Firm History

Spivak Lipton LLP was established in 1989 by the late Harold Spivak, his son, Steven Spivak, Neil Lipton and Roy Watanabe. Prior to establishing the firm, Harold and Steve Spivak were members of Spivak, Rosenman & Spivak, a law firm tracing its origins to the 1940s.  Harold Spivak represented the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) beginning in 1942 with the election of Richard F. Walsh from Brooklyn as the International President.  Prior to 1989, Neil Lipton and Roy Watanabe were members of the entertainment and union-side firm Cohn, Glickstein, Lurie, Ostrin, Lubell & Lubell tracing its origins to 1898, when the iconic Louis B. Boudin began his law practice on New York City’s Lower East Side representing progressive trade unions.

Since 1989, our New York office has grown to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients.  Spivak Lipton has continued to represent various guilds and unions in the entertainment field (e.g., performers, stagehands, writers, scenic artists, costume designers, make-up artists, ticket sellers, ushers) as well as unions in industries as diverse as health care, construction, transportation, legal services and the public sector.

 
Spivak Lipton also represents multiemployer and single employer benefit funds, including Pension Plans and Health & Welfare Plans, in these industries.

Spivak Lipton has an expansive employment law practice and advocates for individual employees facing a wide range of employment disputes such as terminations, minimum wage and overtime violations, discrimination, retaliation, and the negotiation of employment and severance agreements.