Current Employment Position(s)

Special Counsel for Employment Matters

Languages

• English(Primary)
• Igbo
• Hebrew
• French

Lawyer Overview

Chinyere Okoronkwo is Special Counsel to Cox Padmore Skolnik & Shakarchy LLP. Ms. Okoronkwo has represented clients since 1991.  Following five years of complex commercial litigation and bankruptcy law practice in Seattle, Washington, Ms. Okoronkwo returned to New York.  Her law practice includes employment law, labor law, contract disputes, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).  Ms. Okoronkwo has broad litigation experience in the areas of employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation, as well as labor disputes.  She has successfully negotiated many severance and settlement agreements on behalf of clients. 

Ms. Okoronkwo earned her law degree from Duke University School of Law, and graduated from Williams College.  Ms. Okoronkwo is admitted to practice law in New York State and the District of Columbia.  She primarily litigates in federal court.

Areas of Practice

• Business & Commercial Law 5%
• Contracts 5%
• Employment Law - Employee 80%
• Labor Law 5%
• Litigation & Appeals 5%

Representative Cases

• Vazquez v. Smith Salomen Barney (6 SDC SDNY 2003)
• Vazquez v. Smith Salomen Barng (6 SDC SDNY 2001)

West Practice Categories

Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Employment Law -- Employee, Labor Law, Litigation & Appeals

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1992
• Washington, 1992
• District of Columbia, 1993
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1999
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1999
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2001

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1992 - Present

Classes and Seminars

• The Cardozo Bets Tzedek Legal Services Clinic Employment Discrimination and Wrongful Termination, Cardozo Law School, Yeshiva University, 2000 - 2001

Pro Bono Activities

• Legal Series for the Elderly, Employment Cases & Appeals

Past Employment Positions

• Webster & Sheffield, New York, Summer Associate, 1990
• Bogle & Gates, PLCC, Seattle, WA, Associate, 1991 - 1994
• Stoel Rives LLP, Seattle, WA, Associate, 1994 - 1996
• Legal Services for the Elderly, New York, NY, Pro Bono, 1996 - 2003
• Law Office, New York, NY, Solo Practice, 1996 - Present

Education

• Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina, 1991
  J.D.
• Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, 1983
  B.A.
  Honors: Dean's List
  Major: Economics

Address

630 Third Avenue
19th Floor
New York, NY 10017-6705

Phones

866-716-3813
917-512-4332

Faxes

212-949-6943

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.cpsslaw.com