Ian-Paul A. Poulos

Ian Poulos joined the firm in May 2019. Mr. Poulos represents management in a wide range of labor and employment law matters in state and federal courts. His practice includes handling a variety of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wage and hour claims under federal, state, and local laws. He also provides preventative advice and counseling to management clients nationally in the form of training and review of internal procedures in addition to assisting clients with human resources issues such as hiring, firing, promotions, compensation, and leaves.

Mr. Poulos has extensive litigation and dispute resolution experience. In addition to single-plaintiff claims, he routinely defends businesses and their management in class, collective, and complex employee pay, overtime, exemption, and hours-related lawsuits. As a strategic litigator, Mr. Poulos is also called upon to assist corporate clients with resolving their routine business disputes by defending cases concerning breaches of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, and deceptive business practices.

As a trusted advisor and negotiator, Mr. Poulos often helps corporate clients resolve claims outside of court. He has successfully resolved government investigations brought against corporate clients by various agencies such as the Department of Labor and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Poulos spent seven years at a nationally recognized government relations and litigation boutique. As a government relations professional, he gained valuable experience advocating for business clients at the state and local level by drafting legislation, lobbying for its passage, and testifying at legislative hearings. In his capacity as a litigator, he represented a variety of clients in trial and appellate courts throughout the region.

Mr. Poulos holds degrees from Notre Dame Law School and Hofstra University Honors College, where he graduated with High Departmental Honors with Distinction in Labor Studies and Economics. While in law school, Mr. Poulos primarily focused his studies on labor and employment law. He received the Dean’s Award in his Law & Disabilities class. Upon graduation, he was awarded the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law-BNA, Inc. award for excellence in the Study of Labor & Employment Law.

Mr. Poulos' comments and analysis on important issues have been featured in prominent news outlets and journals such as Crain’s New York Business and the Regional Labor Review. He is fluent in Modern Greek.

Honors, Awards and Recognitions

• Phi Beta Kappa

• Thompson Reuters Top Westlaw Researcher Award

• ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law-BNA, Inc. Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor & Employment Law

• Super Lawyers Rising Star in Employment Litigation 2021-2025

Professional and Community Affiliations

• Notre Dame Lawyers of New York City

• Labor and Employment Relations Association

• Hellenic American Networking Group