Chris has 20 years of experience in virtually all areas of employment law counseling and litigation, including all forms of discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment and hostile work environment whether under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the New York Executive Law, the New York City Human Rights Law or the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination; unpaid wages, overtime and misclassification under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); leaves of absence under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), termination notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), as well as numerous other state and local laws governing whistleblowers, wages, overtime, sick pay, paid and unpaid leaves of absence, discharge, severance and employment agreements. Chris regularly litigates employment-related matters in New York and New Jersey state and federal trial and appeals courts, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, as well as arbitrating and mediating before AAA, JAMS and FINRA. In addition to representing individuals, Chris has extensive experience handling complex multi-plaintiff actions, including wage and hour class and collective actions. He also provides day-to-day employment advice, workplace investigations and training, and he has given numerous presentations concerning developments in employment law, the FLSA’s white-collar exemptions, litigating overtime class/collective actions and electronic discovery.
Prior to co-founding Lipsky Lowe LLP, Chris practiced for over 17 years, 12 as a partner, in the New York City office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, widely considered one of the nation’s premier employment law firms. During his time in Seyfarth’s nationally recognized and awarded Labor & Employment Law Group, Chris led the firm’s New Jersey Employment Law Practice Group and represented numerous Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies in the financial services, insurance, accounting, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, bio-medical, software, fashion, gaming and publishing industries. He also worked extensively with his co-founding partner Doug Lipsky, then a Seyfarth colleague. Before joining Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chris was Employment Counsel in the Office of General Counsel of Chubb & Son in Warren, New Jersey, where he managed employment litigation nationally, and provided advice and training to company management for more than 10,000 employees nationwide.
Education
- J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law, cum laude (1998)
- M.B.A., W. Paul Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University (1998)
- B.A., St. Michael’s College, cum laude (1992)
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Admissions
- New York
- New Jersey
Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fifth and Ninth Circuits
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Representative Wage & Hour Class / Collective Actions
In Re: Deloitte & Touche Overtime Litigation, No. 11 CV 2461 (RMB)(KNF)(S.D.N.Y. Nov. 17, 2015) (order decertifying nation-wide collective action following a walk-away settlement after more than 4 years of litigation)
Brady et al. v. Deloitte & Touche LLP, No 12-1638 (9th Cir. Oct. 9, 2014) (prevailing on appeal of order decertifying a California misclassification/overtime class action following 6 years of litigation)
Continental Casualty Co. adv. Himmelman, No. 06 CV 00166 (GEB), 2006 WL 2347873 (D.N.J. Aug. 11, 2006) (prevailing on motion to dismiss and/or strike class action allegations)
Hewitt Assoc. Inc adv. Herring., No. 06-CV-00267 (GEB), 2006 WL 2347875 (D.N.J. Aug. 11, 2006) (prevailing on motion to dismiss and/or strike class action allegations)
Eastman Kodak Co. (The) adv. Glewwe, 2006 WL 1455476; The Eastman Kodak adv. Luciano, 2006 WL 1455477; The Eastern Kodak Co. adv. LeTòuzel, 2006 WL 1455478 (W.D.N.Y.) (prevailing on motions to dismiss putative nationwide state law wage payment and breach of contact class claims prior to any discovery or class certification in three companion cases)
New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. adv. Barfield, No. 05-CV-6918 (JSR), 2005 WL 3098730 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 18, 2005) (prevailing on motion to deny Plaintiff a collective action under the FLSA)
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company adv. Jacobsen , No. 02 civ. 5915 (DLC), 2004 U.S. Dist. Lexis 14151 (S.D.N.Y.) (successful partial motion for summary judgment on statute of limitations grounds; 200 member collective action settled)
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company adv. Crehan, No. 05-CV-8759 (LAK) S.D.N.Y. (favorable settlement of FLSA retaliation case)
Recent Presentations
“New York & New Jersey Employment Law Update 2016: A Look Back and What to Expect in the New Year,” Breakfast Briefing, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP, New York, NY (January 27, 2016)
“Navigating Paid Sick Leave Laws: Challenges, Practical Implications, and Best Practices,” Breakfast Briefing, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP, New York, NY (June 10, 2015)
“Employment Law Update, Client Briefing, Presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP, New York, NY (Annually)
Publications
Co-Author, “Unpaid Volunteers Are Not Covered By New Jersey’s Whistleblower Law,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 15, 2017)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Appellate Division Declines to Find Section 301 Pre-Emption of Discrimination and Retaliation Claims,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 25, 2017)
Co-Author, “NJ Court Rules That Unemployment Benefits Do Not Offset Back Pay Awards,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 9, 2017)
Co-Author, “Third Circuit Clarifies Plaintiff’s Burden of Proof for USERRA Claims,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 21, 2016)
Co-Author, “Third Circuit And New Jersey Court Crack Down On Plaintiffs Seeking To Re-Litigate Their Claim,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 12, 2016)
Co-Author, “Conscientious Objectors to Arbitration Policy Can Bring Their Cases in Court,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 28, 2016)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain—Part XXIII: Morristown Delays Sick Leave Law’s Effective Date,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 30, 2016)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain—Part XXII: Morristown No. 13 in New Jersey to Pass Paid Sick Leave Law,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 21, 2016)
Co-Author, “NJ Supreme Court Finds For Employees In Two Recent Cases: Expands Definition Of “Marital Status” and Allows Hearsay To Undercut Independent Harassment Investigation,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 29, 2016)
Co-Author, “Statute of Limitations for New Jersey Law Against Discrimination Claims Cannot Be Shortened By Contract,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 16, 2016)
Co-Author, “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees in the Garden State, but New Jersey Senate Committee Advances Bill for $15 Minimum Wage,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 19, 2016)
Co-Author, “Somebody Call a Doctor!…. As a Treating Physician or Expert?,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 9, 2016)
Co-Author, “Arbitration Program Gets Straight AAA’s Despite Failing in JAMS,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 23, 2016)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Supreme Court Takes on Preemption of CEPA Whistleblower Claims,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 11, 2016)
Co-Author, ” ’Tis the Season for New Jersey CEPA and Gender Equity Notices,” Workplace Whistleblower, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 17, 2015)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain — Part XII: Paid Sick Leave Spreading in New Jersey,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 17, 2015)
Co-Author, “Jersey City Enacts Wage Theft Prevention Ordinance,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 27, 2015)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Supreme Court: No Job-Duties Exception to CEPA Protection”, Workplace Whistleblower, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 16, 2015)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain – Part IX: Complications for NJ Paid Sick Leave,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 16, 2015)
Co-Author, “NJ Supreme Court Adopts Faragher-Ellerth and Expansive Definition of “Supervisor”,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 13, 2015)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain—Part V: Paid Sick Time Heating Up in New Jersey,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 31, 2014)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain — Part IV: Passaic Passes Paid Sick Time Ordinance,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 8, 2014)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Joins “Ban the Box” Movement and Chris Christie Safeguards Employers,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 14, 2014)
“NJ Appellate Division Allows Employer to Choose its Own Limitations Period,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 30, 2014)
Co-Author, “The Supreme Court of New Jersey Defends Employers in Latest CEPA Case,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 25, 2014)
Co-Author, “Employers Beware: Bill Protecting Unemployed Applicants Moves Through State Senate,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2014)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain – Part II: Newark Passes Paid Sick Time Ordinance,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 6, 2014)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Passes Pregnancy Accommodation Law,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 28, 2014)
Co-Author, “Jersey City Paid Sick Time Ordinance Poster/Notification Issued,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 17, 2014)
Co-Author, “The Gender Equity Notice Is Finally Available – Timely Action Required,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 13, 2013)
Co-Author, “‘Tis the Season for . . . Temporary or Seasonal Hires,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 12, 2013)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Becomes the Fourteenth State to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage: What this Means for Employers,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 21, 2013)
Co-Author, “If Pain, Yes Gain: Jersey City Passes Paid Sick Time Ordinance,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 4, 2013)
Co-Author, “New Jersey SAFE Act Poster/Notification Issued,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 27, 2013)
Co-Author, “ ‘Watchdog’ Employees Can Get Protection Too! The New Jersey Appellate Division Reaffirms the Broad Protections of CEPA,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 6, 2013)
“New Jersey Governor Christie Signs Social Media Privacy Bill,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 4, 2013)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Governor Christie Enacts Amendment to NJLAD Designed to Fight Pay Inequity,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 3, 2013)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Narrows Right to Compel Arbitration of Non-Signatories,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 12, 2013)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Raises the Bar for Punitive Damages in CEPA Suits,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 29, 2013)
Co-Author, “New Jersey SAFE,” Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 24, 2013)
Co-Author, “New Jersey Assembly Passes Revised Employee Social Media Privacy Bill,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 20, 2013)
Chapter Author, “Chapter 10 – Defending Hybrid Cases,” Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation, ALM Law Journal Press (2012). Definitive treatise on wage and hour litigation.
“Tri-State Law Bulletin,” Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Editor.
“The Policy Corner: The Religious Accommodations Game,” HR Advisor, Vol. II, No. 2, with Robert J. Nobile (March/April 2005).
“Acting Collectively in Employment Disputes: Plaintiffs Seeking Class-Wide Relief Turn Their Attention to the Fair Labor Standards Act,” New York Law Journal, with Peter A. Walker and Lorie E. Almon (June 28, 2004).
“Pollard V. Dupont: Much Ado About Nothing,” New York Law Journal, with Peter A. Walker (September 15, 2001).