Ethan G. Zelizer

I hired Ethan Zelizer to represent me when my position as a Director after 5 years was being assaulted by a new regional VP. I was also facing a serious spine surgery and did not know my Legal options. While I was unsure about might happen or what to do, Ethan’s council kept me on track with how I ...needed to handle my situation and my company. He was always responsive, took time when necessary to review my situation and even the “what ifs”. He provided me excellent and expert advice, which was very comforting for me during that tough time in my life. It was clear to me when I first met Ethan that his priority was doing what was best for me and not just to maximize his revenues. He was always super responsive. Ethan has extensive experience in HR law and always took the time to provide me with solid advice as well being realistic about any unknowns. Because of working with Ethan, I was able to navigate my way through with the right communication to my company regarding my situation. That helped me avoid being caught up in any lay off prior to my required medical procedure. During that time, I was unsure what might happen when I returned. Ethan took the time to help me prepare so I would be ready. This allowed me to heal. The company knew I was working with counsel due to the way Ethan had me communicate with them using “magic words” in specific communications as well as the type and timing of my Doctors communications, etc. They decided to let me go as soon as I returned from my medical leave, but because of working with Ethan, I believe they knew it would be wise to offer me a much larger severance. In this case 3X above what was normal. Ethan was fantastic jumping right on them about my case initiating all the right letters and calls. He was great at letting me know how he thought it would go with them if we pursued more legal action. He was also very clear about their package being an acceptable option for me. I elected to take their larger severance package. Ethan’s support for my decision was an indication of his caring for me and my family at that time. I know he would have loved to be able to litigate with them and obtain more money for us over time. He is really passionate and energetic when he works his cases. That all said, I am positive that he was able to ensure a much better outcome for me and my family working with Ethan. He is the best type of counsel you could have. He is a fantastic and experienced lawyer who puts his clients first. He is also a great guy. I would highly recommend him.

Ethan really helped me come to a quick resolution with a former employer regarding a severance package. He kept things very professional and provided me with substantial information throughout the process. Not only was he very savvy in dealing with the other side, but he made sure that I was comforta...ble and informed the entire time. He takes his time to listen and will be straightforward on what to expect. He recommended mediation before resorting to litigation and the Company agreed. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to get things resolved with their employer.

I had a 30 year plus flawless career for the same employer in the pharmaceutical business. All of this ended abruptly because they thought it was "ok" to squash my hard earned career like a bug on the wall when it was convenient for them. I had never married and had no children so my whole life w...as devoted to my career and doing an outstanding job for my employer and the customer. What could have been the worst experience of my life turned out to be a great gift. Ethan Zelizer is responsible for making this happen. I walked into Ethans office and everything he said he was going to do he did and more! It was that first office visit that did it for me. Only a few hours after our initial meeting, Ethan had contacted the fortune 50 company's General Council and had the investigation transferred to them until closure, wow! It was at this point that I knew I was in the right hands. Ethan was clear with his communication with what was going on at any given point throughout the seven week process. The initial offering from the company to me on that forever fateful day was an absolute insult. The final package Ethan was able to negotiate was more then I could ever have imagined and this was on top of receiving full pay and commissions while on leave when the negotiations took place. Ethan went above and beyond in so many ways even after the settlement checks were deposited by providing continued support throughout the interviewing process to ensure I was making the right decisions. After all, I had not ever looked for a job as I started at 17 years old on a manufacturing line and ended in Sales Management 33 years later for the same employer. I am happy to report I am currently reviewing multiple offers from organizations that are double my base and better commissions. I realized at this point how undervalued and underpaid I was at my previous employer. Ethan is also responsible for the quality of these offers. Ethan coached me up so I stayed positive and motivated enough to get that dream job I never knew I was qualified for. He kept my spirit strong so I really felt I deserved the job I wanted and this came through when I was interviewing. If it wasnt for Ethan, this experience would of broken me. This was truly one of the best life experiences to have gone through even though at the time of uncertainty before I met Ethan I would of never thought that. I learned a lot about myself throughout this experience. To think I very well could of gone to retirement never knowing my real value and never really being so happy and fulfilled as I feel now is devastating. Do not hesitate to hire the best, call Ethan. It will be the best phone call you could do for yourself.

I am (and was at the time) a senior VP in sales for a large pharmaceutical company. I was referred to Ethan by another big pharma executive who used him in a whistleblower retaliation situation. Ethan represented me in separation matter with my old employer and then again regarding the contracts r...elated to my new employer. Ethan and his firm were excellent in understanding my goals in both situations. He works regularly in the pharma industry and it shows. He is familiar with the FDA issues, off-label practices, sales and bonus programs, and the highly competitive nature of our business. He was able to use that industry knowledge and context to drive deals to a close with both companies. Great job, Ethan.

It is what it is with Ethan. That's what he told me when we met last September. He told me I had a challenging FMLA case but that he would take it and litigate if necessary. It wouldn't be a blockbuster but it was a" serious case." I wanted a dollar amount. I wanted a prediction. Instead, et...han highlighted the troubling facts for the company and some novel legal issues and then he hit me over the head with our weaknesses and low balled a value that was a "good"' result but not what I wanted. When I told him this, he told me to talk to other attorneys and gave me referrals. He said: "I come at this as an employee's attorney who is good as what he does, a company attorney with over twelve years in that capacity, and an Employment law professor who has been teaching employment law to lawyers for a decade" or something like that. I even wrote it down because I was floored at how weird it was not to have him scrambling to keep my engagement -- to keep me. He then said, "I look at your claim from all sides and then I assign optimistic, realistic and pessimistic values." He called his value for my case his middle number and that he hoped to exceed it. He then told me the very real Risk I could walk away with nothing but emphasized why he didn't think that was likely. He negotiated for me and the company didn't budge. As promised, he filed suit and pursued my claims vigorously. He found a novel argument that added a claim that was meaningful. He added individual defendants because they were bad actors and the law allowed us to add them. A few months later, the employer wanted to mediate. We mediated. Ethan prepared me and anticipated every twist and turn. He ended up delivering a far better settlement than I ever thought we could get. He was well above "realistic" and he exceeded my Expectations. It was a challenging case. It wasn't fun. It took about 7 months and Ethan worked hard for me. In the end though, it was EXACTLY how he described it would be. I'm kind of in awe of this kid (he's a seasoned employment attorney but he's got the energy of a kid and the aggressiveness of a pit bull). He delivered and he never allowed my expectations to move from reality. It was about as uneventful as anyhing I could have imagined. No surprises. No drama. And isn't that what you want? A steady hand, expert advice, and a road map that actually gets you where you want to be? It is what it is. Ethan is as advertised.