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Calabrese_Jeffrey

Jeffrey J. Calabrese

Partner
  • Rochester and New York City
  • 585.231.1280

Jeff is a trial attorney with 25 years of experience. He has conducted hearings, trials, appeals, and arbitrations in state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and arbitration forums throughout New York and many other jurisdictions around the country. Jeff’s practice focuses on the following:

  • Counseling management on labor and employment statutory and regulatory compliance.
  • Employment litigation defense, including discrimination, wage and hour, defamation, contract, and WARN claims and class actions.
  • Restrictive covenant negotiation and litigation.
  • Representation of management in collective bargaining.
  • Advising management on administering collective bargaining agreements, including grievance resolution.
  • Commercial litigation, including claims over shareholder, operating and partnership agreements, director and officer duties, stock and asset purchase agreements, sales and secured transactions, commercial leases and patent infringement.
  • Counseling on labor, employment and potential litigation issues in mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.

Jeff is HSEʹs Labor & Employment practice group leader and a frequent lecturer on labor and employment and litigation topics.

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

  • Member, Board of Directors, Rochester Hearing & Speech Center
  • Member, Seventh Judicial District Committee on Character and Fitness
  • Member, Canisius College Pre-Law Advisory Council
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Western New York Lumber Dealers Association
  • Former Member, Canisius College Board of Regents
  • Chair and Former Member, St. Louis Church Parish Council

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Recognized by Chambers USA from 2019-2022 in the field of Labor and Employment (Upstate NY)
  • Recipient, Leaders in Law Award, The Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal’s Legal Excellence Program, 2022
  • Named as Best Lawyers® 2021 Employment Law-Management “Lawyer of the Year” in Rochester, NY
  • Named to The Daily Record’s Power 20 in Labor & Employment Law list, 2022
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for Arbitration; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management; Health Care Law; Labor Law – Management; Labor Law – Union; Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, 2007-2022
  • Recipient, “Forty Under 40” Award, Rochester Business Journal, 2005
  • Recipient, Western New York’s “Up & Coming Attorneys” Award, The Daily Record, 2004
  • Recipient, Special Service Award for Pro Bono Work from the United States District Court, Western District of New York, 2001
  • Recipient, Robert J. Connelly Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, SUNY Buffalo Law School, 1995
  • Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM Peer Review Rated

NEWS

PRESENTATIONS

  • Co-Presenter, “Understanding the ARPA and its Impact on COBRA and FFCRA,” Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, April 22, 2021
  • Presenter, “NYS Paid Leave Update,” Genesee Valley Chapter of SHRM and National Human Resource Association – Rochester Affiliate Legal Update Webinar, February 9, 2021
  • Presenter, “Workplace Vaccination Guidance and the New Stimulus Package,” Harter Secrest & Emery webinar, January 4, 2021
  • Presenter, “Employment Trends: What to Watch and How to Adjust” webinar, The Chemung Chamber of Commerce, October 22, 2020
  • Co-Presenter, “Guidance for Employers on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic – Session Six,” Harter Secrest & Emery webinar, April 16, 2020
  • Co-Presenter, “Helping Businesses Navigate COVID-19 Legislation Webinar,” Brown & Brown Insurance Webinar, April 2, 2020
  • “What’s Happening at the NLRB? What You Need to Know Even If You Don’t Have a Union. Hint: A Lot,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 30, 2019
  • Guest Lecturer on the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Rochester Institute of Technology, Information Security Policy and Law Class, April 9, 2019
  • Presenter, “Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets,” Monroe County Bar Association, March 27, 2019
  • Presenter, “Labor and Employment Law Update,” Rochester Automobile Dealers Association, February 11, 2019
  • Presenter, “HR Best Practices and Trends in an Evolving Work Environment Part 1,” CCA Annual Convention, October 3, 2018
  • Presenter, “2018 Labor and Employment Update,” Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association, August 21, 2018
  • Presenter, “Update on Trade Secrets and Non-Competition Law,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 26, 2018
  • Presenter, “The Headlines Continue: The Epidemic of High Profile Sexual Harassment Claims,” Harter Secrest & Emery, November 3, 2017
  • Presenter, “New York State Paid Family Leave and Wage Adjustments,” Emergent HR, June 28, 2017
  • Presenter, “Employee Classifications at Automobile Dealerships,” Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association, May 10, 2017
  • Presenter, “Knock, Knock. Who’s There?: What to do When the Government Comes Knocking,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 5, 2017
  • Presenter, “How to Recover Your Stolen Trade Secrets: A Deep Dive into the Defend Trade Secrets Act After its First Year,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 5, 2017
  • Panelist, “Recruitment Panel: Strategies to Attract, Develop, and Retain Superior Talent,” Northeastern Lumber Retail Association LBM Expo, February 16, 2017
  • Presenter, “Non-Compete Clauses,” Greater Rochester Enterprise’s Eyes on the Future Radio Show, WHAM 1180, June 2013

PRACTICE AREAS

ADMISSIONS

  • New York
  • New York State courts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Western, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of New York
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York

CLERKSHIP

  • New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department (1995-97)

EDUCATION

  • University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D.
  • Canisius College, B.A.

Jeff is a trial attorney with 25 years of experience. He has conducted hearings, trials, appeals, and arbitrations in state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and arbitration forums throughout New York and many other jurisdictions around the country. Jeff’s practice focuses on the following:

  • Counseling management on labor and employment statutory and regulatory compliance.
  • Employment litigation defense, including discrimination, wage and hour, defamation, contract, and WARN claims and class actions.
  • Restrictive covenant negotiation and litigation.
  • Representation of management in collective bargaining.
  • Advising management on administering collective bargaining agreements, including grievance resolution.
  • Commercial litigation, including claims over shareholder, operating and partnership agreements, director and officer duties, stock and asset purchase agreements, sales and secured transactions, commercial leases and patent infringement.
  • Counseling on labor, employment and potential litigation issues in mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.

Jeff is HSEʹs Labor & Employment practice group leader and a frequent lecturer on labor and employment and litigation topics.

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

  • Member, Board of Directors, Rochester Hearing & Speech Center
  • Member, Seventh Judicial District Committee on Character and Fitness
  • Member, Canisius College Pre-Law Advisory Council
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Western New York Lumber Dealers Association
  • Former Member, Canisius College Board of Regents
  • Chair and Former Member, St. Louis Church Parish Council

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Recognized by Chambers USA from 2019-2022 in the field of Labor and Employment (Upstate NY)
  • Recipient, Leaders in Law Award, The Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal’s Legal Excellence Program, 2022
  • Named as Best Lawyers® 2021 Employment Law-Management “Lawyer of the Year” in Rochester, NY
  • Named to The Daily Record’s Power 20 in Labor & Employment Law list, 2022
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for Arbitration; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management; Health Care Law; Labor Law – Management; Labor Law – Union; Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, 2007-2022
  • Recipient, “Forty Under 40” Award, Rochester Business Journal, 2005
  • Recipient, Western New York’s “Up & Coming Attorneys” Award, The Daily Record, 2004
  • Recipient, Special Service Award for Pro Bono Work from the United States District Court, Western District of New York, 2001
  • Recipient, Robert J. Connelly Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, SUNY Buffalo Law School, 1995
  • Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM Peer Review Rated

NEWS

PRESENTATIONS

  • Co-Presenter, “Understanding the ARPA and its Impact on COBRA and FFCRA,” Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, April 22, 2021
  • Presenter, “NYS Paid Leave Update,” Genesee Valley Chapter of SHRM and National Human Resource Association – Rochester Affiliate Legal Update Webinar, February 9, 2021
  • Presenter, “Workplace Vaccination Guidance and the New Stimulus Package,” Harter Secrest & Emery webinar, January 4, 2021
  • Presenter, “Employment Trends: What to Watch and How to Adjust” webinar, The Chemung Chamber of Commerce, October 22, 2020
  • Co-Presenter, “Guidance for Employers on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic – Session Six,” Harter Secrest & Emery webinar, April 16, 2020
  • Co-Presenter, “Helping Businesses Navigate COVID-19 Legislation Webinar,” Brown & Brown Insurance Webinar, April 2, 2020
  • “What’s Happening at the NLRB? What You Need to Know Even If You Don’t Have a Union. Hint: A Lot,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 30, 2019
  • Guest Lecturer on the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Rochester Institute of Technology, Information Security Policy and Law Class, April 9, 2019
  • Presenter, “Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets,” Monroe County Bar Association, March 27, 2019
  • Presenter, “Labor and Employment Law Update,” Rochester Automobile Dealers Association, February 11, 2019
  • Presenter, “HR Best Practices and Trends in an Evolving Work Environment Part 1,” CCA Annual Convention, October 3, 2018
  • Presenter, “2018 Labor and Employment Update,” Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association, August 21, 2018
  • Presenter, “Update on Trade Secrets and Non-Competition Law,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 26, 2018
  • Presenter, “The Headlines Continue: The Epidemic of High Profile Sexual Harassment Claims,” Harter Secrest & Emery, November 3, 2017
  • Presenter, “New York State Paid Family Leave and Wage Adjustments,” Emergent HR, June 28, 2017
  • Presenter, “Employee Classifications at Automobile Dealerships,” Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association, May 10, 2017
  • Presenter, “Knock, Knock. Who’s There?: What to do When the Government Comes Knocking,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 5, 2017
  • Presenter, “How to Recover Your Stolen Trade Secrets: A Deep Dive into the Defend Trade Secrets Act After its First Year,” Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 5, 2017
  • Panelist, “Recruitment Panel: Strategies to Attract, Develop, and Retain Superior Talent,” Northeastern Lumber Retail Association LBM Expo, February 16, 2017
  • Presenter, “Non-Compete Clauses,” Greater Rochester Enterprise’s Eyes on the Future Radio Show, WHAM 1180, June 2013

PRACTICE AREAS

ADMISSIONS

  • New York
  • New York State courts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Western, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of New York
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York

CLERKSHIP

  • New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department (1995-97)

EDUCATION

  • University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D.
  • Canisius College, B.A.
Calabrese_Jeffrey
Jeffrey J. Calabrese