Cody Fitzsimmons is a Partner at Schaeffer Venaglia Handler & Fitzsimmons, LLP. From closely held private companies to large public companies, Mr. Fitzsimmons has successfully counseled, provided training to, and litigated on behalf of, clients in a wide variety of employment-related matters.

Mr. Fitzsimmons has successfully defended clients in federal and state courts and before government agencies in cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of restrictive covenants and wage and hour violations, both individual and class/collective actions. In his counseling practice, Mr. Fitzsimmons regularly advises senior management, in-house counsel and human resources professionals on matters concerning employee relations, employee discipline, performance management, FMLA and other leave-related issues, employee disability issues, background screening, wages and hours, individual and group terminations, separation agreements, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and other employment-related agreements, employment-related policy and practice development, and vendor agreements and other consultant-related issues. Mr. Fitzsimmons has conducted and counseled clients with respect to dozens of internal investigations of alleged employee misconduct. Additionally, Mr. Fitzsimmons has extensive experience training management on a variety of employment law and human resources-related topics, including discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Cody Fitzsimmons has been an Adjunct Instructor at New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Department of Leadership & Human Capital Management, where he has taught the following graduate courses: Advanced Labor Relations and Employment Law; and Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. Mr. Fitzsimmons has also taught adult education courses on employee handbook development and was approved by the New York Continuing Legal Education Board to teach a course on Federal Law Regarding Employment Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation. He is a Professional Member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Mr. Fitzsimmons is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the State of New Jersey and in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He received his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law in 1991 and his Bachelor of Arts from New York University in 1988, where he graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta and University Honors Scholar.