Christopher M. Valentino

Christopher M. Valentino is a principal in the Long Island, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He represents companies in matters relating to traditional labor, equal employment opportunity, employment litigation and related matters.

Chris has extensive experience in all matters relating to EEO compliance and workplace laws and is a frequent speaker at management education programs. Since joining Jackson Lewis in September 2000, he has regularly counseled clients in the development and implementation of preventive labor and employee relations programs and has represented management with respect to union organizational drives and in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, the federal and state courts and other federal and state administrative agencies, as well as in the area of collective bargaining, contract administration and arbitration.

In addition to his traditional labor expertise, Chris also focuses on counseling employers on reductions-in-force, personnel decisions, the administration of employer policies and procedures, disability management in the workplace, restrictive covenants, substance abuse testing in the workplace, the development of employee handbooks, employment applications and related matters.

Chris also has conducted hundreds of management training seminars on topics including maintaining a union-free environment, avoiding litigation, avoiding discrimination and sexual harassment; effective management interviewing, documentation and evaluation skills; and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and FMLA.

Honors and Recognitions

• The Best Lawyers in America©, "Lawyer of the Year: Labor Law - Management" (2022), "Lawyer of the Year: Litigation – Labor and Employment" (2023)
• Long Island Business Journal, "Business Influencers - Law" (2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America©, "Employment Law - Management", "Labor Law - Management" and "Litigation - Labor and Employment" (2018-present)
• New York Super Lawyers®, "Rising Stars" (2013-2015) and "Super Lawyers" (2017-present)
• Thomson Reuters, “Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer – Independently Rated Lawyers”
• Legal 500 USA, “Recommended Attorney” (2022)

Published Works

• "The Pivotal Role of Human Resources in Business Management: The 1980s to the Present," EMP. REL. TODAY (2013) co-authored with John J. Porta & Ryan Nelson