Basil Paterson Featured in LIBN's Who's Who in Labor Law

Media Source: Long Island Business News

Basil A. Paterson is a member of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. Paterson is also co-chair of the firm’s labor practice.

Among the more than 40 labor unions the firm has a clients, Paterson personally represents Local 1199/SEIU; Local 237 (the largest Teamsters local in the United States) and the United Federation of Teachers.

Paterson has served as New York’s secretary of state and as New York City deputy mayor for labor relations and personnel. He has also served as a senator of New York State, vice chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, and as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Paterson also chaired the New York City Mayor’s Judiciary Committee for four years, and the New York State Governor’s Judicial Screening Panel for the Second Department for eight years. He recently ended his tenure at the Commission on Judicial Nominations after serving for 12 years.

Paterson is chairman of the National Grid Foundation Board of Directors.

He has served as co-chairman of the New York State Governor’s Commission on Determinate Sentencing, and the New York State Commission on Powers of Local Government. He has the distinction of having served as the chair of the first Arbitration Panel mandated by New York State legislation.

He also served 10 years as a member of the board of editors of the New York Law Journal.

Paterson earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and a juris doctor from St. John’s University School of Law.

He has been a visiting professor at State University of New Paltz, an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Education, and a visiting professor at Hunter College.

Paterson is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level in professional excellence and ethics. He is the recipient of numerous awards. Most recently, he received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Peggy Browning Fund for Supporting the Labor Movement and Improving the Lives of Working People. In 2008, he received the Civil Leadership Award from the Citizens Union of the City of New York; and in 2009, he received the Living Legends Award from the City University of New York's Medgar Evers College.