Joseph H. Harris, Esq. Merges Employment Law Firm with A.Y. Strauss; A.Y. Strauss Launches Labor & Employment Practice Chaired by Harris
(ROSELAND, NJ/New York, NY – November 9, 2020) – A.Y. Strauss, a leading law firm focused on commercial transactions and litigation in the areas of real estate, construction contracting, bankruptcy, and franchising law, is pleased to announce that Joseph H. Harris has merged his New York law firm White Harris PLLC, which focused exclusively on representing employers, with A.Y. Strauss. He joins A.Y. Strauss as a partner and as chair of the newly launched Labor & Employment practice group, representing employers. He is based in New York City.
Harris represents employers in state and federal court and before government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Department of Labor, and the New York State Division on Human Rights. His litigation practice focuses primarily on defending employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and the violation of wage-and-hour laws. He also represents employers in disputes involving the breach of post-employment restrictive covenants, such as non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.
Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Joe was a founding partner in White Harris PLLC, a boutique employment law firm that focused exclusively on representing employers. Before that, he practiced employment law at Moses & Singer LLP, one of New York City’s oldest law firms where he represented corporate clients in a variety of employment law matters, including those involving breach of contract, wrongful termination, and wage-hour law. These corporations ranged in size from regional businesses to international financial institutions.
Harris has presented numerous lectures on a variety of employment law topics, including at the Strategic Steps for Growth program at New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Emory University School of Law, Fordham University School of Law, the Community Business Program of Columbia University, the Human Resources Association of New York, the New York State Society of CPAs, and the National Academy of Continuing Legal Education.
Harris earned his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University and his B.A. from Haverford College. He also attended Oxford University, Pembroke College. He is licensed to practice in New York; the United States District Court, Southern District of New York; and the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York. Harris is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section; the New York City Bar Association; and LeGaL (LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York).
Harris has been recognized by New York Metro Super Lawyers – Labor and Employment Law, Thomson Reuters, 2020; New York Metro Rising Stars – Labor and Employment Law, Thomson Reuters, 2013-2019; by SmartCEO as Finalist- Attorney of the Year Award, 2014; and by the American Society of Legal Advocates for its Top 40 Under 40 ranking – Labor and Employment, State of New York, 2019; and has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, 2015-2020.
