Norma Meacham has been a partner with the Firm since 1997. Her areas of expertise include all aspects of labor and employment and education law including employment policy, collective negotiations, arbitration, disciplinary proceedings, PERB and NLRB proceedings, employment discrimination and related litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Meacham was Director of Human Resources for the New York State Unified Court System, with responsibility for employee relations, personnel, equal employment opportunity, training, payroll and judicial benefits. She previously served as Director of Employee Relations, Deputy Director of Employee Relations, and employment counsel for the judicial branch. Prior to serving in the public sector, Ms. Meacham was in private practice.
Background/Education
Cornell Law School (J.D., 1977)
Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations. (B.S., 1974)
Representative Accomplishments
Public Sector
•Provide labor relations counsel to a public authority(s) including investigation, collective bargaining advice and representation before PERB, in arbitration, DHR, state and federal courts.
•Represented departments of the State of New York in disciplinary proceedings against employees charged with incompetence, misconduct and dereliction of professional duty.
•Negotiated between 75-100 collective bargaining contracts.
•Successfully negotiated employment contracts in the public and private sector on behalf of several clients, including an on-the-air television talent seeking an employment contract with a major station in a larger market.
School Districts
•Represented numerous school districts in protracted Section 3020-a and Section 75 proceedings concerning charges of mental incompetence, misconduct and professional incompetence.
•Successfully defended and investigated a number of school districts against charges of sexual harassment or discrimination involving employees and students.
•Represented school districts in negotiating special health insurance provisions, retirement incentives and shared decision-making issues.
•Successfully defended contract arbitration and PERB claims for school districts.
Private Corporations
•Assisted a private sector manufacturing company concerning strategy in a business reorganization.
•Provided guidance to numerous private sector manufacturing companies concerning strategy in collective negotiations and union representation status.
•Provided guidance to a private sector start-up company and other manufacturing companies on employment practices and procedures, offers of employment and severance agreements.
•Negotiated collective agreements and successor agreements for a private sector start-up company.
Publications
Ms. Meacham was an Assistant Editor of the New York State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Newsletter from 1987- 2001 and is a contributing editor to the Association’s 1989 and 1999 treatise entitled Public Sector Labor and Employment Law and its supplements for 2000 - 2002. Ms. Meacham is the author of the chapter, “Serving Municipal Clients: The Challenge of Difficult Times” in Navigating Municipal Employment Issues (2011, Aspatore).
Other
Ms. Meacham has served on the Executive Committee of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP for eight years. She has been listed in Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and Top Lawyers. She has an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell.
