About
Colleen M. Meenan
Title: Of Counsel
Primary Office: All Offices
Education:Graduate: City University of New York School of Law
Practice: New York federal and state courts
About Colleen M. Meenan
GLK is proud to have brought on tried and tested Colleen Meenan as “Of Counsel” to the firm’s roster of skilled attorneys. Colleen has used insightful legal strategies helping to advance women’s rights for the past 28 years. Before practicing law, Colleen was a decorated New York City police officer and through this first-hand experience understands all too well the difficulties women face in the workplace.
Colleen is a well-known for her uncompromising advocacy and has obtained a number of successful employment related jury verdicts for her clients, including in the cases of Elliot v. City of New York, 99-cv-9308 (SDNY)(Mukasey) and Sorrenti v. City of New York, Index 126981/02 (N.Y. Co. Sup. Ct.).
Significant victories she has obtained for clients have been affirmed by the New York State Court of Appeals in the cases of Albunio v. City of New York, 16 N.Y.3d 472 (2011) and Sandiford v. City of New York, 22 N.Y. 3d 914 (2013). These favorable appellate court decisions clarified the interpretation to be applied by the trial courts in analyzing claims of retaliation under the New York City Human Rights Law.
In December of 2015, Colleen testified before the City Council in support of Int. 0814-2015 a proposed amendment to the City’s human rights law, requiring trial courts to correctly interpret the statute and recognize its broad and remedial purposes. This amendment was subsequently passed by the City Council, making the City law one of the most rigorous statutes protecting workers’ rights in the United States.
Colleen is an executive board member of NELA/NY, the local affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), a national organization for lawyers who promote the workplace rights of individual employees through legislation, education and litigation. NELA/NY was instrumental in advocating before the New York State legislature for 2019 state law changes necessary to offer greater protection for women harassed and mistreated at work. These changes now make it easier for women and others to assert and prove discrimination and harassment claims and obtain larger recoveries.
Colleen is a proud 1991 graduate of the City University of New York Law School at Queens College and admitted to practice law in New York federal and state courts, among other jurisdictions.
Education:
Graduate: City University of New York School of Law