Jessica M. Baquet is a partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. and a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department and the Employment and Estate, Trust and Fiduciary Litigation practice groups. Jessica is a litigator who devotes her practice to complex commercial disputes, labor and employment matters and contested proceedings concerning trusts and estates. She represents individuals, municipalities and institutional clients in all phases of litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies. Jessica also handles appeals to the Appellate Divisions of the New York State Supreme Court, the New York Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Jessica’s wide-ranging experience makes her a true partner to clients from a case’s inception through its final appeal, and in otherwise formulating litigation-avoidance strategies. She recognizes that every client has unique goals and views her most important role in each engagement as that of a tactician and strategist.
In her commercial practice, Jessica has specific experience in representing businesses and individuals in cases involving contract disputes, partnership and shareholder disputes, insurance coverage issues, joint venture agreements, breaches of fiduciary duty, unfair competition claims, and breaches of restrictive covenants.
In her estate litigation practice, Jessica represents beneficiaries, creditors and fiduciaries in proceedings before the Supreme Courts and Surrogate’s Courts throughout New York state, including those involving probate, will construction, inheritance rights, fiduciary accountings, and the removal or suspension of fiduciaries.
Jessica’s employment law practice involves the defense of employers against claims alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour violations, and in lawsuits involving the enforcement of employment and separation agreements. She also represents employers in investigations and proceedings before administrative agencies, including the New York State Division of Human Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State and United States Departments of Labor, and the New York State Industrial Board of Appeals.
As a complement to her litigation practice, Jessica routinely provides labor and employment counsel to employers of all sizes. She advises clients regarding compliance with federal, state and local laws; drafts employment contracts, severance agreements, handbooks and policies; prepares affirmative action plans and compensation analyses; and provides sexual harassment and sensitivity training.
Prior to joining Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., Jessica was a partner and chair of the labor and employment practice group at a prominent Long Island law firm. She also served as her former firm’s assistant general counsel and a member of its management committee.