Helene Jnane

I was faced with an untenable situation with my employer who chose to mandate a particular practice upon their employees without the benefit of having negotiated the terms with my union. If one did not submit to the practice they would be counseled, and if still not willing to subjugate themsel...ves to the new practice, termination was the penalty. One could apply for an exemption under very limited circumstances which I did and which my employer rejected. I was allowed to appeal and failing that the above process leading to termination would ensue. The position of my union was that they were unable to assist me unless and until I was terminated. The situation, which ensued for about 8 weeks, produced great anxiety and emotional anguish as the prospect of losing my job in these difficult economic times, especially during the Holidays, due to a new and unnegotiated condition of employment that I believed was not only physically harmful, but emotionally repugnant, was almost unbearable. In reaching out for assistance in this frightening and time sensitive circumstance I immediately thought of Helene. I had worked with her on a non-attorney/client basis on a political campaign the breadth of which swept across a variety of settings over an extended period of time in several different geographical locations on a variety of topics. Above all she was an expert resource who was immediately and constantly available no matter the hour or time zone, insightful, thorough and responsive to my querries which invariably required considered, reasoned and judicious reponses. She was flexible in the working environment yet always repectful, serious yet joyful, and completely focused with laser-like precision. When she responded to legal questions she chose her words carefully, succinctly, and with certainty. I was impressed by her thoughtfulness, and her thoroughness so when I needed help, it was to Helene that I immediately turned. She offered her assistance immediately. And although in the end we did not end up in court, and did not engage in any legal action, she was steadfast in her support of me, firm in her knowledge of the law and her area of expertise, and proved instrumental in guiding me through the process to achieve a total and complete victory in my situation. Along the way she listened actively, asked probing and even provocative questions, dug deep into the information I provided and helped me to navigate through the import of my employer's policies, existing constitutional, regulatory and case law to guide me to a successful outcome. I was relieved of the burden of living in fear that I would have to face counseling, termination or worse, a prolonged court battle and litigation involving wrongful termination and civil rights violations. I can not say enough about this wonderfully poised and polished legal gem. From my personal experience with her on the campaign trail to the near loss of my job where she rendered highly professional service, I recommend Helene with extreme and unwavering confidence. She is a stellar example of the best the profession has to offer. I can not celebrate her ideals, her integrity, or her professionalism enough.