Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Downtown Brooklyn
Get Justice for Workplace Sexual Harassment
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Brooklyn Sexual Harassment Attorney Results
Sexual harassment doesn’t just violate your rights—it derails your career, damages your reputation, and takes a toll on your mental health. You deserve more than empty promises and corporate policies that protect the company, not you.
When you work with us, you’re getting an attorney who’s secured an $80 million settlement in employment discrimination cases and recovered millions more for harassment victims across New York. We understand that your case isn’t just about legal technicalities—it’s about restoring your dignity and protecting your future.
You shouldn’t have to choose between staying silent and losing your job. The right legal representation levels the playing field and holds powerful employers accountable for the harassment they’ve allowed to continue.
Downtown Brooklyn Employment Law Firm
For over 20 years, we’ve been serving Downtown Brooklyn and the greater New York area with the same caliber of legal representation that Fortune 500 companies receive. Before founding our practice, John Howley spent two decades as a partner at one of the country’s largest corporate law firms, representing companies like Pfizer, Citibank, and Sony.
Now we use that experience to fight for individuals who’ve been sexually harassed at work. Brooklyn’s diverse workforce—from healthcare professionals at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital to employees at the many tech startups in DUMBO—deserves legal representation that understands both the law and the unique challenges of working in New York’s most populous borough.
We intentionally keep our caseload small so every client gets the attention their case deserves. When you’re dealing with sexual harassment, you don’t want to be just another file number at a large firm.
Sexual Harassment Case Process Brooklyn
Your first consultation is completely confidential and free. We’ll review what happened, explain your legal options, and discuss the best path forward based on your specific situation. Many clients are surprised to learn they have stronger cases than they initially thought.
If we take your case, we work on a contingency basis—you pay no attorney fees unless we win. We’ll handle filing with the appropriate agencies (EEOC, New York State Division of Human Rights, or New York City Commission on Human Rights) and manage all the complex procedural requirements while you focus on your job and your life.
Throughout the process, we keep you informed about what’s happening and why. We understand that more than your legal rights are at stake—your reputation and career matter too. That’s why we work strategically to protect both your immediate interests and your long-term professional goals.
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Brooklyn Sexual Harassment Law Coverage
Sexual harassment cases in Brooklyn fall under several overlapping laws, each offering different protections and remedies. Federal Title VII covers employers with 15 or more employees, while New York State Human Rights Law applies to employers with four or more employees. The New York City Human Rights Law offers the strongest protections—it doesn’t require harassment to be “severe or pervasive,” just unwelcome.
Brooklyn’s economy spans everything from healthcare and education to finance and technology. Each industry presents unique harassment challenges. Healthcare workers face harassment from patients and supervisors. Restaurant workers in Brooklyn Heights deal with harassment from customers and management. Tech employees in the Brooklyn Navy Yard encounter hostile work environments that can derail promising careers.
We handle all forms of sexual harassment: quid pro quo (where job benefits are conditioned on sexual favors), hostile work environment cases, and retaliation for reporting harassment. Whether the harassment comes from supervisors, coworkers, or even clients and customers, you have legal options we can pursue.
What should I do immediately after experiencing sexual harassment at work in Brooklyn?
Document everything as soon as possible. Write down dates, times, locations, what was said or done, and who witnessed it. Save any emails, texts, or other evidence. Report the harassment through your company’s procedures if you feel safe doing so, but keep copies of your complaints.
Don’t quit your job if you can avoid it—this can hurt your case later. However, if the situation becomes unbearable, prioritize your safety and well-being. Contact an experienced sexual harassment attorney right away because there are strict time limits for filing claims. In New York, you typically have 300 days to file with the EEOC, but some claims have shorter deadlines.
Remember that retaliation for reporting harassment is also illegal. If your employer tries to punish you for speaking up, that creates additional claims we can pursue.
How much does it cost to hire a sexual harassment lawyer in Brooklyn?
At The Howley Law Firm, we handle sexual harassment cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. This allows people who couldn’t otherwise afford high-quality legal representation to get the same level of advocacy that large corporations receive.
If we recover money for you through settlement or trial, our fee comes out of that recovery. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us attorney fees. You may be responsible for certain costs like filing fees, but we’ll discuss all of this upfront during your free consultation.
Many sexual harassment victims worry they can’t afford to fight back against wealthy employers. Contingency fees level the playing field and ensure that your employer’s resources don’t determine the outcome of your case.
What types of damages can I recover in a Brooklyn sexual harassment case?
Sexual harassment damages can include both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages cover lost wages, benefits you should have received, future earning capacity if your career was damaged, and costs for job searching or therapy. If you were wrongfully terminated, we can seek reinstatement or front pay.
Non-economic damages compensate for emotional distress, humiliation, anxiety, depression, and other psychological harm. Under New York City Human Rights Law, you may also be eligible for punitive damages designed to punish the employer and deter future harassment.
The amount varies significantly based on the severity of harassment, impact on your career, and your employer’s conduct. We’ve recovered millions for harassment victims, including substantial settlements for clients whose employers failed to take their complaints seriously. During your consultation, we can discuss the potential value of your specific case.
How long do sexual harassment cases take to resolve in New York?
The timeline depends on several factors: the complexity of your case, your employer’s willingness to negotiate, and which legal route we pursue. Some cases settle within months, while others take a year or more if they go to trial.
We typically start by filing with the appropriate agency (EEOC, New York State, or NYC Commission on Human Rights). The agency investigates and attempts conciliation. If that doesn’t resolve the case, we can file a lawsuit. Throughout this process, settlement negotiations often continue.
We work efficiently to resolve cases as quickly as possible while ensuring you get fair compensation. Many employers prefer to settle rather than face public trials, especially when the evidence is strong. We’ll give you realistic timelines based on your specific situation and keep you updated as the case progresses.
Can I sue for sexual harassment if I still work for the same company?
Yes, you can pursue a sexual harassment claim while still employed, and your employer cannot legally retaliate against you for doing so. In fact, staying employed can sometimes strengthen your case by showing the ongoing impact of the harassment and your efforts to resolve the situation.
However, we understand this creates additional stress and concerns about workplace dynamics. We work carefully to protect you from retaliation while building your case. If your employer does retaliate—through termination, demotion, schedule changes, or creating a more hostile environment—that creates additional legal claims.
Many clients worry about “burning bridges” or making their work situation worse. We help you navigate these concerns and develop strategies that protect both your immediate job security and your long-term legal rights. Sometimes the harassment stops once your employer realizes you have legal representation and are serious about protecting your rights.
What makes sexual harassment cases different in New York City compared to other areas?
New York City has some of the strongest anti-harassment laws in the country. Unlike federal law, the NYC Human Rights Law doesn’t require harassment to be “severe or pervasive”—it just needs to be unwelcome. This makes it easier to prove cases involving what might seem like “minor” incidents elsewhere.
NYC law also allows unlimited punitive damages and attorney fees for successful plaintiffs, creating stronger incentives for employers to take harassment seriously. The city requires most employers to provide annual anti-sexual harassment training and post notices about employees’ rights.
Brooklyn’s diverse workforce and economy create unique harassment patterns. The borough’s mix of traditional industries, healthcare systems, and growing tech sector means we see harassment cases across all types of workplaces. Our local knowledge helps us understand the specific dynamics in different Brooklyn neighborhoods and industries, from the financial companies in Downtown Brooklyn to the creative agencies in Williamsburg.
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