Douglas T. Schwarz is a trusted advisor to and advocate for employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. He litigates in court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings; counsels employers on human resources matters; negotiates and drafts executive employment and separation agreements; advises on labor and employment aspects of corporate transactions, both domestic and cross-border; and conducts internal investigations of employee complaints. Doug also handles ADA Title III and state law matters involving access of persons with disabilities to public accommodations.
Doug’s clients include financial services firms (mutual funds, hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, commercial and investment banks, wealth management); educational institutions; and media, technology, and telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences companies.
He represents numerous non-US companies, from Japan and elsewhere in Asia, the United Kingdom, and Europe, regarding their US labor and employment matters, and US companies on international labor and employment issues.
Doug’s experience includes litigating claims of discrimination, harassment, and reasonable accommodation (race, gender, age, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, religion), whistleblower retaliation, wage and hour violations (bonus, commission, overtime and minimum wage), non-competition, non-solicitation, and trade secret breach, defamation and privacy; counseling on reorganizations, reductions-in-force, and executive hiring and termination matters; developing and implementing litigation-avoidance strategies, diversity and affirmative action plans, and training programs on harassment prevention, diversity, and performance management; and advising on government audits (by OSHA, the Department of Labor and OFCCP) and labor-management relations.
He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator.
Doug represents clients in a range of other matters, including housing, education and public accommodations discrimination.
Doug has served in government as commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), as an assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General and as a US District Court law clerk.
Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Labor and Employment, New York, The Best Lawyers in America (2020, 2022)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Labor and Employment, New York (2023–2025)
Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017, 2019)
Super Lawyers, New York Metro (2011–2014)
Super Lawyers, Massachusetts (2005)
Member, American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
Member, Boston Bar Association
Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
Board of Directors, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Board of Directors, WISE Services Inc.
Recommended, Labor and Employment - Workplace and Employment Counseling,The Legal 500 US (2016–2021)