Monica R. Lenahan joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP in September 2011 after previously serving as a summer associate at the firm, according to a profile published by Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP (woh.com). She focuses her practice on representing both public and private employers, including schools and colleges, across a broad spectrum of education and employment law matters.
Lenahan Defends Employers in Litigation and Investigations
Lenahan routinely guides employers through proactive counseling aimed at avoiding legal disputes, handles complex student and employee investigations, and mounts defenses in discrimination proceedings. Her litigation experience includes successfully defending employers before the New York State Division of Human Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in both federal and state courts. In addition to litigation, she frequently investigates sensitive allegations involving sexual misconduct, bullying, and discrimination within school districts and higher education institutions, delivering detailed investigative reports. Her drafting portfolio includes board resolutions, memoranda of agreement, employee handbooks, and Codes of Conduct. She also participates in negotiations, mediations, and arbitrations concerning public sector collective bargaining agreements.
Lenahan Studied Law at Albany Law School
Originally from Mt. Kisco, New York, Lenahan graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School in 2011. During her legal studies, she served as a senior editor of the Albany Law Review, worked as a teaching assistant for Civil Procedure and Torts, and participated in the Albany Law Review’s Pro Bono program. She also gained judicial experience as a student intern for the Honorable Thomas J. McAvoy, Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, and worked as a law clerk at the New York State United Teachers’ Office of General Counsel. Prior to law school, she graduated magna cum laude from Ithaca College as a member of the Honors Program.
Professional Credentials and Publications
Lenahan is admitted to practice law in New York State, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of New York. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association. Her written work includes analytical legal commentary such as "Out of State Court Rulings Offer Clues on Handling Confederate Flag Displays," published in the New York State School Boards Association’s On Board in January 2017, and "The Truth Behind ‘Final and Binding’ Arbitration: A Study of Vacated Arbitration Awards in the New York Appellate Division," published in the Albany Law Review in 2011.
Lenahan Lectures on Labor and Education Law
Lenahan frequently lectures on labor, employment, and education law topics for professional organizations. Her speaking engagements include presentations for the National Business Institute on employee handbooks, discipline, and equal employment laws. She has also presented for the Capital Area School Development Association on topics covering student free speech, transgender rights, school safety, and social media regulations under the Dignity for All Students Act. Additional speaking roles include sessions with the International Public Management Association, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and the Labor and Employment Relations Association regarding New York’s Paid Family Leave law and federal overtime regulations.
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