Practice Areas

Employment advice grounded in real workplace issues.

Whether it’s discrimination, retaliation, unpaid wages, or an agreement, we’ll identify the pressure points, your options, and the right next step.

Area 01

Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation

Federal, state, and city laws prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on race, sex, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, arrest or conviction history, and other protected categories.

These cases often begin with a change in treatment, pay, discipline, promotion, or termination after an employee speaks up or is treated differently because of who they are. We help you assess those facts quickly and act with purpose.

Talk Through What Happened

Workplace discrimination based on protected characteristics
Sexual harassment and gender-related discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination and leave-related violations
Retaliation for reporting unlawful conduct
Hostile work environment claims
Wrongful termination tied to protected activity or status

Area 02

Wages, Overtime & Employee Benefits

Federal and New York law protect employees who are denied overtime, shorted on wages, or subjected to unauthorized deductions. Many workers do not realize the pay practice is unlawful until the pattern has been going on for months or years.

We help you evaluate wage records, commissions, bonuses, severance, and benefits so you can understand what may be owed and how to pursue it.

Understand What You May Be Owed

Unpaid overtime wages and minimum wage violations
Unauthorized wage deductions
Unpaid commissions and bonuses
Vacation, pension, and severance benefit enforcement
Medical and dental benefit claims
Recovery of wages for undocumented workers

Area 03

Employment & Severance Agreements

Agreements presented at the start or end of a job are usually drafted to protect the employer first. That can include confidentiality provisions, non-disparagement language, restrictive covenants, or waivers that carry more risk than many employees realize.

We review employment contracts and severance packages with a practical eye toward leverage, compensation, references, medical benefits, non-competes, and the long-term effect of the language you are being asked to accept.

Have the Agreement Reviewed

Severance and separation agreement review and negotiation
Non-compete and non-solicitation clause analysis
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement review
Employment contract negotiation
Executive compensation and benefits agreements
Enforcement of breached employment agreements

Notable Decisions & Case Outcomes

Representative matters for employees across levels and industries.

We protect the rights of employees at every level—from administrative staff and factory workers to medical physicians, professors, corporate executives, and bank compliance managers. The summaries below illustrate the types of decisions, litigations, and negotiated outcomes handled by the firm.

Published appellate decision

Madrigal v. Montefiore Medical Center

191 A.D.3d 526 (1st Dept.)

Represented a former blood bank laboratory technologist in litigation involving severe racially-based and national origin harassment, workplace battery, and retaliatory termination against a major New York medical center system.

After a two-month jury trial, secured a multi-million-dollar verdict. On appeal, the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed corporate liability findings for retaliation, hostile work environment, and battery, upheld substantial emotional distress and physical damages, and reinstated punitive damages claims.

Employment discrimination & civil rights

Federal court victory in a racial discrimination and retaliation matter

Represented a plaintiff in a complex, multi-statute discrimination matter against a prominent New York cultural institution.

Successfully litigated intricate preclusion arguments and federal pleading standards in the Southern District of New York, securing leave for the client to amend and advance civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981.

Corporate and financial sector discrimination

Multi-plaintiff federal litigation against a major financial institution

Retained by multiple plaintiffs to file a federal lawsuit alleging systemic workplace discrimination by a major multinational financial institution.

Advanced the litigation through rigorous federal pretrial supervision and discovery, forcing accountability from high-profile corporate defendants.

Wage and hour violations

Collective action settlement for unpaid overtime and wage theft

Represented a group of workers in a federal collective and class-action lawsuit under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law against a commercial corporation.

Navigated intensive litigation to secure a comprehensive, court-approved monetary settlement that recovered unpaid overtime and liquidated damages for impacted employees.

Executive compensation

Recovery of withheld commissions and bonuses

Represented a high-level sales executive whose former employer refused to honor contractual commission structures after separation.

Leveraged New York Labor Law provisions governing timely wage payment to negotiate full pre-trial recovery of withheld commissions, including statutory interest.

Severance negotiations and professional transitions

Academic and medical professional separations

Advised an elite academic professional facing a sudden administrative separation and restrictive non-compete language, and counseled medical professionals navigating a complex practice merger.

Negotiated favorable confidential separation terms, including increased severance, extended healthcare benefits, narrowed employment restrictions, protection of patient relationships, removal of punitive liquidated damages clauses, and robust severance compensation.

Attorney Advertising Notice: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The case summaries above are intended to illustrate the types of matters handled by the Law Offices of Ian Wallace, PLLC, and do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your specific legal matter.

Additional Matters

Other employee matters we handle.

Some issues fall outside the three core categories above but still require immediate, practical advice.

Whistleblower Protection

Representing employees who face retaliation after reporting unlawful, unsafe, or improper workplace conduct.

Family & Medical Leave

Helping employees when leave rights are denied, interfered with, or used against them.

Mediation & Arbitration

Guiding employees through alternative dispute processes that may resolve a matter faster and more privately than court.

Who Comes to Wallace Law

Employees across New York, industries, and job levels.

We represent hourly workers, administrative staff, professionals, managers, executives, and multilingual employees who need direct advice they can trust.

Employees in difficult moments

People dealing with workplace discrimination, retaliation, wage issues, terminations, or agreements they do not feel comfortable signing without advice.

Spanish & French speakers

Clients who want legal advice delivered clearly in English, Spanish, or French, without losing precision or confidence in the process.

Select Advisory Work

In a limited number of matters, we also advise small businesses on employment disputes and workplace policies. That work is secondary to our employee-facing practice.