Paul H.Galligan
Partner
Labor & Employment
pgalligan@seyfarth.com
Paul offers quick and practical advice to clients on dealing with unions, employees, and opposing counsel.
More About Paul
When clients are sued by employees or former employees on the basis of discrimination or retaliation, the biggest issue concerns the escalating costs of litigating such cases through discovery when the cases have no merit. Innovative arrangements can help clients to control and predict legal fees, but early settlement is still the best option, unless it exposes the client to other litigation. Clients rely on Paul's 30 years of experience in all aspects of labor law, from both the union and employer perspectives, and particularly in the field of labor relations, to help them address issues proactively.
When it comes to employment litigation, clients must be prepared to take a case to trial to obtain the best settlement. Trial experience is critical, and Paul is well-prepared. His experience ranges from federal and state court trials on both traditional labor and employment discrimination issues to NLRB hearings, labor arbitrations, injunctions, and contract negotiations. He has advised clients with union agreements in industries such as hospitality, retail, and communications.
Paul developed his litigation skills while working for a union-side firm in New York City. Since coming to Seyfarth in June 1997, he has added to his experience negotiating employment agreements, separation agreements, noncompete agreements, and drug testing policies; training supervisors and managers; and defending employers subject to corporate campaigns as well as in various human rights agencies, federal court, and at the National Labor Relations Board.
Labor law is just as much about establishing and building relationships as it is about litigating or arbitrating a particular case. Paul's experience and judgment are vital in deciding when to litigate and when to rely on relationship-building, so that the client is best positioned to obtain the best resolution.
When it comes to employment litigation, clients must be prepared to take a case to trial to obtain the best settlement. Trial experience is critical, and Paul is well-prepared. His experience ranges from federal and state court trials on both traditional labor and employment discrimination issues to NLRB hearings, labor arbitrations, injunctions, and contract negotiations. He has advised clients with union agreements in industries such as hospitality, retail, and communications.
Paul developed his litigation skills while working for a union-side firm in New York City. Since coming to Seyfarth in June 1997, he has added to his experience negotiating employment agreements, separation agreements, noncompete agreements, and drug testing policies; training supervisors and managers; and defending employers subject to corporate campaigns as well as in various human rights agencies, federal court, and at the National Labor Relations Board.
Labor law is just as much about establishing and building relationships as it is about litigating or arbitrating a particular case. Paul's experience and judgment are vital in deciding when to litigate and when to rely on relationship-building, so that the client is best positioned to obtain the best resolution.
- BL, University College Dublin
- LLM, University College Dublin
- BCL, University College Dublin
- New York
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Northern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
- US District Court, Western District of New York
Related Key Industries
- Represented a large warehouse club chain, successfully obtaining a trial defense verdict on a national origin discrimination and retaliation claim.
- Successfully obtained a trial defense verdict for a large warehouse club chain on a breach of contract and defamation claim.
- Represented the largest provider of airline catering and in-flight services to successfully obtain a trial defense verdict on a claim of race discrimination and harassment.
- Obtained a summary judgment defense victory at an evidentiary hearing for a large healthcare insurance company on a discrimination claim under New York Corrections Law.
- Obtained a ruling for defense at a board trial for a community center on New York's Upper West Side.
- Represented a large warehouse club chain, successfully obtaining partial ruling for defense at a Board trial.
- Obtained a trial defense verdict on a race discrimination claim for a provider of technologies and services to a variety of industries including energy, healthcare and hospitality.
- Represented a large warehouse club chain, successfully obtaining partial summary judgment and trial defense verdict on a national origin discrimination and defamation claim.
- Obtained defense ruling at Administrative Law Judge bench trial on a disability discrimination claim for an international courier, parcel and express mail division of a large logistics company.
- Obtained defense ruling at a bench trial for a large warehouse club chain on a workers compensation discrimination claim.
- Represented a major airline, obtaining a trial defense verdict on a sex discrimination and harassment claim.
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
Aug 18, 2022
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2023
-
Legal Update
Jan 11, 2022
The NLRB Telegraphs the First of Many Knockouts of Trump Board Decisions
-
Webinar
Oct 6, 2021
Webinar Recording: Don’t Let the Pendulum Hit You as It Swings: How Employers Can Prepare for the Biden NLRB
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Labor Law - Management (2023, 2025)
- American Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Irish American Bar Association
- New York State Restaurant Association
- CAMBA board member
- Co-Author, "The NLRB Telegraphs the First of Many Knockouts of Trump Board Decisions," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 11, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Top Ten Considerations for Employers When it Comes to Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Programs," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 7, 2020)
- Co-Author, "New York City Enacts Protections for Displaced Hotel Service Employees," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 2, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Bill Expanding NYC Human Rights Law to Protect Independent Contractors and Freelancers Becomes Law," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 14, 2019)
- "Top NLRB Precedents in Jeopardy Under an Obama Labor Board," New York Law Journal (January 2009)
- “Policies to Solicit on Property or Use E-mail,” New York Law Journal (November 2008)
- “New Directions for the NLRB,” New York Law Journal (April 2005)
- New York State Employment Laws and Regulations Manual
- HR Manual for New York Employers Developing Labor Law
- Various blogs for Seyfarth Labor and Employment Practice Groups
Paul offers quick and practical advice to clients on dealing with unions, employees, and opposing counsel.
More About Paul
When clients are sued by employees or former employees on the basis of discrimination or retaliation, the biggest issue concerns the escalating costs of litigating such cases through discovery when the cases have no merit. Innovative arrangements can help clients to control and predict legal fees, but early settlement is still the best option, unless it exposes the client to other litigation. Clients rely on Paul's 30 years of experience in all aspects of labor law, from both the union and employer perspectives, and particularly in the field of labor relations, to help them address issues proactively.
When it comes to employment litigation, clients must be prepared to take a case to trial to obtain the best settlement. Trial experience is critical, and Paul is well-prepared. His experience ranges from federal and state court trials on both traditional labor and employment discrimination issues to NLRB hearings, labor arbitrations, injunctions, and contract negotiations. He has advised clients with union agreements in industries such as hospitality, retail, and communications.
Paul developed his litigation skills while working for a union-side firm in New York City. Since coming to Seyfarth in June 1997, he has added to his experience negotiating employment agreements, separation agreements, noncompete agreements, and drug testing policies; training supervisors and managers; and defending employers subject to corporate campaigns as well as in various human rights agencies, federal court, and at the National Labor Relations Board.
Labor law is just as much about establishing and building relationships as it is about litigating or arbitrating a particular case. Paul's experience and judgment are vital in deciding when to litigate and when to rely on relationship-building, so that the client is best positioned to obtain the best resolution.
When it comes to employment litigation, clients must be prepared to take a case to trial to obtain the best settlement. Trial experience is critical, and Paul is well-prepared. His experience ranges from federal and state court trials on both traditional labor and employment discrimination issues to NLRB hearings, labor arbitrations, injunctions, and contract negotiations. He has advised clients with union agreements in industries such as hospitality, retail, and communications.
Paul developed his litigation skills while working for a union-side firm in New York City. Since coming to Seyfarth in June 1997, he has added to his experience negotiating employment agreements, separation agreements, noncompete agreements, and drug testing policies; training supervisors and managers; and defending employers subject to corporate campaigns as well as in various human rights agencies, federal court, and at the National Labor Relations Board.
Labor law is just as much about establishing and building relationships as it is about litigating or arbitrating a particular case. Paul's experience and judgment are vital in deciding when to litigate and when to rely on relationship-building, so that the client is best positioned to obtain the best resolution.
- BL, University College Dublin
- LLM, University College Dublin
- BCL, University College Dublin
- New York
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Northern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
- US District Court, Western District of New York
Related Key Industries
- Represented a large warehouse club chain, successfully obtaining a trial defense verdict on a national origin discrimination and retaliation claim.
- Successfully obtained a trial defense verdict for a large warehouse club chain on a breach of contract and defamation claim.
- Represented the largest provider of airline catering and in-flight services to successfully obtain a trial defense verdict on a claim of race discrimination and harassment.
- Obtained a summary judgment defense victory at an evidentiary hearing for a large healthcare insurance company on a discrimination claim under New York Corrections Law.
- Obtained a ruling for defense at a board trial for a community center on New York's Upper West Side.
- Represented a large warehouse club chain, successfully obtaining partial ruling for defense at a Board trial.
- Obtained a trial defense verdict on a race discrimination claim for a provider of technologies and services to a variety of industries including energy, healthcare and hospitality.
- Represented a large warehouse club chain, successfully obtaining partial summary judgment and trial defense verdict on a national origin discrimination and defamation claim.
- Obtained defense ruling at Administrative Law Judge bench trial on a disability discrimination claim for an international courier, parcel and express mail division of a large logistics company.
- Obtained defense ruling at a bench trial for a large warehouse club chain on a workers compensation discrimination claim.
- Represented a major airline, obtaining a trial defense verdict on a sex discrimination and harassment claim.
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
Aug 18, 2022
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2023
-
Legal Update
Jan 11, 2022
The NLRB Telegraphs the First of Many Knockouts of Trump Board Decisions
-
Webinar
Oct 6, 2021
Webinar Recording: Don’t Let the Pendulum Hit You as It Swings: How Employers Can Prepare for the Biden NLRB
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Labor Law - Management (2023, 2025)
- American Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Irish American Bar Association
- New York State Restaurant Association
- CAMBA board member
- Co-Author, "The NLRB Telegraphs the First of Many Knockouts of Trump Board Decisions," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 11, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Top Ten Considerations for Employers When it Comes to Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Programs," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 7, 2020)
- Co-Author, "New York City Enacts Protections for Displaced Hotel Service Employees," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 2, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Bill Expanding NYC Human Rights Law to Protect Independent Contractors and Freelancers Becomes Law," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 14, 2019)
- "Top NLRB Precedents in Jeopardy Under an Obama Labor Board," New York Law Journal (January 2009)
- “Policies to Solicit on Property or Use E-mail,” New York Law Journal (November 2008)
- “New Directions for the NLRB,” New York Law Journal (April 2005)
- New York State Employment Laws and Regulations Manual
- HR Manual for New York Employers Developing Labor Law
- Various blogs for Seyfarth Labor and Employment Practice Groups