Who We Are / Partners

Hope Pordy
She/her/hers
hpordy@spivaklipton.com
Tel: (212) 765-2100 ext. 40
Fax: (212) 765-8954

Partner Hope Pordy leads Spivak Lipton’s employment litigation practice and serves as counsel to the firm’s union clients, including the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE and Locals 794 and 819, Television Broadcasting Studio Employees Union, IATSE.

Hope assists the firm’s union clients by providing daily counsel on internal union governance matters, employment issues, and issues arising under collective bargaining agreements. She participates in negotiations, handles grievances and arbitrations, and handles NLRB representation proceedings and unfair labor practice charges. On union governance matters, Hope is often called on to conduct training and to draft policies related to non-discrimination, anti-harassment and respectful workplace culture - work informed by her experience as a litigator handling discrimination cases on behalf of workers.

Significant employment law cases include multi-million dollar recoveries of minimum wage and overtime pay on behalf of workers in the private and public sector, defending the rights of public sector workers whose First Amendment rights were violated, and successfully litigating discrimination claims on behalf of workers who have been subjected to harassment based on sex, race, color, national origin and age. In addition, Hope counsels individuals through employment transitions, assisting with the negotiation of employment and severance/separation agreements to ensure that her clients feel protected and valued.

Hope is known for her focus, will and determination in achieving her client’s goals, and for the clear, sound advice she provides to legal and non-legal professionals. She is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law topics at national conferences, and presents for labor organizations on legal developments affecting union members. Hope was recently appointed to serve on the Governing Council for the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section. Hope is an active member in the Legal Network for Gender Equity and the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, furthering her commitment to advancing safe and equitable workplaces for women. Hope also serves on the firm’s EDI and Marketing committees.

Hope is passionate about arts and culture and has advised many arts-related and other nonprofit organizations on governance issues and assisted with obtaining 501(c)(3) status for organizations including Girls Write Now, Inc, Equity Through Design Mentorship, La Femme Theatre Productions, Inc and Mothers Against Media Addiction.

Prior to joining the firm, Hope was a partner with the labor employment law firm of Lewis, Greenwald, Clifton & Nikolaidis PC., Assistant Counsel for the National Treasury Employees Union, and a staff attorney for the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group.

Education and Achievements

Fordham University School of Law, J.D.

Co-Director, Community Service Project

University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., Political Science

Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, “Bridging the Generation Gap in the Legal Profession: How Cultivating Inclusion Mobilizes Intergenerational Collaboration,” ABA Midwinter Conference

    (Feb. 2024)

  • Panelist, “What to Know about State Wage & Hour Laws,” ABA Labor & Employment Law Conference (Nov. 2022)

  • Panelist, “Calculating Wages Owed: It’s All About the Math,” ABA Labor & Employment Law Conference (Nov. 2021)

  • Panelist, "Returning to Work Safely: Your Rights and Responsibilities," Webinar co-hosted by Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) (September 2020)

  • Panelist, "Persuasive Advocacy/Public Speaking for Lawyers," Webinar hosted National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) (June 2020)

  • Panelist, “The Great Debate (Parts I & II): Employee Lawyer v. Employer Lawyer,” Employment Law Podcast hosted by Cozen O’Connor (April 2020)

  • Panelist, "Legal and Data Issues Arising from a Hyper-Connected Work Place," ABA Labor & Employment Conference (Nov. 2018)

  • Panelist, "Comment or No Comment: What to Do When the Media Calls," ABA Leadership Development Program, Webinar (May 2018)

  • Panelist, "The Future of Wage & Hour Laws under the Trump Administration," ABA Labor & Employment Conference (Nov. 2017)

  • Panelist, "Tipping Points: Should the Law on Tipping Stay or Go?," ABA Labor & Employment Conference (Nov. 2016)

  • Moderator/Panelist, "Exempt or Non-Exempt: DOL Final Rule on FLSA Exemptions," with the Solicitor of the Department of Labor Hon. Patricia Smith, ABA-LEL Webinar (July 2016)

  • Moderator/Panelist, "Are Unpaid Internships Still Viable?" with the Solicitor of the Department of Labor Hon. Patricia Smith, ABA Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference (Nov. 2015)

  • Speaker, "A Conversation with the Solicitor of Labor The Honorable M. Patricia Smith," National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Conference (April 2015)

  • Moderator, "Wage & Hour Basics under the FLSA," ABA Labor & Employment Conference (Nov. 2014)

  • Moderator, “DOL and Other Perspectives on Independent Contractor Misclassification,” with DOL Deputy Solicitor, sponsored by ABA Labor & Employment Section (May 2013)

  • Moderator, “Hot Topics for the Entertainment Guilds,” New York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section (Nov. 2013)

  • Moderator, “Whose (FLSA) Liability is it Anyway?” ABA Labor & Employment Conference (Nov. 2011)

  • Moderator, “Crash Course in Wage and Hour Laws,” ABA Labor & Employment Conference (Nov. 2010)

  • Speaker, "The Anti-Retaliation Provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act: the Supreme Court case of Kevin Kasten v. Saint Gobain," American Arbitration Association (Oct. 2010)

  • Panelist, “NLRA Basics,” ABA Labor & Employment Conference (Nov. 2007)

  • Panelist, “Supreme Court and Other Developments Affecting Litigation of Retaliation and Whistleblower Claims,” ABA Teleconference (March 2007)

  • Co-Presenter, “LMRDA: Claims, Defenses and Assorted Issues,” AFL-CIO Lawyers’ Coordinating Committee, Regional Meeting (Sept. 2006)

  • Panelist, “Just Cause in the Health Care Industry,” National Academy of Arbitrators, Annual Meeting (May 2006)

  • Panelist, “What Neutrals Should Know About Dispute Resolution in the Health Care Field,” National Academy of Arbitrators, Region 2 Meeting (Feb. 2006)

  • Panelist, “FMLA Basics,” ABA Annual Conference (August 2004)

Publications

  • Author, Going Behind the Headlines: Spotlight on Sexual Harassment Law, Vermont Bar Journal (Spring 2018)

  • Contributing Editor, The Employee and Union Member Guide to Labor Law (West 2004-2014)

  • Co-Author, with Everett Lewis, Esq., “Sexual Harassment: The Labor Law Dimension,” in Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Samuel Estreicher, ed., Kluwer Law International 1999)

Professional Activities

  • Council Member, American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

    (2022-2027)

  • Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (inducted 2021)

  • Vice-Chair, Pro Bono and Community Outreach Committee, American Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section (Sept. 2020 – Sept. 2022)

  • Co-Chair, Leadership Development Program, American Bar Association

  • National Employment Lawyers’ Association, New York (NELA/NY)

  • Union Lawyers Alliance, AFL-CIO

  • Union/Employee Co-Chair, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee American Bar Association (2009-2015)

Admissions

  • States of New York, New Jersey and Vermont

  • U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District

  • U.S. District Court, New York, Eastern District

  • U.S. District Court, New Jersey

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit