Douglas H. Wigdor
It is difficult to imagine another employment lawyer with a comparable record both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Mr. Wigdor routinely tries cases to verdict – having won numerous verdicts in the millions of dollars and regularly appearing in the New York Law Journal’s “Top Verdicts.” Because of his employment trial verdicts and high-profile cases, Mr. Wigdor has appeared in several profiles about his career, including articles in the New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and the London Independent. Mr. Wigdor has been referred to in these and other major news publications as one of New York’s most high-profile litigators. Mr. Wigdor has been at the forefront of some of the most widely publicized sexual harassment and sexual assault cases that have made headline news around the world. A former U.S. Senator for New York said of Mr. Wigdor, “it’s much better to have him on our side than risk sitting across from him.”
Mr. Wigdor is known for taking on some of the most powerful people in the business and political worlds. He represented the hotel maid in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault case, the rape victim in the Delhi Uber case that led to numerous executive resignations, NBA All-Star Charles Oakley in a defamation lawsuit against James Dolan and Madison Square Garden, multiple clients in the seminal “shop and frisk” cases, countless women in their gender discrimination and sexual harassment claims against their powerful employers, and over 20 employees at Fox News in their claims of gender discrimination, race discrimination, retaliation and defamation against the network. In connection with his representation of his Fox clients, Mr. Wigdor was invited to and testified before the UK Parliament.
Publicity
Mr. Wigdor was named as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the USA by the National Trial Lawyers and one of the Top 100 Labor and Employment Lawyers by the American Society of Legal Advocates. Two peer review studies, The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, have recognized Mr. Wigdor as one of the best Employment Trial Lawyers in America.
Mr. Wigdor’s handling of numerous high-profile cases has resulted in frequent media appearances including Nightline, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN American Morning, Neil Cavuto as well as regular spots on CNBC, ABC News, CBS News, NY1, the BBC and NBC News. He is regularly quoted as a legal expert in newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Law Journal, London Times, Daily Telegraph, London Independent, USA Today, New York Post, and Daily News. Mr. Wigdor’s extensive litigation experience is frequently distinguished in the media; notably, a recent sexual harassment complaint filed by Mr. Wigdor against Chief Executive Officer of data management firm Exusia was lauded by one news outlet as a “stunning piece of legal work” and a “truly spectacular complaint.” The complaint was filed on behalf of Mr. Wigdor’s client, a female employee at the Company. Another well-known media outlet noted that “although U.S. lawyers are known to actively seek out victims to encourage them to sue for damages, Mr. Wigdor doesn’t need to chase clients”.
In addition to representing clients, Mr. Wigdor is an arbitrator, serving on the American Arbitration Association Employment Panel. Mr. Wigdor is also a lecturer, editor and author of articles on employment and criminal related subjects. He is regularly invited to appear and participate in leading legal forums regarding topical employment issues. Mr. Wigdor has appeared multiple times as part of an employment mediation panel at JAMS (Judicial Arbitration & Mediation) continuing legal education events, and has also appeared as a speaker at the American Arbitration Association forum, the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law Schools, as well as Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Mr. Wigdor also frequently speaks and moderates other continuing legal education seminars for the American Conference Institute and Practicing Legal Institute. He is also quoted frequently in the New York Law Journal, presents lectures to various Bar Associations, and has published articles in numerous journals.
The New York Law Journal has featured Mr. Wigdor and Wigdor LLP’s clients in the top New York State verdicts six times, including the number one and two employment verdicts and the number one disability discrimination verdict. Wigdor LLP has also been honored by the Litigator Awards, the highest awards in trial law. Wigdor LLP has been routinely recognized for extraordinary achievement in the categories of employee discrimination, wrongful termination, civil rights, whistle-blower and wage and hour.
Notable Outcomes
- $23.72 million arbitration award (one of the largest single plaintiff employment arbitration verdicts) on behalf of the former Chief Financial Officer of Six Flags;
- $7.5 million verdict in a disability discrimination case against Wal-Mart, one of the largest verdicts ever in a single plaintiff case under the Americans with Disabilities Act;
- $8 million (approx.) verdict on behalf of the former Editor-in-Chief of The Source Magazine, who was retaliated against after she complained of gender discrimination;
- $3.35 million verdict on behalf of a former employee of Nassau County whose due process rights were violated;
- $1.35 million verdict in a disability case where our client was terminated from his employer after disclosing he was HIV positive;
- $1.126 million jury verdict in a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower retaliation case on behalf of a former Vice President and Wealth Manager at JPMorgan Chase; and
- Arbitration award of over $700,000 on behalf of former Managing Director at Manhattan based consulting group who was terminated without basis for “Cause”.
Awards
Mr. Wigdor was named as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the USA by the National Trial Lawyers and one of the Top 100 Labor and Employment Lawyers by the American Society of Legal Advocates. Two peer review studies, The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, have recognized Mr. Wigdor as one of the best Employment Trial Lawyers in America. The American Academy of Trial Attorneys, a national organization of premier attorneys, has recognized Mr. Wigdor as one of the Premier 100 trial attorneys for New York, and he has been honored with a lifetime membership from the Top American Lawyers. Mr. Wigdor has been honored with a Fellowship of the Litigation Counsel of America, in recognition of his outstanding reputation and extensive litigation experience. Mr. Wigdor was selected as a Blue Ribbon Panelist for Super Lawyers in the employment litigation / labor and employment field after receiving one of the highest point totals in the Super Lawyers rankings. Mr. Wigdor has also received an AV rating from Martindale- Hubbell, indicating that his peers rank him as one of the preeminent lawyers in the labor and employment field. Avvo, a well-respected lawyer-rating agency, has given Mr. Wigdor its highest rating of 10.0 (“Superb”). Mr. Wigdor also served as a member of the Law360 Employment Law Editorial Advisory Board.
- New York Law Journal, "Top Verdict"
- Super Lawyers, "Super Lawyer"
- Super Lawyers, "Employment Litigation/Labor Blue Ribbon Panelist"
- Best Lawyers, "Best Lawyer"
- Best Lawyers, "Labor Law – Management"
- Trial Lawyers Board of Regents, "Litigator Award"
- American Society of Legal Advocates, "Top 100 Labor and Employment Lawyers"
- National Trial Lawyers, "Top 100 Trial Lawyers”
- American Academy of Trial Attorneys, "Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for New York"
- Martindale-Hubbell, "AV Preeminent Rated"
- Law360, Employment Law Editorial Advisory Board member
- Avvo, Rated 10.0 ("Superb")
- U.S. News, Best Law Firms
- America's Top 100 Attorneys, "Lifetime Achievement Award"
- Top American Lawyers, Lifetime Membership Award
- The National Trial Lawyers, "Top 100 Trial Lawyers"
- Fellowship, Litigation Counsel of America
New York, New York 10003