Nicholas De Baun

Nicholas De Baun is a partner in the New York office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Mr. De Baun has more than 20 years of experience representing employers across a broad spectrum of industries with a special emphasis on financial services. In particular, he has extensive experience representing employers in virtually every sector of the securities industry, including investment banks, broker-dealers, private equity firms, hedge funds, and accounting firms.

Mr. De Baun provides advice and representation across a range of employment law issues, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA and common law employment matters. In addition, he counsels clients, investigates employment and whistleblower claims, prepares position statements, drafts employee handbooks, negotiates and drafts severance agreements, and has experience preparing Form U-5 responses and responding to regulatory inquiries.

Mr. De Baun has also represented clients in state and federal court, before state and federal administrative agencies, and in mediations and arbitration, including extensive FINRA arbitration experience.

In recent years, Mr. De Baun successfully defended a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower claim brought against a major Wall Street investment bank; won summary judgment dismissing ERISA and breach of contract claims brought by a managing director of an international financial services institution; won dismissal of age and disability claims brought by a senior executive of a European bank; and defeated class certification in a race and national origin discrimination suit against a multinational trading company.

He has also conducted highly sensitive internal investigations, including investigations involving senior executives and Human Resources and Legal Department personnel, and responded to regulatory inquiries regarding purported violations of the securities laws and allegations of systemic discrimination.

Education:

• J.D., New York University School of Law (1994)
• B.A., Oberlin College (1987)

Courts:

• U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York