Sloane Ackerman represents employers in the full spectrum of labor and employment matters. She defends clients in high-stakes employment litigation and arbitration. Sloane’s practice also focuses on traditional labor matters under the Railway Labor Act and the National Labor Relations Act, including collective bargaining and labor arbitrations.
Sloane also regularly advises employers in a wide range of operational and strategic labor and employment matters, including issues arising out of mergers and acquisitions.
In addition to Sloane’s extensive experience in the airline industry, she represents employers from nearly every sector of the economy, including financial services, insurance, professional services, media, technology, entertainment, apparel, gaming, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage.
Experience:
- Litigation:
- Federal Court Litigation:
- Prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in a putative class action brought against American Airlines by a group of pilots asserting a collusion claim related to the airline’s pilot seniority list. See Krakowski v. Am. Airlines, Inc. (In re AMR Corp.), Chapter 11, Case No. 11-15463 (SHL), Adv. No. 13-01283 (SHL), 2018 Bankr. LEXIS 1726 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. June 12, 2018).
- Obtained a preliminary injunction on behalf of Atlas Air and Polar Air against their pilots union to stop an illegal work slowdown. Atlas Air, Inc. v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 280 F. Supp. 3d 59 (D.D.C. 2017).
- Successfully compelled arbitration of two management grievances filed by Atlas Air and Southern Air regarding the negotiation of a joint pilot collective bargaining agreement following the companies’ merger. Atlas Air, Inc. v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 293 F. Supp. 3d 457 (S.D.N.Y. 2018).
- Prevailed on a motion to dismiss a putative class action brought against American Airlines by a group of pilots asserting a collusion claim related to the airline’s pilot seniority list. See Krakowski v. Am. Airlines, Inc. (In re AMR Corp.), 567 B.R. 247 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2017).
- Prevailed in moving to dismiss a class action medical monitoring claim and other claims brought by nine current employees against American Airlines, its CEO, COO, and other executives and employees on workers’ compensation exclusivity grounds. Smith v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 16-156, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107402 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 12, 2016).
- Won a motion to dismiss in a tort action brought by a former employee, in part based on a defense under the Railway Labor Act. Romigh v. American Airlines Group, Inc., Case No. 2:15-cv-00782 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 12, 2015).
- Represented AIG in securing favorable settlement on the eve of a five-week jury trial of a breach of employment contract lawsuit brought by the former CEO of AIG’s real estate business.
- Achieved complete dismissal of a purported Family and Medical Leave Act class action against a Fortune 500 financial services company prior to any motion practice.
- Obtained a preliminary injunction on behalf of US Airways against its pilots union to stop an illegal work slowdown, which was later converted into a permanent injunction. US Airways, Inc. v. US Airline Pilots Ass’n, 813 F. Supp. 2d 710 (W.D.N.C. 2011).
- Defended US Airways in a purported class action alleging race discrimination. NAACP, Philadelphia Branch v. US Airways Group, Inc., Case No. 2:10-cv-00043-PBT (E.D. Pa.)
- Successfully dismissed a civil RICO matter brought by a local union against US Airways executives, primarily based on a Railway Labor Act preemption defense. Int’l Ass’n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers District Local Lodge 1776 v. Jackson, No. 09-150, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15885 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 19, 2010).
- Arbitrations:
- Achieved a complete victory for an airline in an arbitration brought by its flight attendant union, asserting that the airline’s employee travel policy violated the parties’ labor contract.
- Achieved a complete victory for an arbitration regarding its post-merger hiring and training of its pilots.
- Achieved a complete victory for an airline in an arbitration brought by certain employee groups, asserting that the airline’s vacation policy violated the parties’ labor contract
- Achieved a complete victory for an airline in an arbitration brought by its passenger service union, asserting that the airline’s employee travel policy violated the parties’ labor contract.
- Achieved a complete victory for an airline in an arbitration brought by its flight attendant union, asserting that the airline’s retiree travel policy violated the parties’ labor contract.
- Successfully defended an airline in a breach of contract arbitration brought by a regional partner, saving the airline approximately $70 million.
- Represented a private equity firm in an arbitration brought by a former executive asserting violation of New York Labor Law, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract.
- Collective Bargaining and Labor Negotiations:
- Assisted a leading pharmaceutical company in collective bargaining negotiations and achieving a new labor contract for its largest facility.
- Assisted Interstate Bakeries in its efforts to restructure hundreds of labor contracts.
Admissions:
- New York
- US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
- US District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
Education:
- New York University, J.D.: Research and Writing Editor, New York University School of Law Moot Court Casebook
- Cornell University, B.S., Industrial and Labor Relations: Dean’s List; Meinig Family National Scholar; National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Golden Key International Honour Society
Member:
- New York State Bar Association
Cost
Rate : $$$