Howard Z. Robbins is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, and a co-head of the Strategic Corporate Planning Group.
In the traditional labor law arena, Howard represents clients in a broad range of industries, including sports and entertainment, retail and fashion, newspapers, pharmaceutical companies, hotels, educational and not-for-profit institutions (such as the Metropolitan Opera, Museum of Modern Art and other major museums and cultural institutions). As a member of the firm's Sports Law Group, Howard has been counsel to the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, National Football League and Major League Soccer, and has represented numerous individual NHL clubs. He regularly negotiates collective bargaining agreements and has represented employers in various industries in representation hearings and unfair labor practice trials before the National Labor Relations Board, and in scores of discharge and contract arbitrations. Howard also provides daily advice and counsel to clients in applying collective bargaining agreements and in complying with applicable labor laws. A recent article in The New Yorker magazine noted Howard’s reputation in labor negotiations, stating that “Robbins’s name is synonymous with tough management.”
As co-head of the Strategic Corporate Planning Group, Howard is often called upon to provide labor and employment advice in corporate transactions. He works with clients and investment bankers and negotiates with union representatives to facilitate these deals.
Howard's practice also includes a significant employment law component. In his practice, Howard represents clients in state and federal district and appellate courts and administrative agencies with respect to discrimination and employment disputes. Aside from litigation, Howard has an active counseling practice, providing practical advice to clients on issues like hiring, terminations, restructuring, wage-and-hour laws, WARN compliance, leave issues and other EEO compliance matters.
Most recently recognized by Acritas as a Stand-out Star, Howard is described as "a wonderful negotiator, (and is) in total command of employment law, and combines that with a real practical sense of how things are working."
As a member of the International Labor & Employment Group, Howard often assists clients with cross-border labor and employment issues and coordinates with local counsel around the world.
Education
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New York University School of Law, J.D.
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Johns Hopkins University, B.A.
With Honors
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, New York, Eastern District
- U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District
Memberships
New York City Bar (Chair of Sports Law Committee)
New York University Law School Labor Center (Board Member)
Awards & Recognition
Best Lawyers in America "Lawyer of the Year" 2023
Best Lawyers in America 2020-2025
Sports Business Journal Power Players: Outside Counsel 2021
The Legal 500 United States: Labor and Employment: Disputes: Defense 2018
The Legal 500 United States: Labor and Employment: Labor-Management Relations 2009-2017, 2019-2021
The Legal 500 United States: Labor & Employment: Workplace and Employment Counseling 2019-2020
New York Super Lawyers 2010-2022
Acritas Star Lawyer 2018-2021
Who’s Who Legal: Labour, Employment & Benefits Practitioner 2021