Christopher T. Cognato

Biography

Christopher T. Cognato advises employers ranging from startups and emerging businesses to midsize companies and large corporations on employment and workplace matters, with an emphasis on proactive counseling, compliance, and practical business solutions.

He counsels clients on workplace challenges, policy development, employee relations, and personnel matters involving hiring, performance management, discipline and termination, harassment, discrimination, wage and hour compliance, employee leave, and workplace accommodations. He also conducts internal investigations involving alleged misconduct, workplace culture concerns, and potential regulatory exposure.

Chris also collaborates with RCCB’s Corporate & Business Group on mergers, acquisitions, and other business transactions, advising on employment-related due diligence, workforce considerations, compliance risks, employment agreements, and post-transaction integration.

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Having served in multiple in-house legal roles, both directly and through law firm secondments, Chris brings firsthand insight into corporate operations, workplace dynamics, and business priorities. This perspective informs his practical approach to employment counseling, helping clients manage legal risks while addressing their operational needs.

Chris also advises businesses and places of public accommodation on ADA compliance and accessibility requirements, including digital accessibility, reasonable modifications, and standardized testing accommodations. His litigation experience includes defending accessibility-related claims and representing employers in disputes involving federal and state employment laws before courts, arbitration forums, and labor boards. 

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CLIENT EXPERIENCE

• Employment Counseling, Compliance and Audits
• Employment Agreements, Severance and Restrictive Covenants
• Employee Handbooks and Workplace Policies
• Employment Litigation and Administrative Agency Proceedings
• Wage and Hour Compliance
• Protected Leave and Workplace Accommodations
• Workplace Investigations, Harassment Prevention and Training
• DEI Counseling and Compliance
• Hiring, Employee Discipline and Termination
• AI in Employment Decision-Making

Representative Services

• Advises employers on workplace policies, employee relations, performance management, disciplinary actions, terminations, and other personnel matters.
• Drafts and negotiates executive employment, separation, independent contractor, and restrictive covenant agreements, including noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality provisions.
• Advises employers on wage and hour compliance and assists with employment compliance audits.
• Collaborates with corporate counsel on employment-related aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and other business transactions, including due diligence, compliance risks, employment agreements, and workforce integration.
• Conducts internal workplace investigations involving allegations of employee misconduct, harassment, discrimination, and workplace culture concerns.
• Conducts workplace training on harassment and discrimination prevention, employee leave under the FMLA, ADA compliance, and workplace accommodations.
• Counsels employers on workplace discrimination prevention, DEI-related compliance, and evolving employment regulations.
• Advises businesses on legal and compliance considerations involving the use of artificial intelligence in hiring and employment decision-making.
• Advises businesses and places of public accommodation on ADA compliance and accessibility requirements, including reasonable modifications and accessibility-related claims.
• Counsels nonprofit organizations on employment policies, employee handbooks, compliance obligations, and workplace practices.

Pro Bono & Advocacy

Chris maintains an active pro bono practice, providing legal assistance to nonprofits, individuals with limited financial resources, immigrants, and veterans.

• Advises nonprofit organizations on employment matters, including employee handbooks, workplace policies, and regulatory compliance.
• Assists low-income individuals in obtaining employment authorization and pursuing refugee or asylum status in the United States.
• Represents individuals with limited financial resources in obtaining vital records and pursuing legal name changes.
• Represents veterans in pursuing benefits before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as discharge upgrades and special compensation through the Department of Defense.