Photo of Christopher M. Valentino

Christopher M. Valentino is a principal in the Long Island, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He represents companies in matters relating to traditional labor, equal employment opportunity, employment litigation and related matters.

Chris has extensive experience in all matters relating to EEO compliance and workplace laws and is a frequent speaker at management education programs. Since joining Jackson Lewis in September 2000, he has regularly counseled clients in the development and implementation of preventive labor and employee relations programs and has represented management with respect to union organizational drives and in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, the federal and state courts and other federal and state administrative agencies, as well as in the area of collective bargaining, contract administration and arbitration.

In addition to his traditional labor expertise, Chris also focuses on counseling employers on reductions-in-force, personnel decisions, the administration of employer policies and procedures, disability management in the workplace, restrictive covenants, substance abuse testing in the workplace, the development of employee handbooks, employment applications and related matters.

On June 8, 2021, New York State updated the NY Forward Guidance for several industries, including office-based and food services employers, with changes that many people feel are overdue.

In addition to incorporating updated mask, physical distancing, and capacity rules that have been in place since New York adopted the Centers for Disease Control and