Overview
Attorney Lauri Rasnick is an experienced litigator, investigator, and trusted advisor to businesses and their executives. When employers face difficult workforce challenges, they call Lauri for a plan.
With her analysis and counsel, employers address how to comply with the ever-changing laws and requirements, provide medical leaves and accommodations, and interpret or update agreements, policies, and procedures. Her clients range from small start-ups to large global companies and include companies in a number of industries, such as financial services, telecommunications, health care and life sciences, government contracting, retail and manufacturing, and professional services.
Lauri is often called upon for her advice before issues evolve into litigation. Employers turn to Lauri to navigate and strategize on critical issues involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, or misconduct; the movement of employees between competitive businesses; and the retention or departures of high-level employees. If litigation is unavoidable, Lauri uncovers risks and pinpoints key focus areas to secure winning outcomes in court, mediations, and arbitrations, and before administrative agencies. Clients value her depth of experience successfully representing employers in federal and state trial courts; federal, state, and local administrative agencies; and FINRA, AAA, and JAMS arbitration proceedings.
On employment law issues, Lauri has represented clients in complex litigation involving, among other matters, employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; whistleblower claims; and non-competition agreement and trade secret issues. Clients also look to Lauri to represent them in wage and hour (FLSA) compliance, executive compensation, and other employment contract disputes.
For her client companies and their executives, Lauri:
- provides counsel on a broad range of employment law-related issues, including employee hiring, training, employment policies, wage and hour laws, restructurings and reduction-in-forces, dispute resolution policies and practices, bonus arrangements, and other matters;
- conducts training programs for clients on the full spectrum of employment issues;
- advises employers with respect to diversity and inclusion initiatives and issues, including Section 342 of Dodd-Frank;
- counsels clients on novel issues of employee relations, including drug testing and accommodation questions in the wake of recreational and medical marijuana (cannabis) laws recently passed in many states;
- regularly guides employers through internal investigations of employee complaints and whistleblower claims; and
- frequently negotiates and prepares executive employment, separation, and related agreements.
As co-head of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) practice group, many international companies with offices in the United States trust her for compliance advice and counsel when developing their global DEI policies. Lauri is also a member of Epstein Becker Green’s Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Steering Committee and the Executive Committee of the firm’s Women’s Initiative. She regularly speaks, writes about, and is quoted on employment trends and challenging issues.
Since 2012, Lauri has served as a member of the Advisory Board of GlamourGals Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit that inspires and organizes teen leaders to combat elder isolation by providing companionship and complimentary beauty makeovers to seniors.
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Focus Areas
Services
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Counseling
- Employment Compliance Counseling
- Employment Litigation
- Employment, Labor & Workforce Management
- Pandemic Workforce Issues
- Pay Equity
- Remote and Hybrid Work
- Social Media and the Workplace
- Trade Secrets & Employee Mobility
- Whistleblowing and Compliance
- Workforce Restructuring and Other Cost-Saving Mechanisms
Experience
- Defeated multimillion-dollar claims against a financial services company including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent concealment, and tortious interference. Over the course of three years, Lauri handled all discovery and whittled down the case at trial to show it had no merit. She and her team ultimately compelled the court to issue a directed verdict in favor of the clients on all claims so that the plaintiffs received nothing.
- Represented a corporation and the CEO of its subsidiary company facing serious sexual harassment allegations. Lauri investigated those claims and assisted the company with the CEO’s smooth exit and transition. Her strategic advice guided the company in taking steps to avoid future harassment allegations.
- Counseled a food-products company in creating a national restrictive covenant template to address concerns about employees leaving to work for a major new competitor. Lauri facilitated a smooth rollout resulting in all employees signing their agreements. Departures for competitors decreased, and the company gained additional leverage in the event of a departure.
Credentials
Education
- New York University (LL.M., 1996)
- Employment and Labor Law
- University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1995)
- Syracuse University (B.S., 1992)
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Professional & Community Involvement
- GlamourGals Foundation, Inc., Advisory Board Member
Media
Events
Past Events
- November 30, 2022
- November 29, 2022
Insights
Insights
- PublicationsViral Layoff Videos Are Trending: Employers Should Proceed with Caution2 minute read
- BlogsAttention, NYC Employers: Include Reasonable Salary Ranges in Your Recruiting Posts or Risk Agency Scrutiny7 minute read
- PublicationsHow to Deal with Controversial Commentary: Guidance and Guardrails for Employers3 minute read
- PublicationsGarden Leave Provisions in Employment Agreements—2024 Update4 minute read
- PublicationsDealing with Controversial Commentary? Some Guidance and Guardrails for Employers19 minute read
- BlogsThe Supreme Court Has Weighed in: Employers Considering Title VII Religious Accommodation Requests Now Face a Heightened ...6 minute read
- Media CoverageJeff Ruzal, Lauri Rasnick Quoted in “Be Mindful of Legal Compliance with Unpaid Internships”4 minute read
- PublicationsGarden Leave Provisions in Employment Agreements—2023 Update3 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Named a 2022 “Go-To Thought Leader” in Employment Law by the National Law Review
2 minute read - BlogsNo Vax? No Problem. NYC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Private Employers Will End as of November 1st, 20222 minute read
- BlogsA New Protected Class? Not Quite, but the EEOC Is Looking Out for Workers with Caregiving Obligations5 minute read
- BlogsKeep on Masking: NY Governor Extends Mask Mandate Through February 1, 20222 minute read
- BlogsNYC Employers Take Note: NYC Updates Private Employer Vaccine Guidance3 minute read
- PublicationsNYC Releases Guidance for Private Employers on the New Vaccine Mandate16 minute read
- PublicationsThe New Vaccine Mandate for New York City Employers: What We Know, What We Expect, and What Employers Should Do Now ...10 minute read
- PublicationsIs New York City’s Vaccine Mandate for Private Employers Legal?3 minute read
- PublicationsGarden Leave Provisions in Employment Agreements: 2021 Update3 minute read
- BlogsEEOC Updates COVID-19 Guidance to Address Vaccine Mandate Religious Exemptions5 minute read
- Media CoverageLauri F. Rasnick Quoted in “NY Watchdog's Confidentiality Shift May Chill Settlements”1 minute read
- BlogsNo More Private Confidential Settlements of New York Division of Human Rights Complaints4 minute read
- Media CoverageLauri Rasnick Quoted in “Follow Rules of the Road for Limited-Reference Policies”2 minute read
- PublicationsEEOC Updates Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccination Policies, Including Mandates, Incentives, and Accommodations12 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Receives 2021 Beacon of Justice Award for “Redefining Justice”6 minute read
- Media CoverageLauri Rasnick, Susan Gross Sholinsky Quoted in “Trump Campaign Loss in NDA Fight Sets Stage for More Suits” ...2 minute read
- Media CoverageLauri Rasnick Quoted in “COVID One Year In: What Employment Attys Still Don't Know”4 minute read
- Media Coverage
Epstein Becker Green Article on 2nd COVID-19 Relief Law Featured in “The Most-Read Employment Law360 Guests of 2020” ...
2 minute read - BlogsGarden Leave Provisions in Employment Agreements: 2020 Update3 minute read
- PublicationsGarden Leave Provisions in Employment Agreements3 minute read
- PublicationsSteps for Averting Pandemic-Induced Workplace Violence4 minute read
- PublicationsChecklist for Employers: Covid-19 & Workplace Violence2 minute read
- Media CoverageBloomberg Law “Weekend Read” Features Epstein Becker Green Insights on COVID-19 Workplace Violence Prevention ...2 minute read
- PublicationsPreventing Physical and Verbal Covid-19 Workplace Violence3 minute read
- Publications
Contrary to EEOC Pandemic Guidance, New York City Warns Employers Against Preferential Treatment of Older Workers ...
15 minute read - Media CoverageWorkforce Bulletin Blog Post on EEOC Guidance on ADA Compliance and "Return to Work" Issues Featured in The Regulatory Review3 minute read
- BlogsEEOC Advises Employers: Do Not Require COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Employees Returning to Work3 minute read
- PublicationsNew EEOC COVID-19 Guidance Updates Accommodation Obligations and Warns Against Return-to-Work Age and Pregnancy ...14 minute read
- PublicationsINSIGHT: Thoughtful Return-to-Work Plans Will Cut Discrimination Risk2 minute read
- BlogsEEOC Provides Additional Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation Issues for ‘High Risk’ Employees Returning to Work ...9 minute read
- BlogsEEOC Adds COVID-19 Testing Guidance to Its Technical Assistance on COVID-19 and Anti-Discrimination Laws3 minute read
- BlogsEEOC Addresses ‘Return to Work’ Issues and Clarifies ‘Undue Hardship’ in New Guidance on COVID-19 and ...12 minute read
- BlogsEEOC Updates Guidance on COVID-19 and Compliance with Antidiscrimination Laws6 minute read
- Media CoverageLaw360's Hottest Firms and Stories Features Epstein Becker Green Article on the COVID-19 Relief Bill2 minute read
- PublicationsWhat Employers Should Know About 2nd COVID-19 Relief Law2 minute read
- PublicationsFamilies First Coronavirus Response Act: Employers’ New Paid Family and Sick Leave Obligations19 minute read
- PublicationsUPDATE: U.S. House of Representatives Revises Paid Family Leave and Sick Time Provisions in COVID-19 Emergency Aid Bill ...8 minute read
- PublicationsU.S. House of Representatives Passes Sweeping COVID-19 Emergency Aid Bill That Guarantees Paid Sick Time and Family Leave ...19 minute read
- PublicationsFive Developing Trends Financial Services Employers Need to Know11 minute read
- PublicationsGovernor Cuomo Enacts Expansion of New York State Human Rights Law—Certain Changes Have Immediate Effect7 minute read
- PublicationsNew York State Legislature Lowers the Standards for Proving Unlawful Harassment, Passes Other Sweeping Changes to ...17 minute read
- BlogsNYC Bill Banning Pre-Employment Marijuana Drug Testing Becomes Law2 minute read