Laura Shockley named to Long Island Business News’ Top 50 Women

UNIONDALE, NY ? Rivkin Radler partner, Laura Shockley, has been named among Long Island’s 50 Most Influential Women by the Long Island Business News.  Shockley is a member of the Employment & Labor and Litigation & Appeals Practice Groups.  Launched in 2000, the Top 50 Program honors theIsland’s premier professional women for their exceptional accomplishments, business acumen, mentoring and charitable and community involvement. The honorees represent the most influential women in business, government, education and not for profit fields.

Shockley handles all aspects of commercial and employment litigation in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies.  In her practice, Shockley represents corporations, municipalities, small businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals.

Ms. Shockley has successfully represented management in connection with employment matters involving claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, workplace violence, breach of contract and non-compete agreements and wrongful termination.  She also represents clients in complex commercial litigations involving partnership disputes as well as housing discrimination actions and lawsuits under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.   

Ms. Shockley regularly appears before state, federal and local agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New York State Division of Human Rights in connection with claims relating to employment and housing discrimination.  She also has extensive experience representing clients in Alternate Dispute Resolution Proceedings.

Ms. Shockley counsels employers with respect to employment policies, practices and procedures designed to prevent workplace issues and avoid litigation.  She also drafts employee handbooks and manuals as well as employment and severance agreements on behalf of employers.

In additional to her activities as a community leader, Shockley is also a frequent speaker on issues relating to employment law.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Shockley was an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office where she successfully litigated numerous cases of domestic violence crimes.  Ms. Shockley is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Fordham University School of Law’s Domestic Violence Advocacy Center and was a recipient of a Stroock Stroock & Levan fellowship allowing her to provide legal services on behalf of domestic violence victims at Sanctuary for Families Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services. 

Laura Shockley is not only a leader in her business profession as a Partner at Rivkin Radler LLP, she is also actively involved as a leader in the Long Island Community.  Since 2009, Ms. Shockley has served on the Board of Directors for the Long Island Women’s Agenda (“LIWA”), a not-for-profit, nonpartisan coalition of women’s organizations and individuals that advocates for Long Island women on issues, policies and programs affecting the lives of those living and working on Long Island.  For the past two years, Ms Shockley has served as Vice President of LIWA’s Legislative Affairs Committee. 

As Vice President of LIWA’s Legislative Affairs Committee, Laura Shockley organized a “Meet Long Island’s Congressional Candidates” breakfast in connection with the 2010 Congressional election.  The breakfast event, which was attended by nine of the eleven Congressional candidates running for office in Long Island’s five districts, provided the community with the opportunity to meet our Congressional candidates and learn about their views on critical issues such as: equal pay; health care; reproductive rights; affordable child care; and the environment.  Ms. Shockley has begun preparations for the next Congressional event to take place prior to the 2012 election.

In her leadership position, Laura Shockley has also fostered a relationship between LIWA and the League of Women Voters.  Ms. Shockley organized a voter registration drive with the League in the Fall of 2011 and assisted them in connection with the Suffolk County Executive debate that was held at Touro Law School. 

Ms. Shockley is currently working with the Long Island Civic Engagement Table to educate the community on the redistricting process and the implications of the proposed maps for Long Island’s communities of color. She is also a member of The Health Connection At Southside Hospital, a newly formed organization bringing together members of the community on issues relating to healthcare.