DEBORAH DeHART CANNAVINO is a Member of the Firm in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice, in the Stamford office of Epstein Becker Green. She has been practicing labor and employment law in Connecticut for more than twenty-five years. Ms. Cannavino was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list (2016 to 2018), in the areas of Employment & Labor: Employer and Employment Litigation: Defense. She was also recommended by The Legal 500 United States in the areas of Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense, and Workplace and Employment Counseling (2017 to 2019). 

Ms. Cannavino:

• Represents clients in a wide variety of employment law matters, including the defense of all forms of discrimination claims, wage and hour violations, sexual harassment, restrictive covenants/trade secrets, breach of contract, and common law tort claims

• Regularly appears, on behalf of employers, before all Connecticut state and federal courts, including arguing an appeal before the Connecticut Supreme Court

• Routinely appears before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, and represents employers in trials before its Office of Public Hearings

• Has conducted labor arbitrations, handled matters before the National Labor Relations Board, including trials and appeals, and represented federal government contractors in audits as well as individual and class discrimination claims before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

• Counsels employers on litigation avoidance and compliance with state and federal laws, including harassment investigations, wage and hour, family and medical leave, disability, discrimination, housing, and labor laws

• Drafts and analyzes employment policies, employee handbooks, employment contracts, restrictive covenants and confidentiality agreements, hiring documentation, and severance agreements

• Conducts training sessions for supervisors and human resources professionals on various employment topics, such as sexual harassment prevention, managing leave issues, and wage and hour laws

• Represents housing providers in defending housing discrimination claims before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and before the Connecticut state and federal courts

• Conducts fair housing training for housing providers and is one of only three fair housing trainers certified by the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities

In addition, Ms. Cannavino frequently presents seminars on employment-related topics, such as preventing and investigating complaints of sexual harassment, ensuring effective employee discipline, accommodating employees with disabilities, conducting pre-employment inquiries, and avoiding discrimination complaints.