David R. Rothfeld leads the firm's Labor and Employment Law practice group, specializing in the representation of management in all phases of labor and employment law. For those unionized clients, Mr. Rothfeld offers expertise in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, representation at grievance and arbitration proceedings and advice on contract interpretation and compliance. Mr. Rothfeld has also represented employers before the National Labor Relations Board, including judicial enforcement proceedings, and in representation of unfair labor practice proceedings. Additionally, he has assisted clients in developing and implementing strike contingency plans and strategies for those clients facing union organizing campaigns.

Mr. Rothfeld provides counsel to all clients on a wide range of employment issues, encompassing compliance with applicable local, state and federal employment discrimination, labor, wage-hour and employee benefits laws and regulations. Mr. Rothfeld also represents management in employment discrimination and labor relations litigation in state and federal courts and before state, federal and local administrative agencies.

He has conducted seminars for employers, industry groups and trade associations on the Americans with Disabilities Act, sexual and other forms of harassment and current workplace issues such as employee discipline, employee privacy and workplace violence. Mr. Rothfeld has served as counsel to Taft-Hartley Pension and Welfare Funds as well.

Mr. Rothfeld represents clients in a myriad of different businesses, with a concentration in the hospitality field, including hotels, restaurants, clubs, catering and gaming facilities. He also represents employers in other industries such as real estate, manufacturing, service industries, schools and not-for-profit organizations.

Mr. Rothfeld is a frequent participant at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration as well as the Law School’s Labor and Employment Law Round Table, and has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” for the New York Metropolitan area.

Memberships and Associations

American Arbitration Association
 Member, New York and New Jersey Labor Advisory Committee

American Bar Association
 Member, Sections on Labor and Employment Law

Association of the Bar of the City of New York
 Member, Committee on Hotels and Tourism

New Jersey Bar Association

New York State Bar Association

• Chief negotiator for the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. – New York Hotel Trades Council 2006 Industry Wide Agreement
• Negotiated labor agreement for the re-opening of the Plaza Hotel
• Negotiated initial opening labor agreements for hotels and restaurants