Johane Severin

Johane Severin has experience litigating a wide variety of labor and employment matters. She represents employers in New York State and federal court, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Johane also provides employers with sound legal counsel on decisions spanning the entire employment lifecycle. She often works with clients in healthcare and higher education, leveraging her dual degrees in Higher Education Management when she advises and counsels her higher education clients.

Prior to joining Littler, Johane served as an assistant attorney general in the Litigation Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General. There she defended the state’s higher education institutions against lawsuits challenging disciplinary, promotion, and termination decisions and alleging discrimination. Working in collaboration with in-house counsel, Johane investigated these claims, devised litigation strategies, and led litigation efforts. Her work included engaging in extensive motion practice, representing clients in court conferences and mediations, and taking and defending depositions.

Previously, Johane also served as an attorney in the Law Enforcement Bureau of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, where she investigated, made probable cause determinations, prosecuted, and conciliated employment-related complaints. This prior experience makes Johane one of New York’s go-to litigators of claims under the New York City Human Rights Law and matters filed with the New York City Commission on Human Rights.

Johane also advises employers on immigration matters. Johane previously served as the supervising attorney of an Immigration Unit at Legal Services NYC, where she represented clients in both affirmative and defensive applications for immigration benefits.