James F. Bryton focuses his practice on labor and employment litigation, counseling, and workplace training. He serves as a strategic adviser to startups, growth stage companies, and established employers, helping organizations build, manage, and scale their workforces while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Drawing on his extensive litigation experience, James partners with founders, executives, and human resources professionals to develop practical employment strategies that support growth, mitigate risk, and position businesses for long term success. He regularly advises clients on hiring and onboarding, leaves of absence and accommodations, performance management and discipline, discrimination and harassment prevention, employment policies and handbooks, wage and hour compliance, and worker classification issues. James also conducts training programs for management and human resources professionals on employment law compliance and workplace best practices.
Prior to joining Littler, James litigated employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and hostile work environment claims as Senior Counsel in the Labor and Employment Division of the New York City Law Department. Previously, he practiced at a midsize litigation firm. James began his legal career with the New York City Law Department’s Special Federal Litigation Division, where he defended civil rights actions brought against the New York City Police Department and the New York City Department of Correction in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. During his time with the New York City Law Department, he successfully tried five civil cases to verdict. His substantial trial experience continues to inform his practical and strategic approach to advising employers and defending workplace disputes.