- University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., 1996
- Trinity College, B.A., 1993
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Bar Admissions
- New York ; 2019
- Connecticut ; 1996 Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; 1999
- Overview
- Experience
- Distinctions
- News & Media
- Events
- Affiliations
Overview
Nick Zaino is a partner and co-practice group leader of the firm’s Business Services Group. He practices primarily in the area of labor and employment law and has extensive experience counseling, representing, and training employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. Nick’s clients range from small to large companies in various industries such as banking, medical, education, manufacturing, engineering, retail, construction, and non-profit.
Working closely with C-level executives, in-house counsel, human resource professionals and business owners, Nick assists in managing risk by counseling on compliance and preventative strategies related to: managing employees with medical issues; workplace investigations; discrimination and harassment; hiring, disciplining and terminating employees; retaliation/whistleblower issues; employment, retention, separation, non-competition, confidentiality, change in control, and independent contractor agreements; wage and hour and labor law. Nick conducts training on these issues, tailoring the programs to address the employer’s needs.
Nick also dedicates a portion of his practice to representing clients in the education sector, including independent schools. He works closely with heads of schools, deans, and financial officers on student and employee disciplinary matters, investigations of wrongdoing, employment contracts, enrollment agreements, child abuse and neglect allegations, and a myriad of other day-to-day compliance and risk management issues.
Experience
- Counseled a large, regional employer on planning and implementation of all aspects of a company-wide reduction in force, including conducting a disparate impact analysis, WARN Act obligations, severance agreements, and notices to employees
- Conducted extensive reviews and audits of wage and hour practices and coordinated large-scale reclassification of exempt positions
- Conducted extensive revision of employer policies and practices relating to FMLA, criminal background checks, hiring forms, and paid time off policies
- Obtained numerous dismissal of discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaints
- Successfully represented an employer in a Department of Labor audit on the issue of whether certain works are independent contractors or employees
Distinctions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, in the area of Employment Law: Management, 2021-2023
- Listed in the 2022 Chambers USA Guide in the area of Labor & Employment
- Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Labour and Employment 2017 (Copyright by Law Business Research Ltd)
- Highlighted in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for placing in the Top Tier of Lawyers in Connecticut.
- Selected for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers® in the area of Employment & Labor, 2011
- Selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Employment & Labor, 2010-2021
- Selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Legal, International and USA, Management Labor & Employment Lawyers, 2015
Awards
- Leadership Award, Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2022
News
- 29 Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP Attorneys Selected for Best Lawyers®
- Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP Attorneys and Practice Groups Receive Honors from Chambers USA
Alerts
Publications
Blogs
- New Connecticut Employment Laws
- What’s On Tap for Employers in the 2022 Connecticut Legislation Session?
- New Federal Law Prohibits Mandatory Arbitration for Sexual Assault and Harassment Claims
- Given the Times, An HR Audit Would Be Prudent
- The Great Resignation: Ideas for Improving Retention
- OSHA and CMS Issue New COVID-19 Requirements
- It’s Time to Update Your Employee Handbook
- New Law Requires Employers to Disclose Wage Ranges and Expands Scope of Gender-Based Wage Discrimination
- Connecticut Extends Sexual Harassment Training For A Third Time and President Biden Nominates A New NLRB General Counsel
- President Biden Makes Major Changes At The National Labor Relations Board On His First Day In Office
- SCOTUS Expands Exemptions to ACA Contraceptive Mandate For Employers With Moral or Religious Oppositions
- The Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- NLRB Finalizes Joint-Employer Rule
- USCIS Publishes A New Form I-9
- Workplace Concerns About Coronavirus
- United States Department of Labor Finalizes A New Joint Employer Rule
- Tis’ the Season to Minimize the Risk of Holiday Party Lawsuits
- Proceed with Caution on Wage and Hour Issues
- Are Your Website and Mobile App Accessible under the ADA?
- Connecticut Employment Laws Effective October 1, 2019
- Collection of EEO-1 Component 2 Data Placed On Hold For Future Years
- Updates From The NLRB: Three Proposed Rules
Events
- Winter Workplace Challenges
- 2021 Annual Labor & Employment Seminar
- CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA): A Refresher with Updates for 2022
- How to Increase Workforce Diversity While Avoiding Legal Pitfalls
- Employment Law Conference
- New Employment Law Changes That Will Impact All Employers
- New FMLA Law and Other Significant Employment Updates
- September Morning Mingle 2019
- How to Avoid Common Wage & Hour Pitfalls
- Speaker, What’s a Mediation Advocate to do? A Guide for Mediation Advocates
- Human Resources Roundtable Breakfast Series
- Human Resources Roundtable Breakfast Series
- FLSA Exemptions and Independent Contractors
- Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Seminar
- Seminar: Important Changes to FLSA Overtime Rule
- The Employee Life Cycle: From Application to Unemployment
- Understanding the Interplay of the FMLA, ADA, and Workers Compensation Act
- Wage and Hour
- Wage and Hour Developments
- Will I Be Ready When OSHA Arrives?
- Business Inside Series: Marijuana in the Workplace
- Changes to Harassment Prevention Training Requirements and CT Paid Leave Briefing
Affiliations
- Connecticut Bar Association
- Board of Governors, 2015-2016
- Past Chair, Labor & Employment Law Section and Ex-Officio Executive Committee Member
- American Bar Association
- Labor and Employment Section
Community
- Board of Directors, Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Board Member, Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation
- Personnel Committee, United Way of Greater Waterbury
Testimonials
Events
