Firm Profile

Sklover & Donath, LLC
Ten Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10020
Telephone: 212-757-5000
Fax: 212-757-5002
E-mail: Info@ExecutiveLaw.com
 

Our firm consists of attorneys whose expertise and efforts are concentrated in the areas of employment, executive compensation and severance negotiations. Our clients are generally mid-level to senior executives and professionals in the corporate sector. We occasionally represent executives in nonprofit and educational organizations as well.

The firm adheres to a policy of representing individual employees only. We neither represent nor counsel employers. This helps us avoid conflicts of interest, whether actual or apparent, and also helps us to maintain our overall focus of purpose.

We emphasize the desirability of achieving the goals and objectives of our clients through skillful negotiation. At the same time, we have extensive experience in litigation before all state and federal courts and administrative agencies. In particular, we prosecute Federal False Claim ("Qui Tam") actions.

Partners / Members

ALAN L. SKLOVER, born 1951; admitted to bar, 1983, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1997, U.S. Supreme Court; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Education: Amherst College (B.A., cum laude, 1973); Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University (J.D., 1982). Associate Editor: Cardozo Law Review, 1981-1982; Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal, 1981-1982. Author: "Fired, Downsized or Laid Off, What Your Employer Doesn't Want You To Know About How To Fight Back," Henry Holt & Co. Publishers, 2000; "Sklover's Guide to Office Politics," 2002; "Sklover's Guide to Job Security — The 7 Steps to Staying Employed and Employable," 2003; "Sklover's Guide to Resigning from Your Job — The 21 Necessary Precautions," 2003; "Sklover's Guide: Negotiating For Yourself At Work ­ The 7 Steps to Job Security and Career Success," Audio CD-ROM, 2003; "The 7 Steps to Job Security — What Top Executives Know and Teach Their Children," DVD, 2004; "Professional Negotiating," "Incentive Compensation Plans," National Business Employment Weekly, 1996; "Trading Employees," Financial Trader Magazine, 1997. Lecturer: "Negotiating Your New Job: Five Steps Forward - No Steps Back," Hofstra University, 2005; "How to Stay Employed and Employable: Seven Steps to Job Security," Hofstra University, 2004; "Bonus & Compensation Disputes: Prevention and Resolution," New York Society of Security Analysts, 2000; "Employment Contracts and Disputes for Securities Professionals," New York Society of Security Analysts, 1999; "Employment, Compensation and Severance Negotiations," New York University, School of Continuing Education; New School for Social Research, 1996-1997. Forum Leader: America Online Career Center, 1998. Guest Commentator, CNN, CNBC, CourtTV, National Public Radio. Associate: Gordon Hurwitz Butowsky, Baker, Weitzen & Shalov, 1982-1984; Paskus Gordon & Mandel, 1984-1985. Member: New York State Bar Association; National Employment Lawyers Association; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Mr. Sklover’s practice concentration is in the negotiation of senior executive employment, compensation and severance agreements, and in counseling senior executives in career navigation. He is the founding partner of the firm.

SHEREE R. DONATH , born 1976; admitted to bar, New York, 2002. Education: Binghamton University (B.A., cum laude 1998); Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D., 2001). Activities: Cardozo's Women's Law Journal, Notes Editor, (2000-2001), Member (1999-2001); Mediation Advocacy Competition, Regional Winner, National Finalist (2001). Associate, Leeds Morelli & Brown, P.C. (2001-2004); Legal Aide, Office of the New York Attorney General - Civil Rights Bureau (1999-2001). Publications: Note, "Expedited HIV Testing: An Unnecessary Test that is allowing the State to Trample on a Woman's Constitutional Rights," 7 Cardozo Women's. L. J. 2 (2001).

Ms. Donath’s practice concentration is in the presentation of discrimination, harassment and hostile workplace claims, negotiation of employment contracts, and in the representation of corporate whistle-blowers, including Federal False Claims actions.

Senior Counsel

LAINE A. ARMSTRONG, born 1973; admitted to bar, New York, 2001, also admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Haverford College (B.A. 1995); Fordham University School of Law (J.D., 2000). Senior Associate, Nesenoff & Miltenberg, LLP (2005-2010); Senior Court Attorney, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department (2001-2005).

Ms. Armstrong’s practice focuses on counseling, negotiating and litigating labor & employment matters on behalf of employees.

Of Counsel

SUSAN R. NUDELMAN, born 1954; admitted to bar, 1980, New York. Education: State University of New York at Stony Brook (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, 1976); Columbia University School of Law (J.D., 1979). Regulatory Attorney (FCC matters), AT&T, Inc., 1979-1981; Corporate Counsel, Micro-Processor Services, Inc., 1982-1983; Appellate Practice and Litigation, 1984-Present. Member: New York State Bar Association.

CORY J. ROSENBAUM, born 1969; admitted to bar, 1995, New York, United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.  Education: State University of New York, College at Oneonta, (B.A. 1991); San Francisco’s Golden Gate University School of Law, 1994; Visiting Scholar Fordham University School of Law 1993-1994; Fellow of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America / American Association for Justice, New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association; Bronx County Bar Association.  Associate: Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C, 1995-1996; Law Offices of Cory J. Rosenbaum, P.C., 1996 – 2006; Rosenbaum Faria, LLP 2006 – Present.  Mr. Rosenbaum has successfully represented clients against some of the largest corporations in America including: Sears; McDonalds; American Home Products; General Motors; the City of New York; Guidant Corp./Boston Scientific; Kentucky Fried Chicken; Applebees.  His clients reside in all regions of the United States.

Mr. Rosenbaum’s practice focuses on trying cases.  He spends the vast majority of his time in the courtroom on trial or preparing for trial. Successful cases have been presented to juries in New York, Kings, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk and Rockland counties.  Mr. Rosenbaum’s ten to fifteen jury trials each year means that he spends more time in front of juries each year than most lawyers spend in their entire careers.

PHILIP B. SKLOVER is an attorney who, for over four decades, has specialized in the resolution of disputes relating to workplace discrimination matters. After serving as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Associate General Counsel, managing both that Federal Agency’s nationwide trial court litigation activities and overseeing the Commission’s appellate court litigation, Mr. Sklover presently practices law in Washington, D.C., principally as a mediator and consultant in his specialty area of employment law.

In June of 2006, Mr. Sklover left The Federal service after 38 years with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. For 25 years of that tenure, Mr. Sklover served as Associate General Counsel for the federal agency that enforces most of the nation’s federal anti-discrimination legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Equal Pay Act and the Genetic Information Nondisclosure Act. As Associate General Counsel, Mr. Sklover occupied the highest competitive non-political legal position in the EEOC. Because he is visually impaired, Mr. Sklover was likely the highest ranking, non-political appointee with a disability in the Executive Branch.

As the EEOC’s Associate General Counsel, Mr. Sklover at various times managed each of the General Counsel Office’s three major litigation service areas: the nationwide trial litigation program, the Federal governments second largest civil litigation program next to the Department of Justice; the Agency’s Federal appellate court and Supreme Court litigation activities; and the Systemic or large impact case Litigation unit.

During Mr. Sklover’s more than three decades at the EEOC, he has been associated with many important cases, issues and other administrative matters. Of particular significance was his role as counsel for the EEOC in the landmark case of Griggs v Duke Power Company - - perhaps the most significant appellate court pronouncement in the area of employment discrimination law. Due to his involvement in Griggs, Mr. Sklover became an expert in the field of employment testing and other selection procedures. He became one of the principle architects of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures.

Because of Mr. Sklover’s background in employment discrimination matters, he was appointed the “public member” for six years on the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Accreditation. Ending in August 2010, Mr. Sklover for four years served as legal advisor to a university-based federally funded nationwide disability rights technical assistance and research center (CORC), which serviced a network of local private disability rights resource centers (DEBTAC system), created and funded by the Department of Education.

Mr. Sklover received his law degree from the Washington College of Law, the American University in 1968. He was a member of The American University Law Review where he served as Notes Editor.

PHYLLIS J. ITURRIAGA: Firm Director: With an extensive background in communications and business management, Ms. Iturriaga is responsible for overseeing all firm administrative functions and procedures. In addition, she plays an integral part in client support where her project management skills and attention to detail assist us in providing the highest level of service to our clients.

JONATHAN ROSS:  Firm Bookkeeper: With an extensive background in full-charge bookkeeping, Mr. Ross is responsible for the firm’s accounts and general ledger.

Outside, Affiliated Services

Our clients often request assistance with aspects of their employment which are outside the realm of our expertise. For those who seek career counseling, financial/tax services or investigative services, we have forged an alliance network with professionals whose expertise is such areas and professionalism is confirmed by our clients. We highly recommend all of the individuals and services listed below.

ELLIS CHASE - Career Management Consulting:
Mr. Chase has had extensive experience in career and executive coaching, training in corporations, consulting companies, private practice, and colleges and universities. He maintains a varied consulting practice and has had a long affiliation with The Five O-Clock Club, a national job search organization. He has been an instructor with the Center for Career, Education, and Life Planning at New York University since 1987, and is currently consulting with the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University. Mr. Chase has appeared on CNN, CNBC, and several radio programs, and has been a regular contributor to career websites and newspapers. He is a founding member of the New York Chapter of the Association of Career Professionals. Mr. Chase holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in English and Secondary Education, both from New York University. For further information and services please visit: www.EllisChase.com.


BRIAN L. RAINES, CPA - Firm Accountant: Employment compensation audits and tax advice are available to our clients through our office. These services are most often utilized in bonus-related disputes, pension calculation matters, and resolution of benefit-related claims. In addition, Mr. Raines's services include tax projections, and investment and financial management services. Mr. Raines has worked with us for years, and has developed a special expertise in these matters.

LOIS MARTANO - (Ret., NYC Police Dept.), Firm Investigator: When necessary and appropriate, we provide our clients with Employment Investigative Services relevant to their matter of concern. Circumstances considered necessary and appropriate would include, among others, interviewing co-workers to substantiate harassing or illegal treatment, background investigation to uncover previous patterns of abuse by supervisory personnel, investigation to determine if post-employment defamatory statements are being made. Ms. Martano's background in police matters serves our clients well in matters requiring discretion.