Adam S. Ross

PHONE:

631-694-2300

EMAIL:

asr@lambbarnosky.com

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EDUCATION:

♦ Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (B.S., 1999)
♦ Boston University School of Law (J.D., 2002)

BAR ADMISSIONS:

New York

PRACTICE AREAS:

Education, Employment, Labor and Litigation

Prior to joining Lamb & Barnosky, LLP, Adam S. Ross, Esq. served from 2011 to 2018 as the General Counsel of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and, prior to that, as the UFT’s Special Counsel from 2006 to 2011. Adam attended Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. He received his Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. Prior to working at the UFT, he was an associate at Stroock, Stroock & Lavan LLP where, after several years, his increasing work with public sector unions led him to take a position at the UFT.

As the UFT’s General Counsel, Adam negotiated and drafted collective bargaining agreements on behalf of over 200,000 UFT-represented employees in more than 20 bargaining units in both the public and private sectors. He was responsible for directing the UFT’s handling of a wide range of labor and employment matters before state and federal administrative agencies, arbitrators and the state and federal courts, both in the UFT’s role as a labor union as well as an employer. His practice included a broad array of other matters, including education, contracts, arbitration, and general corporate matters. He was likewise responsible for coordinating and directing the UFT’s internal and outside counsel.

Since joining the Firm, Adam has represented school districts in collective bargaining and disciplinary proceedings against employees pursuant to Education Law section 3020-a and Civil Service Law section 75. He regularly provides advice to clients on teachers’ probationary periods, tenure and recall rights, and annual professional performance reviews.

Adam is the co-chair of the New York Bar Association’s Public Sector Labor Relations Committee. In August 2020 he was interviewed by WGRZ -Channel 2 News regarding the legal rights of teachers returning to the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has presented to the Bar Association’s Local and State Government Law Section regarding collective bargaining during the pandemic and, in April 2020, was part of the Bar Association’s panel presentation on COVID-19 paid leave and employee benefits. He has also presented to the New York School Attorney Law Conference on bargaining about civil service employees’ leave rights, the Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section regarding marijuana legalization and at the Long Island Labor and Employee Relations Association regarding free speech in the workplace. Adam’s work also includes regularly training school district supervisory staff on the proper procedures for disciplining educators and the proper manner in which to calculate educators’ seniority.

• 05.10.222: NYSSBA On Board article: Are school district employees entitled to overtime pay for COVID-19 testing when done pursuant to the state Health Commissioner’s determination?