Lawrence Peikes, Esq.
Larry Peikes represents the interests of management in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship and is particularly experienced in litigation defense. He has advocated for employers in a wide range of employment cases—before arbitrators, mediators, and government agencies as well as in state and federal courts. In a field where most attorneys rarely appear before a judge, let alone a jury, Larry has successfully tried cases on both the federal and state levels. Despite his extensive courtroom experience, Larry is first and foremost dedicated to finding the best, most pragmatic business solutions to personnel relations challenges, with an eye toward avoiding litigation.
Larry's practice encompasses the full range of employment law issues, including workplace discrimination, sexual and other forms of harassment, wrongful discharge, wage-and-hour compliance, non-competition agreements, trade secret protection, and contract negotiations. Larry represents employers in administrative proceedings before such agencies as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities; the New York State Division of Human Rights and its New York City counterpart; the National Labor Relations Board; the U.S., Connecticut, and New York Departments of Labor; and other administrative bodies charged to enforce federal and state labor laws.
When litigation proves unavoidable, Larry and his team of seasoned employment lawyers have an enviable record of success, disposing of lawsuits on motions, at trial, and by way of advantageous settlements. What sets Larry apart is his knack for swaying jurors, as exemplified by a string of defense verdicts in jury trials including most recently
• Defending a wire-and-cable manufacturer in federal court against claims of retaliatory discharge and disability discrimination, with the favorable verdict being upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
• Prevailing before a federal court jury in New York City in an off-the-clock wage-and-hour case for a telecom client, where the jury returned a defense verdict following less than 20 minutes of deliberation.
• Vindicating a hospital client in a highly charged whistleblower suit in Connecticut state court.
• Procuring a defense verdict from a Connecticut state court jury in a contentious gender discrimination case.