Law Firm Overview

The Firm of Valli Kane & Vagnini LLP (VKV) which was formed in August 2005 specializes in representing clients in Employment Law, Civil Rights, Wage and Hour, General Liability, Litigation, Real Estate Closings and General Counsel work as well as Criminal Defense.  Together, Mr. Valli, Ms. Kane & Mr. Vagnini have more than forty years of experience in these areas combined.  Over the years the partners of VKV have assisted thousands of clients and worked with various governmental agencies (including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, various State and City Human Rights Commissions, etc.) in filing or defending complaints, conducting internal investigations to determine a position with respect to charges made, responding to their adversaries position, participating in negotiations to attempt settlement, attending mediations to resolve claims, representing clients in an arbitration and/or in litigating their matters in both Federal and State Courts.

Robert J. Valli, Jr. has been a practicing attorney for eighteen years.  After law school, Mr. Valli went to work at the Office of the Queens District Attorney, as an Assistant District Attorney where he practiced for seven years.  He was assigned to a variety of areas in the DA's office, and spent years gaining trial experience.  In January 1997 he joined Leeds Morelli & Brown, P.C. where he handled a vast amount of employment and general litigation cases.  In this capacity, Mr. Valli tried numerous cases, many of which were in Federal Court. 

Ms. Kane met Mr. Valli when she joined the same firm in August 2001, where she too represented hundreds of clients in class, mass and group actions through negotiation and mediation.  Prior to gaining this experience in employment law and civil rights, Ms. Kane worked for the City of New York as an Assistant Corporation Counsel.  In this capacity she represented the City in various types of Tort and General Liability Litigation.  Ms. Kane defended the City and its employees in a wide range of claims, including trip or slip and falls, negligent construction and design of buildings and/or roadways, water damage to property, negligent supervision, and police misconduct.  She defended its employees including police officers, fire fighters, teachers, sanitation workers, water department workers, etc.  During this time she conducted hundreds of depositions, participated in broad motion practice, pre-trial and trial work. 

Mr. Vagnini also met Mr. Valli & Ms. Kane at their former firm and joined VKV as a named partner in October 2007.  Mr. Vagnini has extensive experience in the field of employment law and civil rights and has been practicing in this area since graduating from law school over ten years ago.  Mr. Vagnini has traveled the country fighting for the rights of employees to coexist in the workplace free from discrimination.  He has represented thousands of employees seeking justice through the EEOC process, various State and City Human Rights agencies, and governmental bodies including the U.S. and New York State Department of Labor.  He has also worked alongside the EEOC in litigating large class and mass actions.  Additionally, Mr. Vagnini has represented employees in Federal Class and Mass action cases in various Federal District Courts.  Mr. Vagnini's years of experience in negotiating, mediating, arbitrating and litigating cases are unparalleled in the field of employment law and civil rights.  Mr. Vagnini has recovered in excess of $100 million dollars for clients who have been subjected to unlawful discrimination and labor practices.

Areas of Practice

• Business & Commercial Law
• Contracts
• Civil Rights
• Sexual Harassment
• Constitutional Law
• Discrimination
• Criminal Law
• Election Campaign & Political Law
• Employment Law -- Employee
• Employment Law -- Employer
• Government Agencies & Programs
• Immigration & Naturalization Law
• Insurance Defense
• Labor Law
• Litigation & Appeals
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Professional Malpractice Law
• Legal Malpractice
• Medical Malpractice
• Railroad Worker Injury/FELA
• State, Local & Municipal Law
• Workers' Compensation Law

West Practice Categories

Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Civil Rights, Sexual Harassment, Constitutional Law, Discrimination, Criminal Law, Election Campaign & Political Law, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Government Agencies & Programs, Immigration & Naturalization Law, Insurance Defense, Labor Law, Litigation & Appeals, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Professional Malpractice Law, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Railroad Worker Injury/FELA, State, Local & Municipal Law, Workers' Compensation Law