Practice Description:
Joel A. Klarreich joined Tannenbaum Helpern in 1996 to manage the firm's Staffing Industry, Employment Law and Franchising Departments. He has more than 35 years of experience representing individual, multi-office and franchise staffing organizations with regard to corporate, merger and acquisition, administrative law, lending litigation, unfair competition, labor and employment and diverse corporate matters.

A highly experienced corporate attorney, Joel has represented public and privately held companies in mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, public and private stock offerings, secured and unsecured lending transactions as well as general contract negotiations, dispute resolutions and a wide range of corporate matters.

In the employment law area he has represented clients on a broad range of labor and employment issues, including pre-employment inquiries, wage and hour planning, discrimination, benefits, drug and alcohol use and testing, FMLA and ADA, and has defended countless lawsuits and arbitration proceedings involving employment related claims, discrimination and harassment in federal and state courts and before federal, state and local agencies. He is the author of countless articles on employment and discrimination laws.

Joel's extensive legal experience is enhanced by his business experience, having served for over four years as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of an AMEX listed company where he personally participated in all policy, operational and strategy decisions which resulted in the Company's dynamic growth and eventual merger in a uniquely favorable transaction with a major competitor.

In the field of franchising, Joel has consulted and advised franchisors regarding developmental, relationship and regulatory issues. He has prepared franchise agreements and offering circulars, master franchises, area franchises and joint ventures. He has more than 30 years experience in the day-to-day legal and operational issues facing franchisors, as well as in the design and implementation of new franchise programs. He has represented franchisors in the defense and resolution of franchisee claims in arbitration and judicial proceedings.

Joel is currently general counsel to the New York Staffing Association, the sole statewide trade association of temporary and permanent staffing organizations.

Joel, admitted to the New York Bar, graduated from the City College of New York (B.B.A. 1965) and St. John's University School of Law (J.D. 1968) where he was fifth in his class and a contributing editor of The Law Review. Joel has been selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, every year that selections were made.

Significant Matters:

• ASA Certification Group Study Sessions, NY Staffing Association, March 7, 2013
• Action Temporaries Management Co., Inc. v. Stratmar Systems, Inc., 101 F. 3d 108 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition, 1996 WL 110170 (2nd Cir. (N.Y.), Mar 12, 1996) (NO. 95-7698(L), 95-7754(XAP))
• Value Line, Inc. v. IBC USA (Publications), Inc., Not Reported in F. Supp., 1995 WL 378542 (S.D.N.Y., Jun 26, 1995) (NO. 95 CIV. 2266(RPP))
• Association of Personnel Consultants of New York State, Inc. v. Green, 153 Misc.2d 156, 580 N.Y.S.2d 635 (N.Y.Sup., Jan 27, 1992) (NO. 2631, 13818/91)
• Winston Franchise Corp. v. Williams, Not Reported in F. Supp., 1992 WL 7843 (S.D.N.Y., Jan 10, 1992)(NO. 91 CIV. 7963 (CSH))
• Hunt Personnel, Ltd. v. Hemingway Transport Inc., 105 Misc. 2d 626, 432 N.Y.S.2d 585
  (N.Y. City Civ. Ct., Sep 29, 1980)
• Winston Personnel Ltd. v. Abcon Industries, Inc., 108 Misc.2d 695, 438 N.Y.S.2d 669 (N.Y.City Civ. Ct., Sep 25, 1980)(NO. 1723)
• Robert Half Personnel Agencies, Inc. v. Certified Management Corp., 102 Misc.2d 317, 425 N.Y.S.2d915 (N.Y.Sup.App.Term, Nov 21, 1979)
• Association of Personnel Agencies of New York, Inc. v. Ross, 43 N.Y.2d873, 374 N.E.2d 363, 403 N.Y.S.2d 464, 17 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 8361 (N.Y., Feb 07, 1978)
• Columbia Ribbon & Carbon Mfg. Co., Inc. v. A-1-A Corp., 42 N.Y.2d 496, 369 N.E.2d 4, 398 N.Y.S.2d 1004 (N.Y. Oct 18, 1977)
• Columbia Ribbon & Carbon Mfg. Co., Inc. v. A-1-A Corp. 54 A.D.2d 847, 388 N.Y.S.2d 282 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., Nov 16, 1976)
• Giordano v. State Tax Commission, 52 A.D.2d 691, 382 N.Y.S.2d 576 (N.Y.A.D. 3 Dept., Apr 22, 1976)
• National Organization for Women v. State Division of Human Rights, 34 N.Y.2d 416, 314 N.E.2d 867, 358 N.Y.S.2d 124, 8 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. (BNA) 1137, 8 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 9591 (N.Y., Jan 19, 1974)

• Law Day II, New Jersey Staffing Alliance, February 13, 2013


• 2012 FPC Owners Conference, FORTUNE Personnel Consultants, November 7-9, 2012


• Staffing World 2012 -"Social Media in the Workplace: Best Practices to Avoid Liability", American Staffing Association, October 11, 2012


• NJSA Law Day. New Jersey Staffing Alliance, September 13, 2012


• What Every Employer Must Know About the New Sexual Harassment Standards in the Workplace, CLE Program, New York, May 15, 2012


• Super Seminar Day 2012: Find Your Fate, NY Staffing Association, New York, May 15, 2012