Ephraim J.Pierre

he/him/his

Partner

Ephraim partners with employers to manage the risk of complex employment litigation in an ever-changing legal and cultural environment.


More About Ephraim

Effective management of complex employment litigation is key to a productive enterprise, a sustainable workplace culture, and achieving business goals. Complex employment litigation is also subject to an ever-evolving set of laws and social movements, which requires employers to stay nimble and forward-thinking. Clients look to Ephraim for insightful and practical solutions to the legal, strategic, and operational challenges presented by complex employment litigation.

Ephraim has worked with clients in the financial services, media and entertainment, technology, health care, education, retail, energy, and nonprofit industries. Ephraim's experience in representing employers in a variety of industries across the nation provides him with unique insights into the challenges that employers face in complex employment litigation. He has extensive experience with single-plaintiff and class action employment litigation in state and federal courts and administrative agencies. For example, Ephraim has won summary judgment or obtain dismissal on a range of employment and contract claims, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under federal and state law, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) interference and retaliation claims, whistleblower claims, and class action claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Additionally, Ephraim has significant experience with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration proceedings representing broker-dealers.

Ephraim has significant first-chair trial experience in federal and state courts as well as arbitration matters. For example, he obtained the dismissal of four out of six claims on a motion for directed verdict and secured a defense jury verdict on the remaining claims of gender discrimination and retaliation for a Fortune 25 client in state court. He has also obtained dismissal of eight of 10 claims in a FINRA arbitration on a motion to dismiss and then obtained a defense verdict following a 16-day arbitration on breach of contract claims against a Fortune 50 client.

Ephraim also regularly provides clients with practical advice on various trending workplace issues, including hiring practices, internal complaints, and investigations involving C-suite executives, workplace training, employment agreements, and background screening.

Ephraim has been recognized by his peers as a leader in his field. Ephraim was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Minority Corporate Counsel Association and the New York Law Journal (ALM Global LLC) in 2023, respectively. Crain’s New York Business (Crain Communications Inc.) also named Ephraim as one of its "40 under 40" honorees for 2023.

Ephraim enjoys working alongside Seyfarth's talented and knowledgeable attorneys, who are as enthusiastic about labor and employment law as he is. Ephraim particularly enjoys defending and vindicating clients at trials and arbitrations. Ephraim is co-chair of Seyfarth's A+ affinity group for the firm's Black attorneys and allies. Ephraim is an advisory board member for Legal Outreach, Inc., a nonprofit organization that serves low-income or minority urban youth from underserved neighborhoods in New York City through a law-based curriculum and academic support.  In 2017, he was awarded Seyfarth's "Inspirational Leadership Award" in recognition of his commitment to Legal Outreach, Inc., and for inspiring others to make a difference in the New York City community.

  • JD, Boston University School of Law
    Litigation & Dispute Resolution

    Sutherland Cup Moot Court Competition, best team (2012)

  • BA, Fordham University
    Political Science
  • US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • US District Court, District of New Jersey
  • US District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court, Southern District of New York