Kevin B. Walker

Kevin B. Walker is a Principal in the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group, where he specializes in both advisory and litigation aspects of employment law.  With over 30 years of experience, Kevin has represented numerous Fortune 500, particularly in the financial services and healthcare industries.

Active in the legal community, Kevin is a member of the American Bar Association and the New Jersey Bar Association. He earned his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law- Camden and his B.A. from Susquehanna University. After graduating from Rutgers, Kevin worked as an attorney in Bressler’s Labor and Employment law practice for 17 years, from 1989 to 2006.

Experience

Kevin is a trusted attorney who assists clients in navigating various legal challenges.

Kevin has experience:

• Handling FINRA and AAA arbitrations as well as federal and state court litigations relating to claims of age discrimination, sexual harassment, national origin discrimination, disability discrimination, leaves of absences under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Litigating restrictive covenant claims filed with FINRA and in federal and state court.
• Handling arbitrations related to Form U-5 defamation claims and claims seeking expungement of information recorded on Form U-5.
• Serving as lead counsel in the planning and executing of reductions in force, which includes due diligence on termination selection, preparation of required separation agreements and developing communication strategies.
• Acting as the lead investigator and hiring third-party investigators to conduct ongoing investigations.
• Counseling clients during investigations of workplace harassment and discrimination.
• Handling wage and hour audits, including under New Jersey’s Earned Sick Leave Law.
• Reviewing compensation policies and expense reimbursement for compliance with federal and state wage and hour statutes.
• Advising clients on background check issues related to criminal history records and providing guidance on performance management and disciplinary matters involving client employees, including the preparation of Performance Improvement Plans.
• Reviewing employment agreements with restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions to ensure compliance with federal and state law.
• Reviewing employee handbooks and other employee policies.

Some of his notable decisions and rulings include:

• Peter Armstrong v. Advisor Asset Management (FINRA Case No. 23-01349) – After a full hearing on the merits, FINRA Panel denied request for expungement of termination reason on Form U-5.
• Antonia Lerner v. Citigroup, Inc. (AAA Case No. 01-16-0005-1436) – Arbitrator Jack Levin granted Citigroup’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the case in its entirety including claims of race, gender and disability discrimination as well as claims of unlawful retaliation.
• Brian Melbourne and Keith Shepherd v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (FINRA Case No. 13-02432) – Panel granted Citigroup’s threshold motion to dismiss all allegations against it pursuant to FINRA Rule 13504(a)(6)(A).
• Julia Numair v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (FINRA Case No. 13-02035) – After a full hearing on the merits, the FINRA Panel dismissed a $1.0 million claim for constructive discharge, failure to promote, harassment, inequitable compensation, quantum meruit and unjust enrichment.
• Robert Meyer v. Morgan Stanley (FINRA Case No. 12-00788) – After a full hearing on the merits, FINRA Panel dismissed claim for breach of contract and unpaid commissions.
• Ronald Waseleski v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (NASD Case No. 07-03384) – After a full hearing on the merits, FINRA Panel dismissed Waseleski’s claim for breach of contract and unpaid commissions.
• John Gaffney v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. et al. (FINRA Case No. 06-03789) – After a full hearing on the merits, FINRA Panel dismissed Gaffney’s $5.0 million claim for disability discrimination claim under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• James O’Leary v. Salomon Smith Barney, Inc. and Ron Sallet (NASD Case No. 06-00575) – After a full hearing on the merits, FINRA Panel dismissed wrongful termination and disability discrimination claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Gailene Sarbak v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and Bikku Pai (NASD Case No. 05-01121) – After a full hearing on the merits, FINRA Panel dismissed gender, national origin and ancestry discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
• Bruce Youngman v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Inc. (NASD Case No. 03-07356) – After a full hearing on the merits, FINRA Panel dismissed Youngman’s $1.75 million claim for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, quantum meruit, interference with prospective economic advantage and contractual relationships, Form U-5 defamation/libel, unjust enrichment, and violations of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.  NASD Panel also awarded Morgan Stanley $50,000 on its counterclaim along with attorney’s fees.
• Dean Witter Reynolds v. Kevin Blackburn (NASD Case No. 99-04260) - After a full hearing on the merits, the NASD Panel granted Dean Witter’s breach of contract claim for $273,300 and denied Blackburn’s counterclaim for breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, tortious interference with contractual relations, misappropriation, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment.
• Joseph Hunt v. Merrill Lynch Government Securities (NASD Case No. 96-03053) – After a full hearing on the merits, the NASD Panel dismissed a claim demanding the right to exercise $200,000 in stock options under Merrill lynch’s Equity Incentive Plan.

News & Alerts

Articles & Publications

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association

Get to Know Kevin

Kevin resides with his wife of thirty years, Mary, and their dog Molly. He loves tennis, golf, theatre, and is an avid Philadelphia sports fan.