Jesse Weinstein is a New York City-based employment lawyer and trial attorney, and a Partner at Phillips & Associates, where he represents employees and executives in sexual harassment, discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and high-stakes employment litigation. Weinstein is known for combining strategic legal acumen with empathy and tenacity. His path to law was unconventional: after dropping out of high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving four years as an Operations Specialist. Inspired during his service, he returned to education, earning an undergraduate degree from Pace University and a law degree from American University Washington College of Law.
Weinstein began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, gaining extensive trial experience as first-chair counsel in jury and bench trials, and leading complex investigations and grand jury presentations. At Phillips & Associates, he has secured nearly $40,000,000 in settlements for clients ranging from minimum wage workers to executives, including high-profile individuals in the entertainment industry, across New York City and New York State, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Weinstein’s practice focuses on sexual harassment and assault, workplace discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, executive employment disputes, and complex trial litigation in state and federal courts.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers | 2026 | Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Whistleblower |
Some of Weinstein’s notable results include:
- A $2,000,000 settlement on behalf of an associate at a major financial institution involving claims of grooming, workplace sexual harassment, retaliation, and constructive discharge.
- A $5,250,000 settlement on behalf of a Big Law equity partner involving quid pro quo sexual harassment, whistleblower retaliation, and tortious interference.
- A $1,300,000 settlement on behalf of an HR executive against a publicly held financial institution for race discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.
- A $1,000,000 settlement on behalf of a managing director at a consulting firm who was terminated after reporting systemic unethical billing practices.
- A $1,500,000 settlement involving allegations of sexual assault and quid pro quo sexual harassment against a C-suite executive at a major New York City company.
- A $2,100,000 whistleblower retaliation settlement on behalf of an executive at a highly technical financial institution who was wrongfully terminated after raising concerns that his employer was misleading the government.
- Additional notable results include a $740,000 settlement on behalf of a Fortune 50 executive subjected to disparate treatment and tokenization on the basis of race; an $800,000 settlement on behalf of a pharmaceutical company executive wrongfully terminated based on age; settlements of $675,000, $535,000, and $400,000 against three separate major New York City financial institutions involving sexual assault and sexual harassment; and a $325,000 whistleblower settlement that resolved on the first day of trial.
- Most recently, Weinstein tried a race discrimination case to unanimous verdict in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. In Pardovani v. Crown Building Maintenance Co. and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc. (15-CV-09065), the jury awarded $1,800,000 in damages and over $250,000 in attorneys’ fees after hearing evidence that the plaintiff was repeatedly subjected to racial slurs by non-Black supervisors.
- A $385,000 settlement on behalf of an HR executive at a large financial institution involving claims of whistleblower retaliation after raising concerns about wage and hour compliance issues.
- A $267,000 settlement on behalf of a Senior Vice President at a major financial institution involving claims of whistleblower retaliation after reporting inflated revenue statistics in disclosures to the government.
- A $400,000 settlement on behalf of a customer of a large bank involving claims of sexual harassment after being inappropriately touched and sexually propositioned by a branch manager.
- A $400,000 settlement on behalf of a C-suite executive at a defense contracting firm involving claims of whistleblower retaliation after reporting concerns of bribery of government officials to superiors and the board of directors.
- A $338,000 settlement on behalf of a managing director at a global financial institution involving claims of pregnancy and caregiver discrimination following retaliation upon returning from maternity leave.
Weinstein considers himself a “shape shifter,” adapting his litigation strategy to each case through meticulous investigation, witness development, and trial-focused advocacy.
Having represented numerous clients in high-profile matters, Weinstein has also been quoted in top-tier media outlets, including New York Post, CNN, AP News, NBC News, ABC News, Rolling Stone, and People Magazine, and has been invited to speak on global news networks about major employment law issues, providing clients and audiences with a nationally recognized perspective.