Haynes and Boone, LLP

Jason Habinsky is the Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. He utilizes an approach guided by years of experience to help develop creative strategies aimed at resolving his clients’ potentially volatile employment law matters before they escalate. Jason recognizes that understanding his clients’ businesses is the key to helping them navigate the complexities of workplace issues in the most effective, yet efficient manner.

Should litigation become inevitable, Jason is well-prepared to proceed to trial and, if necessary, see matters through appeal having represented clients in employment law matters before nearly all levels of state and federal courts in New York and nationally. Jason’s wealth of experience spans a broad range of employment-related issues, including claims of employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, disability issues, wage and hour disputes, unfair competition, and theft of trade secrets.

Jason also provides employment-related counseling to clients regarding potentially perilous workplace issues, such as hiring and firing decisions, whistleblower and retaliation issues, disciplinary actions, employee complaints, reasonable accommodation and leave requests, and wage and hour laws. Given the wealth of his experience, it should come as no surprise that Jason has become the go-to lawyer for numerous employers facing employment related issues and is often called on to comment on developments in employment law either in the press or through his many speaking engagements.

Giving back to the community also has always been an important focus of Jason’s employment law practice. In recognition of Jason’s commitment to delivering pro bono employment law counseling to nonprofits, Jason was awarded the Lawyers Alliance for New York’s Cornerstone Award for his outstanding dedication in 2012.

Bar Admissions

New York
Connecticut

Education

J.D., Tulane University Law School, 1996, with honors; Order of the Coif; Editor, Tulane Maritime Law Journal
B.A., Political Science, Union College, 1993, with honors; cum laude

Significant Accomplishments

Obtained finding of no liability as lead counsel for multinational financial services company in arbitration regarding multimillion dollar wrongful discharge claim.
Secured withdrawal of claims with prejudice and obtained summary judgment in connection with discrimination claims brought against international bank before federal district courts in several states.
Obtained summary judgment in multi-million dollar race, national origin, religion and age discrimination lawsuit brought against technology company in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and successfully argued to uphold the dismissal of all claims before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Secured summary judgment on behalf of blood collection and distribution organization with respect to claims of disability discrimination, and successfully argued to uphold the dismissal of all claims before the New York State Appellate Division.
Obtained summary judgment for power generation conglomerate in disability discrimination lawsuit brought in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.
Successfully argued to vacate arbitration award for wrongful termination found against the nation's largest minority-owned and operated investment bank in the New York State Supreme Court.
Obtained dismissal of unfair labor practice proceedings brought against public utilities company before the National Labor Relations Board, and represented the company in collective bargaining negotiations.

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
  New York Bar Association