Overview

Attorney Edward Michael Yennock advocates for employers in complex, multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration matters with transnational implications.

Global financial services institutions, leading professional services firms, and AmLaw 100 law firms, among others, rely on Edward to devise calculated strategies to defend against high-stakes claims in litigation and arbitration, as well as proceedings before local, state, and federal government agencies. In a litigation environment where claimants increasingly seek leverage by trying to expand the scope of their disputes with global institutions beyond U.S. borders, Edward has guided clients through difficult transnational discovery challenges and liability issues.

Edward prosecutes and defends appeals in federal circuit courts of appeal around the country and conducts internal investigations in connection with regulatory inquiries and whistleblower complaints. He also navigates clients through investigations conducted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as the New York State Division of Human Rights and the New York City Commission on Human Rights, among other agencies. Edward also regularly counsels clients on employment-related matters, with an eye to mitigating litigation risk. Edward particularly understands the nuances of litigating cases that attract public attention and scrutiny, requiring a holistic response in coordination with communications and crisis management teams.

Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Edward was associated with an international law and public-policy firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Focus Areas

Experience

  • Won summary judgment in full for a global financial services institution in a federal action involving an employee’s claims of discrimination and retaliation based on race, national origin, gender, disability, and caregiver status, in addition to alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Notably—particularly for employers headquartered abroad and doing business in the United States—the court held that management’s use of a foreign language in the workplace to the alleged exclusion of the English-speaking plaintiff did not amount to national origin discrimination, and complaints about such exclusion do not amount to “protected activity” under anti-discrimination laws.
  • Won a “zero” award for a global financial services firm in a FINRA arbitration involving an investment banker’s claims of wrongful termination and breach of contract.
  • Served as co-lead trial counsel in successfully defending a global financial services firm in multiple FINRA arbitrations where former business heads collectively claimed to have incurred over $150 million in damages based on alleged defamation, as well as cancellation of deferred compensation awards in connection with business losses arising from the collapse of a counterparty hedge fund.
  • Won a “zero” award for a global financial services firm in defending a three-claimant FINRA arbitration in which former employees sought to recover more than $15 million based on alleged career damage resulting from claimed fraudulent inducement in their hiring, as well as cancellation of deferred compensation awards and other claims asserted in connection with the firm’s exit from the claimants’ business line. In addition to prevailing on all of the plaintiffs’ claims, Edward and his team also obtained a counterclaim award, requiring the former employees to pay back several million dollars in loans extended to them as part of their offer packages.
  • Prosecuted, on behalf of a global financial services firm, a successful appeal from a court order affirming an arbitration award that treated bankers’ canceled deferred compensation awards as “wages” under the New York Labor Law. On appeal, the New York Appellate Division, First Department, held that the canceled deferred compensation awards were not wages, and therefore not subject to the statute’s imposition of liquidated damages and penalties—a notable holding for financial services firms.
  • Won a “zero” award for a fintech startup firm facing breach of contract and other claims asserted by an employee in an arbitration before the American Arbitration Association. Following the favorable decision, Edward secured a rare order requiring the employee to pay the client’s attorneys’ fees.
  • Secured an appellate victory on behalf of a leading global media organization in a case involving an employee’s allegations of disability discrimination. Significantly, the appellate decision established that the alleged manifestations of stress caused by an employee’s dissatisfaction with his supervisor and perceived unfair criticism of his work did not qualify as a “disability” under the amended Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Conducted an internal investigation of claimed wide-reaching employee misconduct on behalf of a preeminent health care institution.
  • Counseled financial firms engaged in the business of litigation funding on a range of issues related to their existing and prospective investments, including the associated risks and upsides, as well as privilege and document retention issues.
  • Defended the City of New York and its private contractors against claims arising from the post-9/11 recovery and clean-up operation at the World Trade Center disaster site.
  • Defended a global manufacturer of organic and specialty foods against multimillion-dollar claims arising from a nationwide product recall.
  • In multi-jurisdictional trademark infringement litigation, executed a removal and transfer strategy resulting in dismissal of claims.

Recognition

  • Listed in New York Metro Rising Stars, Employment Litigation: Defense and Employment & Labor (2017). 

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Learn more about the award selection criteria and ranking methodology.

Credentials

Education

  • Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2006)
    • Articles Editor, Seton Hall Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law
  • University of Delaware (B.A., 2003)

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Media

Events

Insights

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