William C. Ruggiero

• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of employer dismissing complaint alleging FMLA retaliation, FMLA interference, disability discrimination, and defamation in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of employer dismissing complaint alleging race discrimination and retaliation in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
• Successfully argued motions striking Connecticut Superior Court complaints alleging claims for common law wrongful discharge, common law negligence, and retaliation for exercising free speech rights under the Connecticut Constitution.
• Successfully defended numerous discrimination claims before the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, and other state and local administrative agencies.
• Experience providing advice and counsel concerning exemption statuses of employees under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and state and local law, and defending employers in actions challenging employee exemption statuses.
• Successfully represented employer’s interest in relation to Connecticut Department of Labor investigation into alleged wage and hour law violations.
• Experience preparing and revising employer policies and policy manuals.
• Successfully defended employers during grievance arbitrations alleging employer violations of collective bargaining agreements, including a grievance arbitration challenging termination of high profile union steward for misconduct.
• Experience serving as an independent investigator into allegations of discrimination and harassment, and preparing reports outlining investigative findings.
• Experience counseling employers concerning strategies for protecting their trade secrets and confidential information, and representing employers in relation to enforcement of employee restrictive covenant, confidentiality, non-solicitation, and other employment-related agreements.

Education

• J.D., magna cum laude, Tulane University School of Law, 2011
• B.A., The University of Connecticut, 2007

Admission to Practice

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

• Greater Bridgeport Bar Association
• Connecticut Bar Association

• 2024 Tri-State SHRM Conference – “Stump an Employment Lawyer Panel” – May 15, 2024
• Human Resource Association of Central Connecticut – “Dazed & Confused? Managing Marijuana Issues in the Workplace” – Rocky Hill – June 20, 2023
• Northwest Connecticut Human Resources Association – “When Cupid’s Arrow Targets the Workplace” – February 10, 2023
• Human Resource Association of Central CT – “Legal Implications for HR Professionals” – November 10, 2022
• Greater New Haven Chamber – “July C-Squared: Councils & Conversation” – July 27, 2022
• SHRM Western Connecticut – “Managing Leaves of Absences in Connecticut” – October 20, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Connecticut Employment Law: 2021 Legislative Update” – July 20, 2021
• SHRM Western Connecticut – “Improving the Performance Management Process” – Danbury – March 11, 2020
• Human Resource Association of Central Connecticut – “Improving the Performance Management Process” – Hamden – March 10, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “Is Your Drug-Free Workplace Discriminatory? The Confluence of Disability Discrimination and Mind-Altering Substances” – West Hartford – September 12, 2019
• Managing a Workforce in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut – “Is Your Drug-Free Workplace Discriminatory? The Confluence of Disability Discrimination and Mind-Altering Substances” – New York – April 4, 2019
• Managing a Workforce in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut Seminar – “Effectively Managing FMLA Intermittent Leave Abuse Issues” – New York – March 10, 2017
• Greater Bridgeport Bar Association Lecture Series – “Workplace Bullying and Harassment” – Bridgeport – 2014
• Lorman Education Services 2014 Employment Law Update – “Whistleblower Retaliation” – Trumbull – 2014

• September 13, 2017 – SHRM Online – “Conn. Supreme Court Upholds Fluctuating Workweek Method, but Not for Retail”
• November 25, 2015 – SHRM Online – “No Bias in College Firing Professor for Rudeness”

• Chambers USA Leading Lawyers for Business (2024)
• Best Lawyers Ones to Watch – Labor and Employment Law – Management (2021, 2022)
• Connecticut Super Lawyers (2024)
• Connecticut Super Lawyers – Rising Stars (2015 – 2021)
• Connecticut Bar Association Pro Bono Honor Roll (2014)