It would be easy to assume – and rightfully so – that Claudia Costa has seen it all. But never one to rest on her laurels, Claudia’s history of success has been built upon a continuing willingness to learn, even four decades into her career.

After all, while experience may be the best teacher, those who reach the top of their game never stop being a student.

“Experience is very valuable, but that’s not to say I can’t learn from those around me,” said Claudia, who recently joined Goldberg Segalla’s Manhattan office as a partner in the firm’s growing Employment and Labor practice group. “It’s always a good idea to listen. These 36 years have taught me a great deal. But they have also taught me that I can learn from those around me, and I think that’s a benefit.”

In fact, in a constantly evolving area of law such as Employment and Labor, a willingness to continually learn is essential.

“The landscape since I started practicing law has changed and expanded dramatically,” Claudia said. “I started practicing in 1989; 1990 was when the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act became law. Fast forward to today, there has been an enormous amount of new legislation and regulations governing employers. And the protections provided to employees keep evolving and changing where now the counseling and training of employers are essential, and in New York are required. So, it is imperative that employers and businesses arm themselves.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, Claudia noted, underscores her point regarding the continual evolution of the Employment and Labor arena.

“No one was sure what to do with their employees working from home or the mask and vaccine requirements. The law was changing rapidly, and this showed employers the importance of, and need for, good counsel. And I think as things keep expanding today with technology and AI, employers are going to need good counsel on how to proceed. I personally attend several conferences throughout the year where I speak, and I listen to what people have experienced. I attend seminars and webinars on what is occurring so that I can impart that to my clients because attorneys need to be on the cutting edge. For the sake of my clients, I need to know what is going on with the current state of the law so I can advise them accordingly.”

That is especially true in New York, where employers throughout the state face unique challenges and are governed by an array of anti-discrimination laws.

“The laws in New York City and New York State are much more expansive than other states. So, when an employer is doing business in New York, it must be aware that the laws that govern them are much different than the federal regulations or even the state next door,” Claudia said. “New York is on the cutting edge right now of how employers can use AI. The laws in New York are very different than they are in Florida and even Pennsylvania.”

Adding to the challenge employers face in New York is the state’s size. There are numerous regions, and each have their own dominant economies, ranging from agriculture, to manufacturing, to technology, to the public sector.

“What is important to an employer in rural sections of New York, who, perhaps, has a dairy farm or who is in agriculture, is different than what is important to an employer in New York City. There are different considerations based on the type of market and you really need to be cognizant of the different people and regulations that impact each locality. That is one of the things that makes Goldberg Segalla so great. We cover all of New York State and are cognizant of the different needs of the clients.”

“I’m thrilled to be here at Goldberg Segalla,” Claudia added. “At this point, I wanted to find a group of people who were of the like mind, in that we want to provide not only a great legal defense to clients, but also counseling and guidance, because the landscape in employment law changes very rapidly. To have such a great group and team behind you is really what I was looking for and I think I found it here.”

Claudia’s decision to join the firm in New York City comes at a time when Goldberg Segalla has added more than 20 attorneys to its Manhattan office since May, including an entirely new Defense Base Act and War Hazards Compensation Act practice group.

“Every law firm is also a business and you’re not going to expand if the need is not there. And New York City is a dynamic area with dynamic growth every day,” Claudia said. “People want good legal counsel, and they want a firm with a reputation that precedes it. So, they are choosing Goldberg Segalla. The firm has made a business decision that we need more people to meet the growing demand. To me, that is impressive because I think most businesses would be conservative on how they grow. If they did not have the demand and the work, they would not necessarily be expanding like Goldberg Segalla is doing in New York City. So, seeing that spoke volumes as to how much of a demand there is for the great services at this firm.”

Besides the vast wealth of experience Claudia brings to Goldberg Segalla, she also brings a personal approach to client service, melding passionate advocacy with responsiveness and vigilance.

“I have been told that what sets me apart from others is the manner and timeliness which with I respond to a client. I am hyper-vigilant with emails, text messages and phone calls. We as attorneys deal with lawsuits every day. So, you know, another lawsuit comes in the door, and you look at the complaint like, ‘Yes, OK, this is just another day in my life.’  But that is not the case with a client. They want to know that someone is there for them to answer their questions and to be on top of what is occurring every step of the way. I enjoy being very proactive in providing my clients with the attention and answers that they need as quickly as possible,” said Claudia. “I think the ability to respond quickly, hopefully gives them some sense of relief during a very tumultuous time. I am also extremely protective of my clients and defend them fiercely, but I also try to be smart with my clients. There are situations that may call for an immediate resolution. There are situations where the client needs to move on because the lawsuit is a drain on its business. So, I like to think that I am there for them to counsel them and help them make the right choice for their business.”

The passion Claudia holds for providing top-notch quality service is rivaled only by the passion she holds for the practice of law.

“I can honestly say I love this,” she said. “I love litigation. I know that not too many people will say that. But I enjoy — I don’t want to say the sparring — but the strategy. I often compare litigation to a game of chess. For every move, there is going to be another move that comes back at you. So, from the minute you get a file, you have to think ‘what am I going to do next that is going to be in the best interest of my client?’ I want to get the best possible result for my client. That just drives me every day.”