For nearly 20 years, Jessica Kastin has been advising employers on labor and employment matters with a focus on issues arising under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). She regularly handles collective bargaining negotiations, union elections and representation proceedings, unfair labor practice charges, grievance arbitrations, and strike preparation and injunctions. Jessica also has a robust transactional practice and frequently advises on high-value corporate mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. In addition, she frequently counsels on matters such as reductions in force, the WARN Act (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification), New York State Labor Law, negotiation of employment and separation agreements, discrimination charges, and labor issues arising in bankruptcy.
Jessica's recent experience includes representing clients such as ABM, EagleTree Capital, General Electric, Goode Partners, J.F. Lehman, LORD Corporation, and Verizon in transactions involving complex labor and employment issues. She also frequently serves as a lead advisor with respect to collective bargaining negotiations during which she works closely with clients on identifying and achieving critical business objectives in various industries. Notably, in 2016, Jessica represented Verizon in connection with a seven-week strike involving approximately 36,000 employees. In addition to providing strategic collective bargaining advice, she obtained a rare injunction under Section 10(l) of the NLRA enjoining the union's unlawful secondary activity targeted at hotels in New York housing workers during the strike.
Jessica is a member of the New York State Bar Association Labor & Employment Section and has worked with Mobilization for Justice (formerly MFY) for more than a decade as part of her pro bono practice.
Experience
Speaking Engagements
- January 27, 2017
What Can Practitioners Expect From A Trump Board? New York State Bar Association Labor & Employment Section 2017 Annual Meeting - September 2014
2014 Labor & Employment Seminar - New York - December 13, 2012
What to Expect From the NLRB During President Obama's Second Term: Impact on Both Union and Non-Union Workplaces - April 12, 2011
Jones Day Railway Labor Act Symposium
"Brings a penetrating intelligence and a confident, calm temperament to any proceedings."Chambers USA
- The George Washington University (J.D. with honors 2001; Laurence E. Seibel Memorial Award for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law); Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations (B.S. 1998)
- New York
Chambers USA — clients note that she "is a very experienced traditional labor lawyer," "brings a penetrating intelligence and a confident, calm temperament to any proceedings," and "has an excellent ability to read situations and people"
Best Lawyers in America (2019-2021) — employment and labor law
NY Metro Super Lawyers (2014-2017)
Legal 500 — labor-management relations
- Law Clerk to Wilma B. Liebman, National Labor Relations Board (Summer 1999)