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Vanessa Keys

Operations Manager

Vanessa Keys oversees the daily office functions of Phillips & Associates and is responsible for budget, payroll, hiring, onboarding, and human resources for the firm. She develops procedures for the office that, among other things, allow it to maintain its high ethical standards regarding attorney-client confidentiality and conflicts of interest. At Phillips & Associates, our employment discrimination lawyers depend on Ms. Keys to keep the office well-organized and productive. Her support services allow us to make sure your lawsuit goes as smoothly as possible.

Ms. Keys graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie with a B.S. in Business Administration: Human Resources and International Business. She also completed a General Course Program in Employee Relations at the London School of Economics.

Vanessa brings over ten years of management experience with her to her role at Phillips & Associates. She has held several management titles throughout her career at Target, Victoria’s Secret, and DSW where she was responsible for operational compliance and Human Resource Management of large teams. In these roles, she demonstrated her leadership and team-building skills by providing performance feedback and continuous training to her staff. Having worked in numerous settings, Vanessa has compassion for the difficulties employees may face when they go up against a powerful employer.

Law Firm Representing Victims of Employment Discrimination

If you were discriminated against due to aspects of your identity outside your control, you should consult the law firm of Phillips & Associates. Vanessa and the rest of the teamwork work hard to ensure clients’ needs are appropriately addressed and the most robust possible cases are built on their behalf. Federal, state, and local laws prohibit employment discrimination based on a range of protected characteristics.

Federal anti-discrimination laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These laws apply to workplaces that have at least 15 employees. Damages are capped based on the size of the employer. In some cases, state or local law may provide more protection to a worker who has faced unjust mistreatment due to a wider range of characteristics.

Some of the characteristics protected under federal, state, and local laws include:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Age
  • National origin
  • Religion
  • Disability.

Notably, state and local laws may provide strong protection when workers have a hostile work environment claim due to their more inclusive definitions of what counts as actionable harassment. The New York State Human Rights Law forbids discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics in every workplace in the city, regardless of size. Our attorneys also pursue damages under the New York City Human Rights Law, which protects many characteristics and applies to employers with at least 4 employees.

Consult an Experienced New York City Discrimination Lawyer

As a seasoned office manager, Vanessa Keys ensures our office is set up to provide stellar, compassionate legal services. The New York City employment discrimination lawyers at Phillips & Associates may be able to represent you if you are a worker who has been discriminated against in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, Nassau County, or Suffolk County. Call us at (866) 229-9441 or complete our online form. Our firm represents workers on a contingency fee basis. We offer free consultations.