Elizabeth E. Schlissel

Professional Experience

Elizabeth Schlissel is a Partner and Chair of FRB’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, as well as a member of the firm’s Healthcare Practice Group. She represents clients in employment litigation, investigations, regulatory matters, and other aspects of employment law.

Elizabeth represents companies in all types of employment litigation in state and federal court including wage and hour matters, discrimination, workplace harassment, retaliation, hostile work environment, breach of employment contracts and restrictive covenants, and failure to accommodate disabilities. Elizabeth regularly represents employers in discrimination matters filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Elizabeth also advises and defends businesses in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuits regarding premises and websites.

Elizabeth counsels employers, management teams, and HR executives regarding compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations. Counseling includes advising clients on a daily basis regarding personnel issues, wage and hour compliance, and preventing, investigating and responding to discrimination and sexual harassment complaints. In addition, Elizabeth regularly works with employers to draft, review, and update employee handbooks and policies.

Elizabeth also has experience representing large healthcare networks, including hospital systems, physician groups, and hospital administrators in a full range of employment law matters. Her work includes defending against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage-and-hour claims; conducting sensitive workplace investigations; and advising on compliance with healthcare-specific employment and disciplinary actions. 

Elizabeth conducts internal workplace investigations concerning allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, employee misconduct, workplace assault, and employee theft. Elizabeth’s fact-finding investigations include interviewing witnesses, obtaining and reviewing documents and electronic evidence, drafting comprehensive investigative reports, and guiding employers with regard to corrective action in order to minimize exposure to liability.

Elizabeth regularly conducts on-site and remote video trainings with employees and management in order to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination and to promote appropriate responses by management in the event of workplace complaints.

Elizabeth also represents employers in connection with audits and investigations conducted by the U.S. and New York State Department of Labor.

Elizabeth counsels employees regarding offer letters, employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and separation agreements.