Despite best efforts, litigation cannot always be avoided. A significant aspect of Jay’s practice involves management of employment litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before administrative agencies. Such litigation sometimes requires defense of a client’s interests, and other times requires enforcement of a client’s rights. Jay has substantial experience prosecuting restrictive covenant and trade secret injunction actions. With the rise in overtime collective actions and other employment class actions, Jay has developed specialized knowledge regarding avoidance and defense of such cases. Jay negotiates and drafts executive employment contracts and deals with issues relating to executive employment, compensation, termination, and severance. He enjoys assisting on business transactions through the review and drafting of employment forms and agreements (employment contracts, handbooks, executive compensation plans, severance plans, release agreements and restrictive covenants).

Jay is active in the community and has taken a leadership role with a number of civic and charitable organizations. Currently Jay has leadership roles with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the March of Dimes. Previously in his career, Jay served for 10 years as a member of the Dormont (PA) Zoning Hearing Board, and for 3 years on the board of the civic organization Sustainable Pittsburgh. He was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett to serve on the Early Learning Investment Commission, a public-private partnership of business leaders serving as advocates for quality early childhood education. Jay teaches a semester-long Negotiation Skills workshop as an adjunct professor at the Duquesne University Law School.

Jay was recognized in Philadelphia Magazine as a member of the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star list for five consecutive years (2005-2009). Since 2012, Jay has been selected annually for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for the practice areas of Litigation - Labor and Employment and Employment Law - Management. Jay has also obtained a Green Belt from the Legal Lean Sigma Institute.