Partner

Richard H. Block

212.885.8862 rhblock@bartonesq.com
Partner

Richard H. Block

212.885.8862 rhblock@bartonesq.com
View All Attorneys

“Dick has been an exceptionally valuable resource. His responsiveness and attentiveness leaves us feeling as if we are his only client. He demonstrates a great breadth of knowledge and expertise and he is a pleasure to work with.”

QuotedChambers and Partners

Richard H. Block is a partner in Barton’s labor and employment practice. Dick routinely represents management clients in collective bargaining negotiations and complex employment litigation. He regularly conducts human resource investigations, discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and contract litigations. Dick represents both companies and executives in the negotiation of employment, equity, and severance agreements. He advises and trains clients on employment and labor issues including sexual harassment prevention, personnel policies, employee discipline, layoffs, equity and compensation arrangements, independent contractor matters, disability and leave issues, employee handbooks, and a broad range of collective bargaining matters.

Nationally recognized within the labor and employment field, Dick’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, insurance companies, entertainment companies, cultural and nonprofit institutions, real estate firms, and healthcare organizations.

Dick has earned recognition by Chambers USA, the foremost legal data and analytics provider that ranks the top lawyers and law firms in America, as a leading practitioner in Labor & Employment and Labor Relations. He has an “AV Preeminent” peer review rating in Martindale, the highest rating in the legal profession for professional excellence and ethical standards; he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America; and he has consistently been selected to Super Lawyers in Thomson Reuter’s annual survey of the top 5% of lawyers in the New York Metro Area, 2012 to present.

Dick is a frequent lecturer who has spoken in front of such entities as American Express Tax and Business Services, Inc., the Institute of Management and Administration, the Investment and Financial Services Association, the University of Pennsylvania, New York University’s Annual Conference on Labor, and the New York City Bar.

Prior to joining Barton, Dick was a partner in the New York office of Am Law 100 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, PC.

   

 

 

 

 

Practices
Industry Experience
B

Matters

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Labor and Employment Disputes
  • Represented Dial-A-Mattress in NLRB Panel Hearing
    • Successfully represented Dial-A-Mattress in a full panel hearing at the National Labor Relations Board headquarters in Washington, D.C.
  • Won Dismissal of Article 78 Proceeding in NY Supreme Court
    • Successfully won an arbitration, defeated unfair labor practice charge before the NLRB, and won the dismissal of an Article 78 proceeding in N.Y. Supreme Court following the termination of a resident superintendent for a property management company.
  • Won Age Retaliation Trial for Atlantic Mutual
    • Won an age retaliation jury trial for Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District.
  • Won Dismissal of Three NLRB Charges, Affirmed on Appeal
    • Won a complete dismissal of three charges filed at the NLRB by employees of a home security company who were suspended for creating a workplace disruption in the middle of the employer’s office. The dismissal was appealed and then affirmed.
  • Won Dismissal of NLRB Charge Regarding Employee Termination
    • Won a dismissal of a charge filed at the NLRB by an employee of a telecommunications service provider who was terminated in a restructuring.
  • Won Second Circuit Appeal in Discrimination Matter
    • Won a Second Circuit appeal in a discrimination matter for one of the cultural institutions of New York.
Labor, Employment and Executive Compensation
  • Represented Large Retail Water Utility System in Collective Bargaining
    • Served as lead negotiator and outside counsel for one of the largest retail water and wastewater utility systems in New England in their collective bargaining agreements with Local 6 Offices, Professional Employees International Union (AFO-CIO), and Local Lodge 100, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
  • Represented BMG Entertainment in Collective Bargaining
    • Negotiated concessions in collective bargaining for BMG Entertainment in bankruptcy.
  • Counsel to 9/11 Memorial Museum
    • Counseled the 9/11 Memorial Museum in employment and human resource related issues.
  • Counsel to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
    • Advised the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society regarding various employment issues.
  • Negotiated on Behalf of the Met Art Museum in Collective Bargaining
    • Served as lead negotiator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in collective bargaining issues and advised the museum concerning diverse employment matters.
  • Represented the Moinian Group in Real Estate-Related Collective Bargaining
    • Served as lead negotiator for the Moinian Group in collective bargaining regarding the sale of commercial buildings.
  • Represented H.B. Day and Private Clubs in Collective Bargaining
    • Served as lead negotiator in collective bargaining issues for food purveyor H.B. Day and various private clubs including the Cosmopolitan Club and Princeton Club of New York.
  • Advised Christies with Respect to Labor & Employment Issues
    • Represented Christies in collective bargaining and counseled Christies in labor relations and employment matters.
  • Negotiated on Behalf of the Wildlife Conservation Society
    • Served as lead negotiator and conducted collective bargaining for the Wildlife Conservation Society regarding the Bronx Zoo and other zoos in New York.
Executive Compensation and Separation
  • Counseled Executives Regarding Separation & Restrictive Covenants
    • Counseled various senior executives regarding relocation from one company to another including interpretation of restrictive covenants.
  • Obtained Restraining Order Against Execs in NY Supreme Court
    • Successfully obtained a permanent restraining order in NY Supreme Court Commercial Division against a group of executives who left our client to establish a competitive operation.