with summary judgment obtained.
  • Representation of New School University in representation proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and an organizing campaign by the United Auto Workers.
  • Representation of California Bank and Trust in an Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs compliance review and complaint investigation.
  • Representation of ALSTOM Signaling in a disability discrimination action in federal court, Western District of New York with summary judgment obtained.
  • Representation of United Bank in an employment discrimination, breach of contract, ERISA and defamation action in N.Y. state court, which includes obtaining dismissal of claims on the grounds of forum non conveniens.
  • Representation of ALSTOM USA in breach of contract actions in Michigan state court.
  • Representation of Sumitomo Bank of California in an employment discrimination action in California state court.
  • Representation of AT&T and YAR Communications in a breach of privacy action in New York state court.
  • Representation of PG Energy in collective bargaining negotiations and unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, which includes obtaining dismissal of the latter.
  • Representation of Nautica Enterprises in collective bargaining negotiations and arbitrations.
  • Representation of Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems in representation proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board with withdrawal of the petition obtained.
  • Representation of L-3 Communications Corporation in unfair competition lawsuit alleging misappropriation of trade secrets.
  • Representation of Barclays Capital in wage and hour collective action.
  • Representation of WestLB AG in retention bonus litigation.
  • Representation of The Estee Lauder Companies in executive contract litigation.

News

Hughes Hubbard Protects Dewey Leaders in $71.5M Partner Contribution Plan (November 2012)
Laramie Wins Approval to Sponsor Delta Petroleum's Ch. 11 Plan (June 2012)
Hughes Hubbard Employment Lawyers Win Rare Decision to Vacate Arbitration Award (October 2011)
U.S. News Best Lawyers (October 2010)
Chambers USA Rankings (June 2010)
Newspapers First Appellate Win (September 2007)
Case Deflected (March 2006)
Win in California Employment Case (January 2006)
BAE Standby Counsel (March 2005)
More than a dozen Hughes Hubbard lawyers are included in the latest edition of The Best Lawyers in America (November 2004)
Labor Talks Begin at New School University (October 2004)
Ken Lefkowitz Does Two High-Profile Apparel Deals Back-to-Back (July 2003)
Hughes Hubbard Partners Named "The Best Lawyers in America" (November 2002)

Highlighted Publications

  • Mandatory Retirement of Law Firm Partners, Bloomberg Law Quarterly, Volume 1, No. 3 (2011)
  • Mandatory Retirement of Partners, Bloomberg Law Reports, Vol. 4, No. 12 (March 22, 2010)
  • Investigatory Interview Representation rights for Nonunion Workers, New York Law Journal, Volume 232, No. 57 (September 21, 2004)
  • Article, “A great nation breaks its word: Indians, unions and the NLRB,” Indian Country Today (June 30, 2004) (with Steven Paul McSloy)
  • Contributing Editor, “The Developing Labor Law,” ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.
  • Editorial Board, “Sexual Harassment and Discrimination,” James Publishing
  • Editorial Advisory Board Member, “Litigating Sexual Harassment & Sex Discrimination Cases,” James Publishing
  • Article, “EEO Compensation Alert For Government Contractors,” 7 The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel 18 (1999)
  • Article, “What Can an Employer Do to Help Protect Against Sexual Harassment Lawsuits?” 37 Public Relations Quarterly 26 (1992)
  • Commentary, “Synopsis of State Laws Regulating Employment of the Handicapped,” 4 Journal of College and University Law 293 (1977)
  • Note, “The Effect of Strikes upon Vacations,” 57 Cornell Law Review 633 (1972)

Articles

Mandatory Retirement of Law Firm Partners (May 2010)
Mandatory Retirement of Partners (April 2010)
Factors to Consider (January 2006)
Investigatory Interview Representation Rights for Nonunion Workers (September 2004)
A Great Nation Breaks its Word: Indians, Unions and the NLRB (June 2004)

Publications

Governor Signs Amendment to New York Wage Deduction Law (October 2012)
SEC Issues Final Whistleblower Rules (June 2011)
EEOC Issues Final Regulations to Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (April 2011)
Employers Should Review Their Social Networking Policies (December 2010)
NLRB Issues Complaint Against Employer For Facebook Termination (November 2010)
Unionization of Private Colleges’ And Universities’ Graduate Students (July 2010)
Regulations Confirm Need for Prompt Employer Action To Prepare for HHS Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (June 2010)
Health Care Reform — Impact on Employers (May 2010)
Further Advice on Employees’ E-mail (January 2010)
Advice on Employees’ E-Mail (December 2009)
New FMLA and New York Employee Privacy Requirements (January 2009)
Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (November 2008)
Downsizing: An Ounce of Prevention Versus a Ton of Litigation (July 2008)
Waiver of Privilege By Employees' Use of Company Email Systems To Communicate With Their Attorneys (March 2008)
National Labor Relations Board Holds That Employees Have No Statutory Right To Use Employer's E-mail System (December 2007)
Unionization of Indian Casinos Upheld by Federal Appeals Court (February 2007)
In "Bombshell" Case, D.C. Appeals Court Says Taxing Emotional Distress Damages Is Unconstitutional (August 2006)
A New Look for EEO-1 Report (March 2006)
A New Look for the EEO-1 Report (March 2006)
Employment and Tax Advisory: Supreme Court Decision Holds That Plaintiffs Must Pay Tax On Portion of Recovery Paid To Attorney As A Contingent Fee (February 2005)
New Amendments to Overtime Rules Take Effect August 23, 2004 (July 2004)
June 21, 2012PLI’s Employment Discrimination Law and Litigation 2012
CLE Program		New York, New York

Speaking Engagements

  • Presentation: New Development in Employment Law, JAMS mediators/arbitrators, 2013
  • PLI, Employment Law and Litigation 2012, "Disabilities Discrimination Today," June 21, 2012
  • City Bar Center for Continuing Legal Education, "Mandatory Retirement Policies at Law Firms: What Lies Ahead," November 23, 2010
  • Take A Side: The Oleanna Talk-Back Series, October 7, 2009
  • "Efforts to Unionize Faculty Members at Private Institutions, Including Part-Time or Adjunct Faculty," NACUA 2004 Annual Conference, Vancouver
  • "Compensation Issues for Government Contractors" at the January 2000 meeting of the Electronic Wage & Salary Group, Jericho, New York
  • "The OFCCP and Compensation Issues" at NYS Management Attorneys Conference, October 1999, North San Diego, California
  • "Psychiatric Disabilities in the Workplace: Understanding the New ADA Guidelines" at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Seminar, June 1997
  • "General Labor Law Considerations" at LRP Publications’ Hiring Foreign-Born Professionals Conference, April 1995, Arlington, Virginia
  • "Employment Concerns" at The Outlook for Foreign Banks, March 1995, New York City
  • "Employment Practices Liability—Are Your Employees Out to Get You?" The Eighth Annual Utility Risk Management Seminar, June 1994, Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • "Employment and Labor Strategy for Japanese-Owned Companies in the U.S. under the Clinton Administration" at Journal Interworld’s International Legal Strategy First Anniversary Seminar, September 1993, New York City
  • "Employment Alert for Japanese-Owned Companies in the United States" at Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Seminar, May 1993, Osaka, Japan
  • "Employment Alert for Japanese-Owned Companies in the United States" at Aichi Trade Association Seminar, May 1993, Nagoya, Japan
  • "Employment Alert for Japanese-Owned Companies in the United States" at Hamamatsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Seminar, May 1993, Hamamatsu, Japan
  • Employment Alert for Japanese-Owned Companies in the United States at Japanese Institute of International Business Law Seminar, May 1993, Tokyo, Japan
  • "Issues in Labor and Employment Law" at Chase Manhattan Bank Human Resources Forum, March 1993, New York City
  • Commentator on "The Status of Disparate Impact after the CRA of 1991" at Practicing Law Institute’s Program on The Civil Rights Act of 1991, and its Impact on Employment Discrimination Litigation, February 1992, New York City
  • "The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986" to The Restaurant League of New York, January 1987, New York City
  • Comparable Worth to the National Urban Affairs Council on March 1980, New York City
  • "Age Discrimination" at the Edison Electric Institute Affirmative Action Seminar and Workshop, February 1980, Houston, Texas
  • Executive Enterprises’ Equal Employment Opportunity for the Handicapped and Veterans, January 1978, Washington, D.C.
  • Co-Chairperson, Executive Enterprises’ Equal Employment Opportunity for the Handicapped and Veterans, September 1977, Arlington, Virginia
  • Executive Enterprises’, "Affirmative Action for the Handicapped and Veterans," March 1977, Washington, D.C.
  • Workshop on Affirmative Action for the Handicapped and Veterans at Executive Enterprises’ Fourth Annual Personnel Compliance Conference, December 1976, Arlington, Virginia

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