Overview
A straightforward, experienced, and confident attorney, Shira Blank defends companies against lawsuits alleging violations of all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including with respect to the accessibility of public accommodations and technology, and equivalent state and local laws.
Employers also rely on Shira’s representation to defend against litigation involving claims of discrimination, sexual harassment and hostile work environment, retaliation, wrongful termination, whistleblowing, and wage and hour violations, among others, in state and federal courts and before various federal, state, and city administrative agencies. Her clients include retailers, health care organizations, and financial services companies.
While the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a significant increase in lawsuits involving accessible technology, Shira has been handling hundreds of these cases over the last three years. And as companies were forced to reduce their workforces because of the pandemic, Shira worked with clients on methods of avoiding litigation related to the layoffs, including assisting with resolutions pre-litigation.
Clients value Shira’s superb negotiation skills, responsiveness, and extensive trial experience, and her ability to secure good results in litigation matters, including, in some instances, having the litigation withdrawn altogether.
As a trusted advisor, Shira counsels clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, avoidance of litigation, leave laws, employee discipline, separation and discharge, and harassment. She also advises on compliance with Title I and III of the ADA and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and conducts internal investigations. Shira writes and speaks frequently about the ADA and public accommodation issues as well as ways of avoiding litigation, among other topics.
Early in her career, Shira gained significant litigation experience serving as Assistant Corporation Counsel with the City of New York, where she first-chaired two jury trials, and second-chaired three. She also first-chaired an evidentiary hearing in federal court.
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Focus Areas
Experience
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
- Secured a complete dismissal on summary judgment for a major financial services company in a case involving a plaintiff’s wage claims under the Massachusetts Wage Act. Shira also effectively argued the case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which affirmed the District Court’s dismissal.
- Defeated a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against an aviation company in which the plaintiff asserted that he was discriminated against, wrongfully terminated, and defamed by his colleagues and supervisors.
- Defeated a class action lawsuit against a national theater production company alleging that the company’s online "no outside food/drink" policy violated federal, state, and local accessibility laws. The case resulted in a good decision on a plaintiff’s ability to demonstrate standing in a Title III action, which is now widely cited.
- Obtained a complete dismissal of a plaintiff’s ADA and FMLA discrimination case against the plaintiff’s employer, a health insurance company. Shira took an aggressive litigation posture, which culminated in a successful motion for summary judgment. The case resulted in a very good decision on use of the interactive process under the ADA.
- Defeated class action lawsuit alleging that global retailers’ failure to provide Braille gift cards violated federal, state, and local accessibility laws. Shira got the cases completely dismissed, and established not only that the claims had no basis in the law/regulations but that the clients also sufficiently provided access in other ways.
- Resolved hundreds of website accessibility and mobile application accessibility lawsuits and demand letters for hundreds of clients, including global high-end retail companies, technology firms, and hotels. Shira successfully and quickly negotiated cost-effective resolutions to the cases and demand letters with highly advantageous terms to allow her clients to focus their time and resources on enhancing their accessibility compliance.
Recognition
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America©, “Ones to Watch,” Labor and Employment Law – Management (2021 to 2023). This award is conferred by Best Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Credentials
Education
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University (J.D., 2012)
- Managing Editor, Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal
- The George Washington University (B.A., cum laude, 2008)
- Elliott School of International Affairs
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Languages
- Hebrew
Media
Events
Past Events
- May 24, 2022
Insights
Insights
- BlogsMedical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Regulations Announced by DOJ Under Title II of ADA9 minute read
- BlogsA New Prescription for Access: The Department of Justice Celebrates Anniversary of the ADA by Finally Issuing Title II ...9 minute read
- PublicationsIs the Digital Accessibility Storm Almost Over?2 minute read
- Media CoverageShira Blank Quoted in “4 Tips as EEOC Takes Aim at Surging Mental Health Claims”4 minute read
- BlogsThey Finally Hit Refresh: After More Than a Year of Delays, It Is Time to Officially Welcome WCAG 2.29 minute read
- BlogsSupreme Court Declines to Hear Case Regarding Gender Dysphoria's Status Under the Americans with Disabilities Act ...3 minute read
- Media CoverageShira Blank Quoted in “Pregnancy Bias Law Now Enforceable Despite Lack of EEOC Guidance”2 minute read
- Media CoverageShira Blank Quoted in “Look-Back Method Is Beneficial but Complex Way to Calculate FMLA Time Off”5 minute read
- Media CoverageShira M. Blank Quoted in “Watch Out for These FMLA Eligibility Determination Missteps”2 minute read
- BlogsUpdated EEOC Guidance Highlights ADA’s Impact on Employees with Hearing Disabilities8 minute read
- BlogsHHS Warns HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates That Use of Website Cookies, Pixels, and Other Tracking Technology ...6 minute read
- Media CoverageShira Blank Quoted in “How to Help with Panic Attacks as Workplace Anxiety Surges”3 minute read
- BlogsFourth Circuit Holds the Americans with Disabilities Act Covers Gender Dysphoria3 minute read
- PublicationsWeb Accessibility Outlook: More Regulation, Less Litigation3 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Recognized by 2023 Best Lawyers for Excellence in the Legal Profession
11 minute read - Media CoverageShira Blank Quoted in “Lack of Internet, Web Accessibility Harm Employment for Disabled”4 minute read
- PublicationsExpect More Web Accessibility Claims, Despite DOJ Guidance3 minute read
- Media CoverageShira Blank Quoted in “New DOJ Opioid Guidance Puts Employers on Notice”1 minute read
- Media CoverageShira Blank Quoted in “When Might an Employer Question FMLA Certification?”3 minute read
- BlogsIt’s a New Day? EDNY District Court Deviates from Peers Holding That Newspaper’s Website Is Not a Place of Public ...4 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsThirty-Five Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Recognized as “Ones to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in America 2022 ...5 minute read
- BlogsThe Eleventh Circuit Finally Breaks Its Silence on Website Accessibility – but Was Its Decision Worth the Wait ...8 minute read
- PublicationsViewpoint: Accessibility Challenges Facing Public Accommodations2 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Twenty-Six Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Recognized as “Ones to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in America 2021 ...
4 minute read - PublicationsTelehealth Providers Should Beware ADA Litigation2 minute read
- BlogsCOVID-19 Accessibility Issues as ADA Turns 3011 minute read
- PublicationsKey COVID-19 Accessibility Issues as ADA Turns 302 minute read
- Media Coverage
Eight Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Featured in "Law360 Names Attys Who Moved Up the Firm Ranks in Q1"
2 minute read - Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Announces 2020 Promotions4 minute read
- BlogsThe Eastern District of New York Provides Businesses an Early Holiday Gift in Strictly Construing Standing Requirements in ...3 minute read
- BlogsAs the Holidays Approach, the Latest Wave of ADA Cases Challenge the Absence of Braille Gift Cards3 minute read
- BlogsFederal Court Declares That a Ban on Mandatory Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Claims Is Inconsistent with Federal Law ...5 minute read
- BlogsAs Summer Approaches, the SDNY Once Again Provides Hope for Businesses Exhausted by Repeated Website Accessibility ...9 minute read
- BlogsWhile Far from a Knockout, the Southern District of New York Strikes a Blow for Businesses Facing Website Accessibility ...4 minute read
- BlogsFederal Appellate Courts Ring In the New Year by Taking Up Website and Mobile Application Accessibility7 minute read
- PublicationsOvertime Exemptions, Predictive Scheduling, Sex Harassment, and More: Major Developments on Some Key Issues Affecting ...25 minute read
- PublicationsThe Ground Continues to Shift in Wage and Hour Law30 minute read
- PublicationsCorrectly Classify Assistant Store Managers2 minute read
- PublicationsSocietal Challenges Intersecting with the Retail Workplace27 minute read
- BlogsNew York Federal Court Dismisses Starwood Hotel Employee’s Disability Discrimination Claims4 minute read
- PublicationsCourt Holds That Restaurant Has Right to Dictate Tipping Policies2 minute read
- PublicationsA Full Menu of Potential Legal Issues for Hospitality Owner/Operators32 minute read
- PublicationsUp Against the Wall: A Guide to the Effective Screening of Former Government Attorneys in New York