Three HNRK Partners Named Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers
Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP partners Damian Cavaleri, Helene Hechtkopf, and Miriam Manber have been recognized in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers guide, recognizing “the nation’s best advisors on the world of employment and labor law.”
Damian represents clients in complex business and employment disputes, counseling on agreements, employment separation agreements, and non-competition restrictions and covenants. Earlier this year, he prevailed on summary judgment on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Long Island Railroad, dismissing extensive discrimination and retaliation claims in a nearly seven-year litigation. Among other honors, Damian has been named an Employment Law Trailblazer and a Litigation Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, and a Litigation Star and Labor and Employment Star by Benchmark Litigation.
Helene focuses her practice on a wide range of litigation, including commercial, employment, and construction matters, with significant experience defending employment cases under various state and federal statutes. She has represented public and private entities from the start of a case through trial, including first-chairing both bench and jury trials, and appeals in both New York State and federal court. Helene currently serves as Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s prestigious Commercial and Federal Litigation section, and was named a Rising Star by the New York Law Journal, a Woman Worth Watching by Profiles in Leadership Journal, and has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under List and Future Star list.
As a seasoned trial lawyer and trusted counselor, Miriam handles commercial and employment disputes for a diverse client base ranging from individuals to multinational corporations. With experience in state and federal courts, administrative proceedings, and arbitrations, she has won numerous favorable outcomes, including on dispositive motions, in jury and bench trials, and on appeal. Miriam has secured numerous pre-trial dismissals of employment discrimination claims across industries and achieved a precedent-setting appellate victory under the Federal Railway Safety Act’s whistleblower protections. She plays a key role in representing major public agencies, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its affiliates, in high-profile employment matters, such as a class action involving elevator accessibility in the New York City subway system. She has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under List and as a Future Star, recognized as a Woman Worth Watching by Profiles in Leadership Journal, and named a Rising Star in Litigation by New York Super Lawyers.
To read the full list of winners, please click here.