Robin Gise

Robin H. Gise, Esq.

JAMS Mediator, Arbitrator, Hearing Officer

Case Manager
Christine Persaud
T: 212-607-2773
F: 212-751-4099
620 Eighth Ave., 34th Floor, New York, NY 10018
CPersaud@jamsadr.com

Robin H. Gise is available to conduct cases virtually. JAMS is equipped to provide virtual ADR services on a variety of online platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, and more.

Biography

Robin H. Gise, Esq. is a skilled mediator and arbitrator with extensive experience resolving complex employment and labor disputes. She is known for her preparation, tenacity, patience and well-honed communication skills. Ms. Gise is also available to provide unbiased, confidential evaluations via neutral analysis and neutral facilitation.

Ms. Gise has handled virtually every type of labor and employment dispute, including discrimination claims (age, race, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), hostile work environment, sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation, non-compete agreements, executive compensation and FLSA/wage and hour claims, as well as class and collective actions. She is also a member of the JAMS Title IX panel and her general practice includes business/commercial, construction defect, insurance and public accessibility matters.

Ms. Gise is a sought-after writer and speaker in the ADR field. Her writings have been published in the New York Law Journal, Bloomberg BNA, the ABA Dispute Resolution Magazine, and many other publications. She is a frequent contributor to the JAMS ADR Insights blog. Recent speaking engagements include presentations at the ABA Section of Litigation, the New York City Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association.  Ms. Gise is a member of the Eastern District of New York Mediation Panel, the New York Supreme Court Commercial Division ADR Roster, and the FINRA Dispute Resolution Panel. She also serves on the Advisory Council for the EDNY ADR Program.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

  • Business/Commercial: Breach of contract, fee disputes, partnership disputes and dissolutions in a variety of industries including financial services, energy, manufacturing, technology, and entertainment
  • Construction: Claims involving allegations of work defects, design defects, architectural and engineering malpractice, unauthorized change orders, delays, and breach of contract
  • Employment: Individual and multi-party claims of discrimination (race, gender, age, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation and gender identity), Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), ADA failure to accommodate, retaliation and harassment, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), executive compensation (bonuses, commissions, severance, equity valuation), wage and hour and FLSA individual, class and collective actions (overtime, unlawful deductions, exemptions, off the clock, tip misappropriation, fluctuating work week) and non-compete and non-solicitation agreements
  • Insurance: Complex coverage claims, claims under Directors & Officers (D&O) and other types of policies including Errors & Omissions (E&O), Commercial General Liability, excess coverage, and matters involving multiple insurance towers; claims by home and business owners for damage resulting from Storm Sandy
  • Personal Injury: Asbestos claims pursuant to bankruptcy-court approved settlement trust procedures; wrongful death and product liability claims
  • Real estate: Commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, and claims for breach of fiduciary duty

Representative Matters

Employment
Ms. Gise has mediated and arbitrated hundreds of employment disputes involving Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and small to mid-sized businesses in a wide range of industries including fashion, financial services, retail and technology.  Select examples include:
  • Employment Discrimination
    • Mediated sexual harassment and sexual assault claims occurring over many years brought by employee of software company against company executive
    • Mediated numerous age discrimination claims including claims brought by founder of financial research start-up company, by a long-time attorney at major accounting firm, and by long time employee at advertising firm
    • Mediated numerous sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims including claims brought by documentary film producer against film maker, by employee of well-known spa, and by employee of litigation funding firm
    • Mediated numerous pregnancy discrimination claims including claims brought by digital producer against entertainment company, by executive at well-known cosmetics maker, and by employee at high-end fashion accessories company
    • Mediated class action against well-known delivery service involving allegations of discrimination on the basis of past criminal history
    • Mediated numerous race discrimination claims including claims brought by diversity and inclusion executive of major banking institution, by manager at electronics retailer, and by employee of dental practice who alleged discrimination based on natural hairstyle
    • Mediated claims concerning requests for accommodation related to COVID-19 including by employee with respiratory issues who requested to work from home
    • Mediated numerous disability discrimination and failure to accommodate claims including claims brought by junior associate at major consulting firm with ADHD, anxiety and depression
    • Mediated whistleblower and retaliation claims brought by board member of non-for-profit foundation who complained about improper financial practices
  • FLSA/Wage and Hour
    • Mediated and co-mediated numerous overtime and misclassification claims, including claims brought by insurance claims managers, shipping company service managers, financial portfolio managers, field technicians, and tennis professionals 
    • Mediated numerous overtime and minimum wage claims brought by hourly employees including claims brought by car dispatchers, building workers, and restaurant employees (including tip misappropriation), home care attendants (including 24-hour care rule), and nail salon technicians
  • Breach of Employment Contract
    • Arbitrated multi-million-dollar compensation dispute between executive and family-held conglomerate arising from the sale of a portion of the business
    • Mediated dispute between financial analyst and bank concerning analyst’s termination, including allegations that analyst breached the bank’s employment policies with defamatory statements
    • Arbitrated dispute between sales employee and seller of financial software over calculation of commission payments
    • Mediated claim by financial analyst seeking to expunge defamatory material from U-5 termination notice
    • Arbitrated claw back claim between real estate broker and prominent brokerage firm seeking funds from departing broker
    • Arbitrated breach of employment contract claim brought by executive of a major hotel chain challenging a termination for cause
    • Arbitrated hundreds of labor-management disputes, including contract interpretation questions and grievances, in the education, healthcare and transportation industries, and in municipal workforces
Business/Commercial
  • Mediated dispute between high-end health food chain and an advertising firm over whether firm fulfilled its contractual obligations
  • Mediated dispute over transfer tax calculations in major commercial property transaction
  • Mediated highly contentious dissolution of a family-held real estate business
  • Arbitrated fee dispute between public relations firm and client involving issues of contract formation
  • Arbitrated dispute involving commercial solar panel installation
  • Arbitrated dispute involving purchase and sale of interests in development of housing project
  • Mediated and/or co-mediated with distinguished JAMS neutrals numerous consolidated Directors & Officers (D&O) and securities class actions involving related domestic and international bankruptcy proceedings
Insurance
  • Mediated complex D&O coverage claim by former officer of sports federation charged with various financial crimes including money laundering
  • Mediated complex coverage claim involving falsification of life insurance application
  • Mediated numerous insurance coverage disputes involving claims for property damage and business interruption brought by home and business owners affected by Storm Sandy, including claims for damage caused by flood, wind, water, and mold
Construction Defect
  • Arbitrated complex construction defect and delay claims involving numerous residential apartment complexes
  • Mediated and/or co-mediated multiple construction defect and delay disputes, some with architectural and engineering malpractice claims, including one matter stemming from the collapse of a townhouse
Professional Liability
  • Co-mediated multiple matters involving malpractice claims against architects, engineers, as well as claims for legal and accounting malpractice
Public Accessibility
  • Mediated claims seeking ADA compliance for wheelchair accessibility against well-known supermarket chain and against major cinema corporation
  • Mediated claims of disability discrimination against several municipalities brought by deaf individual during arrest and detention for failure to provide sign language interpreters
  • Mediated dispute between wheelchair-bound tenant and co-op board over accessibility of the building’s common areas
  • Mediated ADA claim by wheelchair-bound patient who alleged that she was refused treatment by oral surgery practice
Title IX
  • Selected to serve on the Title IX panel of a prestigious University to adjudicate sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment claims
  • Served as hearing officer in appeal of sexual assault case involving multiple complainants and respondents
  • Mentor, JAMS Diversity Fellowship, 2021
  • Member, Eastern District of New York ADR Advisory Council
  • Member, FINRA Dispute Resolution Panel
  • Member, New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division ADR Roster
  • Member, Eastern District of New York Mediation Panel
  • Member, Labor and Employment Committee, New York City Bar Association, 2019-2021
  • Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS
  • Secretary, ADR Committee, New York City Bar Association, 2015-2018
  • Member, New York State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section; Dispute Resolution Section
  • Member, American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section; Section of Dispute Resolution
  • Member of numerous labor-management panels including United Federation of Teachers/NYC Department of Education, NYC Office of Collective Bargaining, and Local 32-BJ/Realty Advisory Board
  • Speaker on a variety of ADR topics at professional organizations including:
    • Panelist, "Settlement and Resolution," Sexual Abuse Litigation and Coverage Conference, Perrin Conferences, 2021
    • Panelist, No Judge, No Jury: A Practical Look at Employment Arbitration, Labor & Employment Committee of the New York City Bar Association, 2021
    • Moderator, Returning to the Workplace: The New Normal, Labor & Employment Committee of the New York City Bar Association, 2021
    • Panelist, Employment Trends, Strategies and Ethics, Academy of New Jersey Management Attorneys, 2020
    • Panelist, Successfully Mediating Employment Disputes Online During COVID-19: Leveraging Unforeseen Advantages and Addressing New Challenges, Practising Law Institute (PLI), 2020
    • Moderator, Navigating the Hiring Minefield - Developments in NY Employment Law and Litigation Trends and the Role of ADR, JAMS, 2019
    • Panelist, "Let's Talk About Sex: LGBT Employment Discrimination at the Supreme Court," Annual Convention, Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), 2019
    • Panelist, Life After Epic Systems: How Employers, Employees, and Arbitrators Are Adapting to the World of Class Action Waivers, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, 2018
    • Moderator, Mediating Wage and Hour Disputes: Best Practices for Advocates and Mediators, New York City Bar Association, 2018
    • Panelist, Meet the Employment Mediator: Sexual Harassment, the #MeToo Movement, and NDAs, JAMS, 2018
    • Panelist, FLSA Update: Cheeks 2.0, Federal Bar Association/EDNY
    • Panelist, Best Practices in Employment Mediations, Employment Law Institute, New York City Bar Association
    • Panelist, Roundtable Breakfast - Disaster Mediation: Storm Sandy Insurance Claim Dispute Resolution Mediation, Association for Conflict Resolution of Greater New York and the CUNY Dispute Resolution Center at John Jay College
    • Panelist, New Labor Arbitrator Panel, New York City Bar Association/American Arbitration Association

Publications

  • Mediator and Arbitrator, JAMS, 2015-present
  • Independent Mediator and Arbitrator, 2009-2015
  • Litigation Attorney, Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP, 2002-2009; Kaiser, Saurborn & Mair, P.C., 2000-2002
  • J.D., Dean’s List, Fordham University School of Law, 2000
  • B.A., Oberlin College, 1994

Counsel Comments

    • “Ms. Gise mediated a complex matter made even more difficult by the posture of opposing counsel. She was the personification of patience, evoked trust on the part of the client, believed that settlement was possible and persevered. She is gracious, experienced and wise. Highly recommend.”
    • “I doubt that any other mediator could have led the parties to a settlement.  We are so grateful for Robin's efforts and patience.”
    • “Robin's patience, mastery of the facts and management of the parties were all exemplary"
    • “I have found Robin to be an extremely skilled mediator, helpful in finding ways to settle cases that I thought could not be settled.  She is knowledgeable about the law and has a demeanor that lends itself well to resolution of complex matters.”
    • “Robin showed persistence, patience, sensitivity, fairness, and creative problem-solving skills throughout the course of a long and difficult mediation of a family business divorce – all the qualities one desires in a mediator.”
    • “Robin is an exceptional mediator. She works tirelessly to make the clients feel like they’ve been heard, and is not afraid to point out the strengths and weaknesses of their respective positions. Robin is willing to be creative in approaching solutions to break impasse. I have enjoyed working with her, and always recommend her to my colleagues."
    • “I highly recommend Robin Gise as a mediator. She is a fantastic communicator who relates well to all parties. Among her strengths, Robin works diligently to identify creative solutions which result in successful outcomes for even the most difficult of cases.”
    • “I have mediated many employment cases over the last 18 years, and I find Robin to be one of the more dedicated and knowledgeable employment law mediators. Not only did Robin spend considerable time with both sides during the mediation session, she also continued her efforts in the days that followed.  Her relentless efforts to find common ground proved successful, resulting in a settlement of our case. I highly recommend Robin to mediate any employment litigation.”
    • “Robin successfully mediated an unusual employment dispute that was both high stakes and highly emotional on both sides of the table. Robin’s work was critical to reaching a settlement that did not appear likely to happen when the session began.”
    • “I just wanted to thank you for your efforts yesterday. I appreciate the way you interacted with [my client]. You provided us with a perfect combination of both empathy and objectivity that we truly valued.”

News

Events

Practice Areas

  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Professional Liability
General Biography

Locations

Available nationwide ›

Disclaimer

This page is for general information purposes.  JAMS makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness.  Interested persons should conduct their own research regarding information on this website before deciding to use JAMS, including investigation and research of JAMS neutrals. See More

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