Douglas P. Catalano
Partner
Doug Catalano began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Anthony J. Travia in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Doug has been a partner with a number of area law firms before joining Clifton Budd & DeMaria as a partner in 2016.
Doug is involved in several practice areas, concentrating primarily in the area of employment and labor law and general commercial litigation. Doug's 40 years of labor law experience has made him well known to unions and arbitrators alike and has made him the trusted advisor to many companies. He has handled over 1000 labor arbitrations and negotiated over 100 collective bargaining agreements. He has advised companies in all aspects of employment law and has handled contested matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other employment laws.
Doug has represented many companies in the supermarket, restaurant, food service, and trucking industries as well as educational and not-for-profit institutions.
In addition to litigation, his employment practice includes management training, design of personnel systems, policies and handbooks, advice on reductions in force and other employment terminations, preparation of voluntary retirement incentive plans, and investigations of alleged employee misconduct such as sexual harassment.
Doug regularly presents speeches and conducts seminars related to issues of interest to clients, including the Affordable Care Act, methods of picking juries and sexual harassment avoidance.
Education
- Syracuse University, J.D., 1972, cum laude
- Hofstra University, B.A., 1969, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Federal Courts
Representative Matters
- Tried dozens of jury cases to a verdict as first chair counsel
- Represented major supermarket chains in actions commenced by the United States Department of Labor and private plaintiffs under the Fair Labor Standards Act
- Defended clients under all employment law statutes, including Title VII, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, ERISA, and state and local anti-discrimination law
- Defense award after an arbitration proceeding of claimed sex discrimination against a major university
- Represented clients in connection with over 1000 labor arbitrations
- Negotiated over 100 collective bargaining agreements on behalf of employers
- Represented clients in connection with representation petitions filed by various unions
- Represented clients regularly before the National Labor Relations Board in connection with unfair labor practices
- Defended clients in connection with actions commenced under the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act, including actions related to withdrawal liability and alleged delinquent contributions
- Defended clients in actions alleging business torts such as breach of contract, fraud, defamation, and tortious interference with contractual and business relations
Honors, Awards and Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2007 - 2016
- New York's Top Rated Lawyers, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, 2012
- New York - Metro Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2007 - 2014
- While attending law school, Doug was a member of the Syracuse Law Review, Justinian Honors Society and Phi Delta Phi