MICHAEL PERNA received his Juris Doctor from the Fordham University School of Law in 2001, after graduating with honors from both Iona College in 1990, with a M.S. in Multicultural Education, and from Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in 1987, with a B.A. Upon graduation from law school, Michael was awarded the Adele Monaco Memorial Award which is presented to the member of the graduating class who has made a positive impact in the lives of Fordham students through the demonstration of compassion, courage, determination and commitment to public service. He is admitted to the practice of law in the State Courts of New York and the United States Supreme Court. He is also a New York State permanently certified teacher of Common Branches.

Michael taught various levels and subjects in the New York City Public School System from 1987 until 2002 and is an accomplished staff developer of many subject areas and topics. Michael also worked at the Grievance and Arbitration Department of the United Federation of Teachers from 1998 until 2002. He has represented both the UFT and its members at arbitrations conducted under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association and at grievance hearings at the local level. In 2002, he joined the New York City Mayor's Office of Labor Relations where he represented the City in collective bargaining and negotiation of municipal contracts. He has also represented the interests of the City of New York at arbitrations and improper practice disputes before the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining and the New York State Public Employment Relations Board.

After leaving the Mayor's Office of Labor Relations in 2004, Mr. Perna became an Associate at our previous firm, where he handled a wide variety of education-related issues, including: special education matters and Impartial Hearings; §3214 disciplinary hearings and appeals to the Commissioner of Education; Family Court proceedings; and, union recognition proceedings and improper practices before Public Employment Relations Board. Michael has also represented school districts in sexual discrimination and employment discrimination claims before the NYS Division of Human Rights and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In 2007, he became a Senior Trial Examiner with the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining, a 'mini-PERB' that adjudicates labor disputes involving the City of New York and municipal unions. In his role as Senior Trial Examiner, he conducted hearings and drafted decisions, making recommendations to the Board of Collective Bargaining in whose name all decisions are issued. In 2008, Michael joined the Human Resources team at Long Island Jewish Hospital, where he worked with hospital leadership in training managers in employee discipline, harassment and discrimination, and, employee rights under hospital policy and the collective bargaining agreement. He worked with senior leadership to implement strategic business goals and insure employee engagement. He also worked with the local representatives of Local 1199, SEIU, to resolve employee grievances and negotiate local agreements.

Michael rejoined our firm as an associate in April 2011 and provides counsel to our school district clients in matters of collective bargaining, employer-employee relations, grievances and special education. Michael is an accomplished lecturer and trainer on a wide variety of legal, union & employee relations issues.

« BACK