Overview

Risa Salins is an employment and labor partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She focuses her practice on advising businesses on labor and employment matters in connection with U.S. and multinational corporate transactions. Risa also guides employers through restructurings and compliance with federal and state WARN laws. She is a trusted advisor to her clients on sensitive employee issues and separations, and negotiates and prepares sophisticated agreements related to employment, separation, non-competition and other restrictive covenants. In addition, she counsels employers on all legal issues affecting the workplace, including compliance with wage and hour laws, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws, labor laws, leave requirements, employee privacy, whistleblower protections, disability accommodations and government contractor obligations. Risa’s clients include private equity firms and their portfolio companies and public companies across all industries, including healthcare, technology, energy, financial services, food and beverage, chemical products, education, entertainment and retail.

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Thought Leadership

Publications

“Update on Pandemic Leave and Unemployment Benefits,” New York Law Journal, February 5, 2021

“Changes in Store for Employers Under Biden Administration,” Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, February 4, 2021

“Anticipated Labor and Employment Changes Under a Biden Administration,“ New York Law Journal, December 4, 2020

“DACA, Undocumented Workers, Race Discrimination: Supreme Court Review,“ New York Law Journal, October 2, 2020

“Supreme Court Review: LGBTQ Rights, Ministerial Exemption, Contraception,“ New York Law Journal, August, 7, 2020

“Return to Work: Testing and Tracing?,“ New York Law Journal, June 5, 2020

“Consideration for Businesses Thinking About Chapter 11 Bankruptcy,“ New York Law Journal, April 3, 2020

"Labor Law Implications of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,“ New York Law Journal, February 7, 2020

“NLRB Developments: Unilateral Action, Union Rejection and More,“ New York Law Journal, December 6, 2019

“NLRB Developments: Micro Units, Independent Contractors and More,“ New York Law Journal, October 4, 2019

“Supreme Court Review: An Arbitration Trilogy,“ New York Law Journal, August 2, 2019

“EEOC in the Spotlight,“ New York Law Journal, June 7, 2019

“New Salary Thresholds On the Horizon,“ New York Law Journal, April 5, 2019

“Social Media and Departing Employees,“ New York Law Journal, February 1, 2019

“Immigration in Flux,“ New York Law Journal, December 6, 2018

“Supreme Court Review: Agency Fees and Retiree Health Benefits,“ New York Law Journal, October 4, 2018

“Supreme Court Review: Class Action Waivers, Whistleblower Protections,“ New York Law Journal, August 2, 2018

“New York Employers Face New Sexual Harassment Legislation,” New York Law Journal, June 1, 2018

“Reversals of NLRB Precedent Have Significant Implications for Employers,” New York Law Journal, April 9, 2018

“Intern or Employee: The New Federal Test,” New York Law Journal, February 2, 2018

“Applications and Interviews: What Not to Ask,” New York Law Journal, December 1, 2017

“Attorneys as Whistleblowers,” New York Law Journal, October 6, 2017

“NLRB's Acting GC, ERISA-Exempt Church Plans, FCA Seal Requirements,” New York Law Journal, August 4, 2017

“Transgender Protections, EEOC Subpoenas, WARN Act Creditors, Arbitration,” New York Law Journal, June 1, 2017

“Labor-Related Legislative Developments,” New York Law Journal, April 6, 2017

“Anticipated Changes Under President Trump: NLRB, DOL, EEOC,” New York Law Journal, February 3, 2017

“Changing Trends and Developments at the National Labor Relations Board,” New York Law Journal, December 2, 2016

“Joint Employer Update: Changing Interpretations,” New York Law Journal, October 7, 2016

“Supreme Court Review: FLSA, Title VII, First Amendment, Religious Freedom,” New York Law Journal, August 5, 2016

“Supreme Court Review: Agency Shop, Class Certification, ERISA, Arbitration,” New York Law Journal, June 3, 2016

“WARN Act Update: New Questions and Application,” New York Law Journal, April 1, 2016

“Whistleblower Developments in Courts and Agencies,” New York Law Journal, February 5, 2016

“A New World for Joint Employers,” Lexology, January 18, 2016

“Class Action Waivers: Are They Enforceable,” Lexology, January 18, 2016

“Proposed Rules to Tighten Wage and Hour Exemptions,” Lexology, January 18, 2016

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • New York

Courts

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law SchoolJ.D.2001
    Senior Editor, Journal of Labor and Employment Law
  • Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor RelationsB.S.with Honors1998