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Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law
Capabilities
People

Scott brings extensive private practice and in-house counsel experience in all areas of labor and employment litigation to his client engagements. He represents employers in the wide range of labor and employment law matters, from intricate employment class action lawsuits to litigation involving all types of workplace disputes such as claims of unlawful termination, discrimination, harassment and unpaid wages or benefits.  He also represents employers before all types of administrative agencies, including the New York and United States Departments of Labor, the EEOC, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the OFCCP, OSHA, and the NLRB.  Scott’s practice includes preparing and negotiating separation packages and advising on contractual issues such as employment agreements and non-compete agreements.

Prior to joining Harris Beach Murtha as a member, Mr. Piper was a named partner of Piper Schultz LLP, a boutique law firm he founded that primarily counseled and represented businesses in all labor and employment matters.  Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Piper was the in-house labor and employment counsel for Paychex, Inc.

Admissions
GeorgiaGeorgia - Supreme CourtNew YorkU.S. Court of Appeals, Second CircuitU.S. District Court, Georgia - Northern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Eastern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Northern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Southern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Western DistrictU.S. Supreme Court
Education

University of Florida Law

JD 
1995

University of North Florida

BA 
1992
summa cum laude

Capabilities

Legal Practices

Co-Leader for:

Labor and Employment

Member of:

Labor and Employment

Industry Teams

Member of:

Construction
Health Care
Real Estate Developers
Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law
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Scott Piper

Scott D. Piper

Member

spiper@harrisbeachmurtha.com
Capabilities
People
Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law
Scott Piper

Scott D. Piper

spiper@harrisbeachmurtha.com
D: (585) 419-8621
New York, NY Office
Rochester, NY Office

Profile

Scott brings extensive private practice and in-house counsel experience in all areas of labor and employment litigation to his client engagements. He represents employers in the wide range of labor and employment law matters, from intricate employment class action lawsuits to litigation involving all types of workplace disputes such as claims of unlawful termination, discrimination, harassment and unpaid wages or benefits.  He also represents employers before all types of administrative agencies, including the New York and United States Departments of Labor, the EEOC, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the OFCCP, OSHA, and the NLRB.  Scott’s practice includes preparing and negotiating separation packages and advising on contractual issues such as employment agreements and non-compete agreements.

Prior to joining Harris Beach Murtha as a member, Mr. Piper was a named partner of Piper Schultz LLP, a boutique law firm he founded that primarily counseled and represented businesses in all labor and employment matters.  Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Piper was the in-house labor and employment counsel for Paychex, Inc.

Areas of Expertise

Legal Practices

Co-Leader for:

Labor and Employment

Member of:

Labor and Employment

Industry Teams

Member of:

Construction
Health Care
Real Estate Developers

Focuses

Please select listing to show.

Admissions

GeorgiaGeorgia - Supreme CourtNew YorkU.S. Court of Appeals, Second CircuitU.S. District Court, Georgia - Northern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Eastern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Northern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Southern DistrictU.S. District Court, New York - Western DistrictU.S. Supreme Court

Representative Matters

  • Represented Defendant in case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for unpaid wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act where Plaintiff alleged she was owed over six figures in unpaid overtime.  Successfully obtained summary judgment on Defendant’s behalf under fluctuating workweek theory, and case was dismissed.
  • Represented Defendant and five individual Defendants in case filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York where plaintiff alleged race discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.  Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of all defendants, and case was dismissed.
  • Represented Defendant and one individual Defendant in case filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York where plaintiff alleged gender, national origin and race discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII and the NY Human Rights Law.  Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of all defendants, and case was dismissed.
  • Represented Defendant in case filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York where plaintiff alleged Town unlawfully retaliated against him in violation of Title VII, the NY Human Rights law, and 42 USC Section 1983.  Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of Defendant, and case was dismissed.
  • Represented Defendant in case filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York where plaintiff alleged hostile work environment and retaliation in violation of Title VII and the NY Human Rights Law.  Plaintiff agreed to voluntarily dismiss/withdraw claim with prejudice, and without settlement.
  • Represented Defendant in case filed by 12 Plaintiffs in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York seeking unpaid wages and overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law, and alleging other violations of the New York Labor law.
  • Represented Defendant in class action claim by Plaintiff’s alleging failure to pay service charges as gratuities in violation of the New York Labor Law.
  • Represented two of three Defendants in class action claim by Plaintiff’s alleging failure to pay service charges as gratuities in violation of the New York Labor Law.
  • Represented Defendant and one individual Defendant in case where plaintiff alleged pregnancy discrimination and retaliation in violation of the NY Human Rights Law.  Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of all Defendants, and case was dismissed.
  • Represented Defendant in case filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York where plaintiff alleged breach of employment contract and failure to pay wages in violation of NY Labor Law, and Defendant counter-claimed for $15,000 repayment of bonus. Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of Defendant including an award of counterclaim.  Case proceeded to appeal and ultimately voluntarily dismissed by Plaintiff.
  • Represented Defendant and one individual Defendant in class action breach of contract claim where plaintiffs alleged that they, and a group of similarly situated former employees, were denied certain retirement insurance and other benefits pursuant to applicable collective bargaining agreements. Successfully defended class certification motion and Plaintiffs agreed to voluntarily dismiss/withdraw claim without settlement.
  • Represented Defendants in case filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York where plaintiff alleged hostile work environment, discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII and the NY Human Rights Law.  Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of Defendants, and case was dismissed.
  • Represented Defendant District in case where plaintiff claimed wrongful discharge in violation of NY Labor Law Section 740 and NY Civil Rights Law 44-a.  Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of Defendant, and case was dismissed.
  • Represented District in case filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York where plaintiff alleged Title IX violations.
  • ADA Website Accessibility Cases:  Represented hotels, banks, restaurants, retailers, and other entities as Defendants in New York’s federal courts, and successfully resolved cases, where Plaintiff alleged Defendants’ websites failed to comply with the standards required under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law and the New York City Human Rights Law.
  • NY and U.S. Dep’ts of Labor:  Successfully represented human services, manufacturing and private business entities in claims for unpaid wages filed by current and/or former employees.
  • OSHA:  Successfully resolved claims for safety violations against manufacturing and other private business entity clients.
  • NY State Division of Human Rights and EEOC:  Successfully obtained “No Probable Cause” decisions and other dismissals on behalf of numerous employer clients including human services agencies, manufacturers, medical providers, school districts and several private employers.
  • Internal investigations:  Successfully conducted (as oversight counsel or independent investigator) internal investigations for numerous employers into claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and financial or other alleged improprieties.
  • Manager and supervisor training:  Conducted manager and supervisor training sessions for employers concerning all labor and employment areas including discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave act, National Labor Relations Act, and New York Paid Family Leave.
  • Unemployment Matters:  Successfully represented employers protesting unemployment claims including claims filed by individuals classified as independent contractors.
  • Workers’ Comp Retaliation Claims:  Successfully represented employers against claims filed by former employees alleging wrongful termination in retaliation for filing NY workers’ compensation claims.
  • Noncompete and other restrictive covenant matters:  Successfully represented several employers in court and in pre-litigation demands when enforcing restrictive covenants against former employees.  Successfully defended employers against claims of tortious interference with contract when other companies attempted to enforce restrictive covenant against newly hired employee.
  • Multi-state employee agreements, including restrictive covenant agreements:  Assisted multi-state employers with drafting employment and restrictive covenant agreements for use across several states.
  • Client Counseling:  On a daily basis, counsels employers on all labor and employment matters, as requested by clients.

Distinctions

Professional and Civic

  • Monroe County Bar Association, member, former chair of Disability, Labor and Employment Section
  • United States District Court for the Western District of New York, recently served as Special Master
  • U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, mediator
  • St. Paul’s Day Care Center, board member
  • YMCA of Greater Rochester, board member

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers, Employment Law – Management, since 2019
  • Best Lawyers, Labor Law – Management, since 2019
  • Best Lawyers, Litigation – Labor and Employment, since 2019
  • Rochester Business Journal, Labor and Employment Law Power List, 2025
  • Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year,” Labor Law – Management, 2023
  • Super Lawyers, Employment and Labor Law, Employment Litigation: Defense, 2014 – 2019

 

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Content current as of October 6, 2026 2:00 am