Overview

Attorney Susan Gross Sholinsky gives employers the tools they need to make smart decisions about their workforce challenges. She is a sharp, versatile partner to executives, human resources professionals, and in-house legal teams who seek her out for her straight-forward advice and access to boots-on-the-ground resources, regardless of location.

Susan also helps employers ensure compliance with the latest local, state, and federal laws, from sexual harassment to discrimination, restrictive covenants, paid family leave, and accommodations. When a company makes an acquisition, she literally writes the legal and compliance script for ensuring a smooth transition and integrating employees into the new organization. Her succinct talking points help deliver key updates and tough decisions to affected team members.

Whether she’s conducting training on anti-harassment or leading training on diversity, internal investigations, or performance documentation best practices, Susan’s effective training style helps managers spot problems early and boost productivity through safe, compliant practices. Susan helps employers respond rapidly to social issues, like the #MeToo or racial justice movements. She also spearheaded the firm’s COVID-19 taskforce, and oversees the firm’s compliance practice, including its legislative updates, as well as client advisories, blog posts, and articles.

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Susan holds several leadership positions within the firm, including as a member of its Board of Directors; Chair of the National Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Steering Committee; and member of the Diversity and Professional Development Committee. She is also on the Executive Committee of the Women’s Initiative. Among her many professional and community volunteer initiatives, she has served multiple years as New York Co-Chair of 50/50 Women on Boards: Global Conversation on Board Diversity, is a Trustee at the Dalton School, and was recognized as one of 2020’s Responsible 100 by City & State New York, an award bestowed upon private-sector leaders whose work makes life better in communities in New York City and across the state.

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Focus Areas

Experience

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Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

  • Managed a software company’s absorption of two companies. Susan reviewed existing employment agreements and offer letters to make sure the company understood its obligations, and drafted scripts to communicate with employees. She facilitated the auditing of 401(k), pension, severance, and stock benefits, and helped ensure a seamless transition of benefits by merging company handbook and other policies of the various entities involved. Susan also reviewed the wage and hour exemption status of incoming employees to confirm compliance with federal and local laws.
  • Created a global sexual harassment policy for a major international private equity firm. This substantial undertaking required Susan to coordinate with local counsel in multiple countries to make sure the company’s uniform policy could be enacted to the extent practicable in all locations.
  • Conducted sexual harassment and manager training for a major hospital’s administrators, supervisors, and chiefs. Susan trained thousands of employees in several locations.
  • Designed and led a four-day intensive internal investigation training program for the U.S. HR, Compliance, and in-house legal teams of one of Japan’s largest banks, which gave the company a cost-effective means to conduct their own investigations.
  • Counseled numerous clients on updating their paid time off (PTO) policies to incorporate nationwide sick time requirements and, where desired, provide unlimited PTO. Susan frequently advises clients in creating a “leave suite” to avoid overlapping policies for Family and Medical Leave Act, paid family leave, short-term disability, workers' compensation, and salary continuation.
  • Advised clients on all aspects of COVID-19 workforce management. Susan helped clients assess their workforce needs and prepare for layoffs and furloughs. She provided due diligence of their selection process, and drafted furlough notices, employee FAQs, and separation agreements. She prepares leave of absence and remote work policies for during- and post-COVID-19 workforces and continues to provide return-to-work safety training and facilitates the creation and enforcement of protocols to address actual and suspected positive COVID-19 cases in the workplace.
  • Trained numerous HR and legal teams for compliance in response to the #MeToo movement. Through a series of in-person and virtual programs, including Halting Harassment, Susan gave clients a roadmap for dealing with harassment claims with the right procedures. She also helps ensure that systems are in place to avoid future allegations.
  • Spearheaded initiatives for major global financial services companies, large international retailers, and a major U.S. sports league to address key areas of focus, including “ban the box” policies, flexible work policies, accommodations, sick leave, family leave, equal pay, salary history inquiry bans, and LGBTQ+ rights. Susan helps clients stay current with rapidly changing laws across the country and makes it easier for them to keep pace with changing rules regarding compliant policies, updated forms and posting requirements, and employment training.
  • Oversaw various pay equity audits, including one at a major pharmaceutical firm.

Recognition

Listed in:

  • Chambers USA: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business: New York—Labor & Employment, "Leader in Their Field" (2022 to 2024). This award is conferred by Chambers and Partners. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • City & State New York: “The Responsible 100” (2020). This award is conferred by City & State New York. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • The Legal 500 United States: Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2024); Workplace and Employment Counseling (2019 to 2022, 2024). This award is conferred by The Legal 500. 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

  • Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (J.D., 2000)
  • Cornell University (B.S., 1995)
    • School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • New Jersey State Courts
  • New York State Courts
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Professional & Community Involvement

  • 50/50 Women on Boards: Global Conversation on Board Diversity, New York Co-Chair (2019 to Present)
  • The Dalton School, Trustee
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • New York City Bar Association, former Labor and Employment Law Committee Member
  • New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

Media

Events

Insights

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