Katelynn Gray

Partner

  • Katelynn Gray
  • Phone: +1 212 692 1051

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    1540 Broadway
    New York, NY 10036-4086
    USA
  • Duane Morris LLP
    230 Park Avenue, Suite 1130
    New York, NY 10169-0079
    USA

Katelynn Gray focuses in the area of employment law. Ms. Gray regularly counsels clients on a variety of employment issues and matters, including hiring and recruitment, employee classification, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, restrictive covenants, wage and hour rules and regulations, performance management, discipline and termination, reductions in force, corporate restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Gray conducts workplace investigations and employee trainings, prepares human resources policies, procedures and handbooks, and advises both business and individuals in the drafting of all employment-related agreements, including non-compete and other restrictive covenants, employment agreements and severance agreements.  Ms. Gray handles discrimination, retaliation and hostile work environment cases, and restrictive covenant cases, both on the prosecution and defense side, as well as class and collective actions, appearing before federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies. 

Ms. Gray is a 2013 graduate of Fordham University School of Law, where she was a member of the Fordham International Law Journal, and a graduate of Fordham University.

Areas of Practice

  • Employment Advice and Counseling
  • Employment Litigation
  • Wage and Hour Litigation, including Class/Collective Actions
  • Restrictive Covenants

Representative Matters

  • Represented Fultra, a Mexico-based provider of motor transportation equipment and parts in North America and parent company of Fruehauf, in its acquisition of East Manufacturing, an aluminum trailer maker.

  • Represented Park Avenue Dental Cosmetics before the New York State Division of Human Rights and successfully secured the dismissal of unlawful discriminatory practices charges related to race/color, pregnancy, sex, disability and familial status in violation of NY Exec. Law art. 15.

  • Obtained an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit affirming summary judgment dismissing a former employee's race discrimination claim. Toussaint v. New York Dialysis Services, Inc.
  • Successfully defended the former chief administrative officer of a leading financial services firm in an arbitration brought by a former employee alleging hostile work environment and discrimination.

  • Obtained summary judgment dismissal of a former employee’s federal claims of race discrimination, religious discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate, retaliation, and interference with FMLA rights. Reid v. Fresenius Medical Care North America, et al.

  • Supervised and conducted internal investigations for management.

  • Successfully defended construction company in an arbitration against claim of failure to pay prevailing wages.

  • Obtained settlement that the client found favorable on behalf of home healthcare agency in a Fair Labor Standards Act and New York State class action lawsuit alleging failure to properly pay minimum wages and overtime.

  • Won complete dismissal of discrimination lawsuit against a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel.

  • Negotiated a favorable resolution of a threatened discrimination suit on behalf of a large New York City not-for-profit.

  • Successfully defended a New York restaurant against claim for unemployment insurance.

Admissions

  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Education

  • Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 2013
    - Fordham International Law Journal
  • Fordham University, B.A., 2010

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Partner, 2023-present
    - Special Counsel, 2021-2022
    - Associate, 2013-2020
  • Goodman Solutions
    - Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, 2021
    - Sr. Director, Labor and Employment, 2020

Professional Activities

  • New York State Bar Association
    - Member

Selected Publications

Media Hits

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "Developments in Workplace Law and Practice: Current Trends in Employment, Labor, Benefits, and Immigration and Their Impact on Your Business," Duane Morris LLP, New York City, May 8, 2024 
  • Speaker, "The Challenges of a Hybrid Workforce," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), Webinar, August 9, 2023
  • Speaker, "New York City and State Legal Update," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), Webinar, February 7, 2023
  • Speaker, "Nipping Retaliation Claims in the Bud," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), Webinar, July 12th, 2022
  • Speaker, "Beyond the OSHA ETS COVID-19 Vaccine/Testing Mandates and Workplace Safety," Duane Morris Institute (DMi) Webinar, January 26, 2022
  • Speaker, "OSHA’s ETS: Vaccine and COVID Testing," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), Webinar, November 10, 2021
  • Presenter, "Nipping Retaliation Claims in the Bud," Duane Morris Institute (DMi) Webinar, December 5, 2019

  • Speaker, "Trends in Employment Litigation – Pay Equity," Reinsurance Association Of America, Westin Grand Central, New York, July 18, 2018

  • Speaker, "Losing Sleep Over Wage and Hour and Healthcare Regulatory Requirements for Home Healthcare Workers," Duane Morris LLP, New York, January 23, 2018

  • Speaker, Duane Morris' Developments in Workplace Law and Practice, New York, May 4, 2017
  • Panelist, "Developments in Workplace Law and Practice: Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration," May 5, 2016