Thomas L. Bellifemine, of counsel, regularly represents employers in all aspects of the employment relationship, including counseling on best practices for onboarding, reasonable accommodations, and separations, and defending employers against claims of discrimination, retaliation, unlawful discharge, or other alleged violations of federal and state labor laws.
Tom’s passion for employment law started while he was a student at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. There, he focused his undergraduate studies on discrimination and retaliation law, with an emphasis on employment litigation. Upon graduating from law school, he began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. During his tenure, Tom worked his way up from prosecuting low-level and misdemeanor crimes, to investigating and prosecuting felonies in New York Supreme Court. He has significant trial experience as first chair in both jury and bench trials, and developed his investigative skills by working with police officers to arrest and prosecute violent gangs throughout Brooklyn.
Desiring to return to employment law, Tom left the District Attorney’s Office to take a position with Vladeck, Raskin, & Clark, P.C., a prominent plaintiff’s side employment firm in New York City. After years of representing employees in both federal and state court, he decided his skills were better suited for the employer’s side of the practice. Since making the jump, Tom has tirelessly and successfully represented employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all forums. He also regularly uses his investigative skills to conduct in-house investigations for both public and private entities, and has experience managing White Collar investigations initiated by law enforcement, including interfacing with government authorities, and guiding entities on responding to investigative subpoenas.
Tom also has extensive experience litigating restrictive covenants, and making emergency applications to courts for injunctive relief. This includes claims for violations of confidentiality agreements and non-solicitation/non-compete agreements.
