News

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, proudly welcomes Brian E. Lawlor to the Firm as Of Counsel.  Mr. Lawlor joins Whiteman Osterman & Hanna’s Real Estate Practice Group, where his practice will focus on affordable housing and housing finance. He has served successfully in many leadership roles in government housing agencies, including Commissioner/CEO of New York State’s housing agencies, Assistant Secretary to the Governor for [...]

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna of counsel Ellen Bach was featured in the article "What Employers Need to Know About New York's New Harassment Prevention Law" in the July 9 edition of the Albany Business Review. The article highlights changes in the new law and how those changes could have major implications for employers. Click here for the full article.

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna partner Robert A. Stout Jr. has been named to the Board of Directors of Opera Saratoga, a regional opera company of international renown.  Opera Saratoga produces an annual summer festival on the grounds of Saratoga Spa State Park featuring classical works, as well as contemporary and American operas, along with premier productions.  Opera Saratoga is active year round, including by producing its Opera-to-Go program, bringing live performances to over 50 [...]

In June 2019, the New York State Legislature adopted four major pieces of legislation that will have sweeping impacts on public and private employers in New York State.  Three of these bills have already been signed into law – (1) a law requiring employers to provide equal pay to employees in all protected classes, (2) a law prohibiting employers from requesting information and making decisions based on applicant and employee wage and salary histories, and (3) a law expanding the [...]

Effective April 12, 2019, all public and private New York State employers are now required to permit an employee up to three hours of paid time off (PTO) to vote in any public election, if the employee (1) is registered to vote, and (2) requests the time off at least two business days prior to the election.  An employee may request this PTO to vote regardless of the employee’s work schedules or working hours.  However, employers have the option to designate when during the [...]