Deborah A. Shapiro, LLC

Deborah has 28 years of experience in employment law. Before founding her firm in 2004, she practiced at law firms in New York and earned her MBA. Deborah conducts investigations, arbitrates disputes, and mediates conflict in a wide range of industries. 

Prior to focusing on investigations and alternative dispute resolution, Deborah advised clients on nearly all facets of the employment relationship. She also litigated in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. She has addressed a multitude of issues, such as discrimination, harassment, misconduct, retaliation, bullying, assault, traditional labor matters, independent contractor classifications, employment agreements, wage and hour disputes, reductions in force, and others. 

Deborah has conducted investigations for multinational and domestic enterprises, publicly traded and privately held companies, public sector entities, nonprofits, and unionized workforces. She is adept at gathering relevant information from reluctant sources. She is skilled in finding the root of the conflict and the perception gaps in the employment relationship. Above all, she is focused on ensuring that investigations are fair, objective, thorough, and informed.

Deborah is an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law and Fordham University School of Law. At NYU, she teaches alternative dispute resolution. At Fordham, she teaches negotiation. Deborah has taught negotiation every year for the past 17 years and also taught practicum courses in mediation and negotiation for 9 years.

Deborah has nearly two decades of experience deciding cases as an arbitrator and hearing officer. She currently serves as an arbitrator for the: 

  • American Arbitration Association
  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra)
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • Joint Committee on Fee Disputes and Conciliation.

Deborah previously arbitrated for the National Association of Securities Dealers, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Civil Court of the City of New York. For many years, she served as a hearing officer for the Office of Labor Relations of the City of New York and for various municipalities in disputes involving the New York State Civil Service Law and General Municipal Law.

Deborah has been mediating employment disputes for nearly two decades. She currently mediates by private engagement and for the:

  • American Arbitration Association
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

She previously mediated for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 2015, she was appointed to the Mediator Advisory Committee for the Southern District of New York and served an extended term.

• Cornell Law School (J.D.) (Bureau of National Affairs Award)
• University of Oxford, Said Business School, Balliol College (M.B.A.) (Dean’s List)
• Brandeis University (B.A., summa cum laude) (Phi Beta Kappa) (American Studies Award)

• State of New York
• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Deborah has been selected, each year since 2017, by Super Lawyers for excellence in the area of employment and labor law. She also has received awards and recognition for her academic work. She has been active in industry and alumni organizations and invited to lecture in higher education, at industry conferences, and on panels.

Deborah A. Shapiro, LLC

Deborah has 28 years of experience in employment law. Before founding her firm in 2004, she practiced at law firms in New York and earned her MBA. Deborah conducts investigations, arbitrates disputes, and mediates conflicts in a wide range of industries.

Prior to focusing on investigations and alternative dispute resolution, Deborah advised clients on nearly all facets of the employment relationship. She also litigated in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. She has addressed a multitude of issues, such as discrimination, harassment, misconduct, retaliation, bullying, assault, traditional labor matters, independent contractor classifications, employment agreements, wage and hour disputes, reductions in force, and others.

Workplace Investigations

Deborah has conducted investigations for multinational enterprises, publicly traded and privately held companies, public sector entities, nonprofits, and unionized workforces. She is adept at gathering relevant information from reluctant sources. She is skilled in finding the root of the conflict and the perception gaps in the employment relationship. Above all, she is focused on ensuring that investigations are fair, objective, thorough, and informed.

Law School Professor

Deborah is an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law and Fordham University School of Law. At NYU, she teaches alternative dispute resolution. At Fordham, she teaches negotiation. Deborah has taught negotiation every year for the past 17 years and also taught practicum courses in mediation and negotiation for 9 years.

Arbitrator

Deborah has nearly two decades of experience deciding cases as an arbitrator and hearing officer. She currently serves as an arbitrator for the:

  • American Arbitration Association
  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra)
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • Joint Committee on Fee Disputes and Conciliation.

Deborah previously arbitrated for the National Association of Securities Dealers, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Civil Court of the City of New York. For many years, she served as a hearing officer for the Office of Labor Relations of the City of New York and for various municipalities in disputes involving the New York State Civil Service Law and General Municipal Law.

Mediator

Deborah has been mediating employment disputes for nearly two decades. She currently mediates by private engagement and for the:

  • American Arbitration Association
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Deborah previously mediated for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 2015, she was appointed to the Mediator Advisory Committee for the Southern District of New York and served an extended term.

Education

• Cornell Law School (J.D.) (Bureau of National Affairs Award)
• University of Oxford, Said Business School, Balliol College (M.B.A.) (Dean’s List)
• Brandeis University (B.A., summa cum laude) (Phi Beta Kappa) (American Studies Award)

Bar Admissions

• State of New York
• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Recognition and Associations

Deborah has been selected, each year since 2017, by Super Lawyers for excellence in the area of employment and labor law. She also has received awards and recognition for her academic work. She has been active in industry and alumni organizations and invited to lecture in higher education, at industry conferences, and on panelsShe

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