Zafer A. Akin

Employment discrimination and sexual harassment attorney Zafer Akin, the managing partner of the Akin Law Group and of-counsel to the DEREK SMITH LAW GROUP, has been selected to Super Lawyers / New York Metro as an attorney who has attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement for four years in a row (for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017).

Zafer Akin is an New York employment discrimination and sexual harassment attorney in good standing with an unblemished record, duly admitted to practice law in the State of New York on March 1, 1995, admitted in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on June 7, 1995 and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on July 24, 1996.

Mr. Akin is a litigator who is a fierce advocate of employees, representing the victims of employment discrimination in all the Courts of the State of New York, including the Federal Courts, the New York State Supreme Court and the New York Court of Claims.

Mr. Akin (a sexual harassment and employment discrimination attorney with an excellent record for over 24 years) is devoted to representing the victims of Sexual Harassment and Employment Discrimination (discrimination based on race, religions, sex, sexual orientation (actual or perceived) color, creed, national origin, age disability and pregnancy.

Mr. Akin is often asked, what is the cost of consultation? For individuals that have been subjected to sexual harassment and those that have been victimized by employment discrimination because of their race, religion, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or pregnancy, the initial telephone consultation is always free. In addition, attorney Akin, dedicated his life to pursuing justice for the individual, represents most clients on a strict Contingency basis where you (as a New York or New Jersey employee) will not be charged any fee unless he can make a recovery for you.  

There are other employees that have been exposed to a hostile work environment or have and continue to be sexually harassed who are concerned about confidentiality; they often ask, will the consultation be kept private and confidential? Consultation with Mr. Akin or one of the Sexual Harassment attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group will be kept strictly confidential adhering to the attorney-client privilege, even when our Firm is not retained.  

We are also asked by some individuals making a claim based on the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and others wishing to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), how long will a discrimination claim take?  There is no short or standard answer to such a question. Although we are able to settle and resolve some of the claims early on, within a few months, especially with EEOC Mediation, but other claims are fully litigated in Court and can take a few years.

Lastly, some prospective clients, like those discriminated against because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation ask, will I face retaliation for making a sexual harassment complaint? Although no attorney can prevent a company from retaliating, most counsel representing the company will advise them not to retaliate against an employee making a complaint since retaliation would expose the company to further liability.

It is important to note, that employers have attorneys and special trained HR (Human Resources Administrators) working for them to protect their interest; with these types of professionals on their side, the Employer can make the claim process difficult for employees that are not experienced in this area of the law. As such, all employees that have been subjected to a Hostile Work Environment, those that have been asked to perform sexual acts (Quid Pro Quo sexual harassment), and those that have been discriminated at work, should immediately to contact the Derek Smith Law Group and learn about their rights and obligations. To assist in this manner, the initial consultation is always free of charge and confidential regardless of whether the firm is retained.

In addition to representing employees that have been forced to work in a Hostile Work Environment, the Derek Smith Law Group also represents individuals that have been illegally paid an hourly salary below the minim-wage and those that have been denied overtime pay (which is one and one-half times the regular hourly rate) despite working in excess of 40 hours per week.  In addition, employees in New York are also entitled to Spread of Hours pay equal to the one hour of minimum wage pay in any day where the time work commences and the time work ends (regardless of the breaks taken) exceeds 10 hours.

Despite the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Wage Theft Prevention Act and the Minimum Wage Laws of New York and New Jersey, many employers continue paying workers and employees less than the minimum wage and continue to deny employees overtime pay. In these wages and hour violation cases, attorney Akin will represent you without charging the you any fee since the fee will be paid by your employer (the representation will be free of charge for the employee since all expenses and fees, must be paid by the employer).  As such, you should consult with one of the wage and hour attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group without delay.

The Firms Area of Practice include Hostile Work Environment Claims, Sexual Harassment at Work, Hostile Work Environment, FMLA, Age Discrimination, Pregnancy Discrimination, Gender Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, National Origin Discrimination and Sexual Orientation Discrimination at work.

Awards and special recognition

• Special recognition from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (for pro bono services provided to families of 9/11)
• Trial Lawyers Care (for pro bono services provided to families of 9/11)
• Highway Democratic Club’s Community Service Award