About 

SHIRA Z. GELFAND is an associate at Outten & Golden LLP in New York, where she represents employees in litigation and negotiation in all areas of employment law. She is also a member of the firm’s Pay Equity Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Gelfand worked as an associate in employment practices coverage, where she advised insurers regarding liabilities and underwriting considerations related to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour claims.

Ms. Gelfand received her B.A. from Binghamton University cum laude and her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where she was a Public Service Scholar. During law school, Ms. Gelfand worked as a law clerk at Outten & Golden, interned at the New York State Office of the Attorney General in the Civil Rights Bureau and Pfizer, Inc., and participated in the New York City Law Department Labor and Employment Law Field Clinic.

(*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)

Bar Admission and Professional Activity

  • Ms. Gelfand is admitted to practice law only in New York.
  • Ms. Gelfand is admitted to the following federal courts: The United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York.
  • Member, New York City Bar Association.
  • Member of the National Moot Court Competition (New Lawyers Council) (2022 – 2024).
  • Member of Law360’s Employment Authority Discrimination Editorial Board (2024).

Video & Podcasts

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Speaking Engagements

2023

  • Speaker: “Closing the Pay Gap: Challenges and Opportunities in Pay Equity Reform,” 2023 Labor and Employment Law Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico

2024

  • Speaker: “The Equal Rights Amendment – Why Do We Care?” NYSBA Women in Law Section Annual Conference, NYC
  • Speaker: “Does it Compute? How to Navigate the Ethical and Professional Dilemmas in the Use of  Current and Emerging Technologies (ETHICS)”, 2024 ABA Labor and Employment Section’s Employment Rights and Responsibilities Mid-Winter Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Blogs & Publications

What California Job Applicants and Employees Need to Know About the State’s New Pay Transparency Law

Pay Transparency in New York City

As we previously reported earlier this year, the New York City Council passed a law requiring New York City employers with more than four employees to publish the minimum and maximum pay range for any job by May 15, 2022. While this new law was an exciting development for job seekers, many questions remained as to its application and enforcement.

Know Your Rights: New NYC Law Requiring Salary Disclosures in Job Postings

New York State Joins Efforts to Increase Pay Equity With New Pay Transparency Law

Following the lead of New York City and other states like California and Washington, New York State recently passed a law requiring employers with four or more employees to publish the minimum and maximum pay range for any advertised position. Effective on September 17, 2023, the amendment to the state's labor law advances the goal of pay equity by providing applicants and current employees with greater information about the salary ranges of similarly situated colleagues. As Gov. Kathy Hochul said when signing the bill, "This historic measure will usher in a new era of fairness and transparency for New York's workforce and will be a critical tool in our efforts to end pervasive pay gaps for women and people of color."

New York City Job Postings Now Require Salary Range

A new pay transparency law taking effect on May 15, 2022 will require employers to list salary ranges “from the lowest to the highest salary the employer in good faith believes at the time of the posting it would pay for the advertised job, promotion or transfer opportunity.”

In the Wake of Racial Injustice, Employees and Employers Are Checking Each Other

As conversation surrounding racial justice grows nationwide, candid discussions regarding race are coming to a head in the workplace, where employers and employees are pushing one another to be on the right side of the conversation. While the national conversation is...

Healthcare Workers Must Navigate Employment Issues While Fighting on the Frontlines

Much has been asked of the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Executives & Professionals Practice Group is proud to represent several of them, and we owe all the frontline heroes and first responders our deepest...

100 Percent COBRA Subsidies and Continuation Coverage Provided by the American Rescue Plan: What Workers Need to Know

Anyone who lost a job that provided group health insurance knows that COBRA continuation coverage can be a lifesaver. They also know that the costs of maintaining that coverage can be astronomical if not prohibitive, especially for someone looking for a new position. For workers who rely on COBRA coverage or are considering enrolling because of a layoff or termination, President Biden’s recently enacted American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP) provides significant relief, including subsidies that effectively make health insurance free for several months.

New York State Joins Efforts to Increase Pay Equity With New Pay Transparency Law

Seeking to Strengthen Pay Equity Laws in New York

Though decades have passed since equal pay legislation was first introduced, significant pay inequity persists across gender, race, ethnicity and other protected characteristics. According to the National Women's Law Center, women in New York typically make 88 cents for every dollar paid to men. For Black women, it's 65 cents, and for Latina women, it's 56 cents.

Awards & Recognition

  • 2023: Super Lawyers – Rising Star

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