Richard G. Kass

Labor Arbitrator

Smiling person wearing glasses and a light blue collared shirt against a plain background.

After a 35-year career as an advisor and litigator in all areas of labor and employment law, and four years of experience exclusively as a neutral, Richard Kass is now accepting work solely as a labor arbitrator.

Experience

Experience as a Neutral

American Arbitration Association, labor panel—Since 2024

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, labor arbitration panel—Since 2022

SEIU Local 32BJ and NYC Realty Advisory Board, Panel Arbitrator—Since 2024

New York State Panel of Section 3020-a Teacher and Administrator Disciplinary Proceedings—Since 2025

New York State Board of Elections, per diem Hearing Officer—2021-2025

New York State Education Department, Impartial Hearing Officer—2021-2024

New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), per diem Appeals Judicial Hearing Officer—2021-2024


Experience as an Advocate

Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, New York City office Member/Partner, 2004-2020 (retired 12/31/20)

Rains & Pogrebin, P.C., Mineola, New York Shareholder/Partner, 1993-2004; Associate, 1986-1993

At Rains & Pogrebin and Bond, Schoeneck & King, Richard practiced in all facets of labor and employment law including arbitration, collective bargaining, employee discipline, equal employment opportunity, litigation, and management training. This included extensive litigation experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before the National Labor Relations Board, New York State Public Employment Relations Board, New York State Division of Human Rights, New York State Commissioner of Education, New York City Commission on Human Rights, and various arbitration and employee discipline tribunals, including under Section 3020-a of the New York Education Law and Section 75 of the New York Civil Service Law. Clients included school districts, social service agencies, manufacturers, civil engineering firms, restaurants, wholesalers, and retailers. Richard has extensive experience conducting collective bargaining and administering collective bargaining agreements.


Teaching Experience

Hofstra Law School, Adjunct Professor of Employment Discrimination Law—2016-2017

SUNY at Old Westbury, Adjunct Professor of Employment Law—1998


Work Experience Prior to Legal Career

Machinery Mountings, Inc., Farmingdale, NY, Welder, Drill Press Operator, and Assembler

Beautiful Visions, Inc., Letter Opener, Hicksville, NY

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights New England Regional Office, Boston, MA, Intern

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Boston, MA, Intern

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D. cum laude, 1985
Harvard Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Law Review, Articles Editor

Yale College, B.A. summa cum laude with honors in Philosophy, 1982

Honors

New York Super Lawyers™
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (last year before retirement as a lawyer)

New York Lawyers Alliance
Pro Bono Award, 2014

Touro College Law School
Long Island Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney Award, 2003

Professional
Credentials

Admitted to Practice:

New York State Bar
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States District Court of the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Association of Workplace Investigators certificate holder (AWI-CH)

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