Colleen F. Dowd

Colleen F. Dowd is an associate with the firm concentrating her practice in civil litigation, employment litigation and counseling. Colleen handles all aspects of commercial and employment litigation in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies including the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York State Education Department. Her litigation experience includes prosecuting and/or defending employment discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and New York Human Rights Law. She also has substantial experience in prosecuting and defending actions involving claims for breach of restrictive covenants, breach of fiduciary duties and duties of loyalty, tortious interference with business relations, unfair competition, and trade secret misappropriation.

In addition to litigation, Colleen's practice includes counseling and advising clients on compliance with federal and state employment laws as well as the development and implementation of workplace policies. She also regularly assists clients with drafting and negotiation of employment agreements, separation agreements and restrictive covenants. During law school, Colleen was the recipient of the Ogden E. Fields Award for excellence in labor law; was the recipient of the George Washington Alumni Association Award; and interned with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Following law school, Colleen clerked for the Honorable James T. Turner at the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C.

Prior to joining the firm, Colleen worked as an assistant county attorney in the Suffolk County Attorney's Office, General Litigation Bureau, and for a prominent Suffolk County labor and education law firm. In those positions, Colleen represented management, both public and private sector, concerning employment discrimination claims, employee disciplinary matters, and general compliance with federal and state labor, employment and education laws. Colleen is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and the Suffolk County Bar Association.