Stephanie L. Burns

Education Law
Municipal Law
Construction Law
Labor Relations & Employment Law
Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Stephanie Burns represents public school districts as General Counsel in Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York. She handles student disciplinary proceedings, appeals to the Commissioner of Education, impartial special education hearings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and NY Education Law and employee disciplinary proceedings under NY Education Law and Civil Service Law. Ms. Burns advises school districts and municipalities in all phases of construction, including architect and management agreements, competitive bidding, contractor agreements, construction documents, payment and performance bonds, change orders, liens against public improvements, arbitrations and litigations. She also advises school districts, as well as other public entities, regarding Freedom of Information and Open Meetings law issues, contracts and real property tax assessment.

In addition, Ms. Burns defends public and private sector employers in federal civil rights actions, which include discrimination and retaliation claims and has represented clients in federal and state courts in matters involving land use, municipal, construction, landlord/tenant and commercial disputes.

Ms. Burns joined the firm in 1997 directly from law school.

• State and Federal Courts of New York
• State and Federal Courts of New Jersey 

• New York State Bar Association (Member, Labor and Employment Law Section; Member, Municipal Law Section)
• Westchester County Bar Association (Past President; Member, Diversity Committee; Member, Education Law Committee; Editor-in-Chief of annual Westchester Bar Journal; Managing Editor of monthly magazine Westchester Lawyer)
• Westchester Women’s Bar Association
• New York State School Boards Association

Ms. Burns has been a lecturer at seminars sponsored by  and meetings held by Pace University School of Law, Lorman Educational Services, Westchester County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Southern Westchester Association of School Business Officials, Lower Hudson Chapter of the Association of School Business Officials, Lower Hudson Special Education Task Force and Westchester Putnam School Boards Association on issues related to education law, construction law and labor law.

• 1997, J.D., cum laude, Pace University School of Law
• 1997, Environmental Law Certificate, Pace University School of Law
• 1994, M.S., Dartmouth College
• 1992, B.A., cum laude, Colgate University