Brian Adam Heller

Brian Heller, a Partner of Schwartz Perry & Heller, LLP, is one of New York City’s leading trial lawyers in the field of employment law in New York City. Brian Heller is a Partner at Schwartz Perry & Heller, LLP and one of New York City’s leading trial lawyers in the field of employment law. Over more than two decades, he has secured multiple seven-figure verdicts, shaped landmark appellate decisions, and earned a reputation for an unmatched command of New York employment law.

In November 2025, Brian was named to the Top 100 Super Lawyers in New York, recognizing his longstanding record of success and leadership in the field.

Brian has spent his entire career at Schwartz Perry & Heller, joining the firm after graduating from Fordham Law School in 2001. He became a partner in 2007 and a named partner in 2016. He has extensive experience with all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, reasonable accommodations, severance agreements and non-competes, breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, and workplace torts.

It is difficult to read a decision in a New York employment law case that does not mention a case that Brian handled. These cases include: reinstating a client’s case before the Second Circuit in 2025 in a case involving diversity-training practices; a 2019 Second Circuit victory resulting in a milestone case affirming the rights of victims of age discrimination; and a precedent-setting 2013 argument before the Second Circuit that reinforced the broad protections of the New York City Human Rights Law.

Brian is known for being unafraid to take cases to trial. His trial results include: a judgment of $1.55 million following a six-week jury trial in a sexual harassment case; a seven-figure verdict in a retaliation case in federal court; and a substantial award in a FINRA arbitration involving race discrimination.

Brian is frequently quoted in national and local news outlets. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association, where he has served on the Employment Law Committee and has volunteered with the Monday Night Law program, providing pro bono legal assistance to the community. He has testified before the New York City Council in support of amendments expanding employee rights under the New York City Human Rights Law, which were ultimately adopted. He has also worked with the Marino Institute for Continuing Legal Education to prepare students for the employment law component of various state bar exams.

During law school, Brian served on the Fordham Urban Law Journal and as a mediator in the Bronx Small Claims Court. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Pennsylvania State University, 1998.

“Most people feel they have no say in the workplace,” Brian says. “They feel that it’s best to stay silent and hope the boss leaves them alone. We help give people a voice to fight back.”