Matthew I Marks

Matthew I. Marks, Employment & Civil Rights Attorney in Queens and Long Island

Matthew I. Marks is a founding partner of Ricotta & Marks, P.C. He has represented New York employees in discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and unpaid overtime cases for more than 25 years. He is admitted in New York and in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. His practice is 100% litigation.

Matthew is a Super Lawyers-recognized employment attorney. He is known for developing novel legal arguments, several of which opposing counsel and judges have noted. He has handled cases of first impression. He also defends New York City teachers in 3020-a disciplinary hearings brought by the Department of Education.

About Matthew Marks

Before founding Ricotta & Marks, P.C., Matthew was a senior associate at a large employment discrimination firm. There he handled complex employment and civil rights litigation, including restrictive covenant and contract disputes. Earlier, he worked at the New York City Law Department. He defended the City in several major, high-profile civil rights class actions.

Matthew joined Ricotta & Marks, P.C. in 2011. He represents employees and, in limited matters, small employers. He listens first to understand what each client wants, then builds the case to reach that result. Clients work directly with him, not with junior staff.

He speaks often at in-person and virtual events on combating workplace discrimination. He has been quoted in the New York Law Journal and the New York Post.

Practice Areas

Matthew's practice is about 70% employment law, 15% civil rights and 15% education law. He represents clients in:

• Sexual harassment: hostile work environment and workplace retaliation
• Employment discrimination: age, disability, race, gender, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, transgender status, marital status, criminal record, genetic information (GINA) and equal pay
• Wrongful termination and retaliation
• Unpaid overtime and wage-and-hour disputes
• Whistleblower and FMLA claims
• Employment contracts, mediation and arbitration
• Labor and union matters
• Civil rights: claims under Titles VI, VII and IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and New York State and City law
• Education law: defense of New York City teachers in 3020-a proceedings
• Employer-side defense for small employers

Matthew serves clients in Queens, New York City and Long Island from the firm's offices in Long Island City and Seaford.

Case Results

Firm results, shown as examples. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.

Published decisions:

• Green v. City of New York, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46733 (E.D.N.Y. 2010)
• Norton v. Town of Islip UFSD, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 100900 (E.D.N.Y. 2011)

Awards & Recognition

• Super Lawyers, New York (10-year honoree; Selected 2026)
• Better Business Bureau, A+ rating and accredited business (firm)
• American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 40 Under 40, 2015 and 2016
• Expertise.com, Best Employment Lawyers in New York City (firm)

What Clients Say

"Mr Marks is an amazing lawyer. He is always kind and respectful and there for me whenever I need him… They helped settle my case very quickly, and I received a great settlement in the end." — Kel K.

"Matt was detail oriented, professional, kind and helpful… I felt understood during the duration of my lawsuit and when I decided to not continue due to personal matters, he was able to get a settlement on my behalf which was very helpful." — Connie C.

"This firm cares and knows how to properly assess the merits of your case. I know because I'm an attorney. I had retainer agreement offers from 4 other firms and Ricotta was my 1st choice." — Nima D., on Ricotta & Marks, P.C.

"Their knowledge, commitment, and understanding of my situation has been exceptional." — John L., on Ricotta & Marks, P.C.

Read more testimonials

Education & Admissions

• J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 1999 (Hofstra Law Review)
• B.A., SUNY Albany, 1996 [degree type not stated on the site; confirm]
• Admitted: New York State, 2000; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2000; U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2000

Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew Marks

What does Matthew Marks do? Matthew I. Marks is a New York employment and civil rights lawyer. He represents employees in sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and unpaid overtime cases. He also defends teachers in 3020-a hearings.

Where is Matthew Marks located? He practices at Ricotta & Marks, P.C. The Queens office is at 30-30 Northern Boulevard, Suite 401, Long Island City, NY 11101. The Long Island office is at 2174 Jackson Avenue, Seaford, NY 11783.

How long has Matthew Marks practiced employment law? He was admitted to the New York Bar in 2000 and joined Ricotta & Marks, P.C. in 2011.

Does Matthew Marks represent NYC teachers? Yes. He has successfully defended numerous teachers in 3020-a proceedings brought by the New York City Department of Education.

How much does a consultation cost? Initial consultations are free. The firm works on a contingency fee basis, so there are no attorney's fees unless it recovers compensation for you.

How can I contact Matthew Marks? Call (917) 540-8565 or schedule a free consultation online.

Call (917) 540-8565 to speak with Matthew I. Marks about your case.