Colin is a management-side labor and employment law attorney who works with clients throughout Central New York, the Mohawk Valley and the Southern Tier of New York.
His practice includes traditional labor-related work, including collective bargaining, labor arbitrations and agency matters before the NLRB and PERB. Colin also represents employers in federal and state anti-discrimination litigation and counsels human resources professionals on wide-ranging legal issues, including wage and hour, employee discipline and the New York State Labor Law.
Colin has experience assisting employers manage downsizing situations, when compliance with state and federal statutes relating to employment losses is critical. In particular, he has worked closely with employers in managing WARN-related risks resulting from plant closings and mass layoffs. Colin has represented employers in claims brought by unions and employees asserting violations of the New York State WARN Act. He helps employers conduct risk assessments and adverse impact analyses relating to layoffs, so that an employer can proceed with planned downsizing consistent with applicable law.
Employers regularly engage Colin to conduct workplace training. This includes union avoidance training for management and supervisors, FMLA training for HR professionals and workplace harassment training for employees and supervisors. Colin is the deputy office managing member of the firm's Syracuse office is a regular presenter for groups including the Central New York Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management, the Human Resource Association of the Twin Tiers and the Southern Tier Association for Human Resources.
News
Events and Webinars
Articles
Honors & Affiliations
Listed in:
The Best Lawyers in America® 2021, Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management
New York Super Lawyers 2020®, Employment and Labor
New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
Managing Editor, New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Journal
Onondaga County Bar Association
Labor and Employment Relations Association, CNY Chapter, Immediate Past President
Lead Articles Editor, Connecticut Insurance Law Journal
Member, Connecticut Moot Court Board
Representative Presentations
Panel Chair, Candor Before the Tribunal, NYSBA 2019 Annual Meeting - Labor and Employment Law Section, January 18, 2019
Labor & Employment Law Developments for the Construction Industry, Dannible & McKee Annual Construction Conference, December 1, 2016
Panel Member: Hot Topics in Labor & Benefits for Manufacturers, Dannible & McKee 2016 Manufacturing Conference, October 18, 2016
Deep Dive into FLSA, Society for Human Resource Management of Tompkins County, November 10, 2015
New York State Community College Human Resource Director's Meeting, June 11-12, 2015
Representative Publications
Colin Leonard and James Rooney, "Employers: Beware of unemployment insurance reform in New York," HR.BLR.com, December 13, 2013
"From Peoria to Peru: NLRB Doctrine in a Social Media World," Syracuse Law Review, vol. 63, n. 2, 2013
Colin is a management-side labor and employment law attorney who works with clients throughout Central New York, the Mohawk Valley and the Southern Tier of New York.
His practice includes traditional labor-related work, including collective bargaining, labor arbitrations and agency matters before the NLRB and PERB. Colin also represents employers in federal and state anti-discrimination litigation and counsels human resources professionals on wide-ranging legal issues, including wage and hour, employee discipline and the New York State Labor Law.
Colin has experience assisting employers manage downsizing situations, when compliance with state and federal statutes relating to employment losses is critical. In particular, he has worked closely with employers in managing WARN-related risks resulting from plant closings and mass layoffs. Colin has represented employers in claims brought by unions and employees asserting violations of the New York State WARN Act. He helps employers conduct risk assessments and adverse impact analyses relating to layoffs, so that an employer can proceed with planned downsizing consistent with applicable law.
Employers regularly engage Colin to conduct workplace training. This includes union avoidance training for management and supervisors, FMLA training for HR professionals and workplace harassment training for employees and supervisors. Colin is the deputy office managing member of the firm's Syracuse office is a regular presenter for groups including the Central New York Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management, the Human Resource Association of the Twin Tiers and the Southern Tier Association for Human Resources.
