Attorneys
In New York:
(646) 378-2235 (T)
(646) 785-4255 (F)
In Philadelphia:
(267) 558-2055 (T)
(646) 785-4255 (F)
Education
B.A., Lebanon Valley College, Political Science, 1987
J.D., St. John's University School of Law, 1990
Bar Admissions
New York
Pennsylvania
Gregory J. Hessinger
ghessinger@curleyhessinger.comPartner
Greg Hessinger is a traditional labor lawyer who brings the unique combination of big firm, in-house and labor union experience to Curley, Hessinger & Johnsrud LLP. He represents a variety of regional and national employers in collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, NLRB proceedings and employment-related litigation. He regularly counsels clients on a host of employment issues, including employment contracts, severance agreements, reductions-in-force, terminations, employee discipline, restrictive covenants, discrimination and union organizing.
Mr. Hessinger has a deep background and unparalleled relationships in the media and entertainment sector. In recent years, he has worked extensively with the ANA-AAAA Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations, the multi-employer bargaining group that represents national advertisers and advertising agencies. Before returning to private practice in 2006, Mr. Hessinger served as National Executive Director of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), after having previously served for five years as the National Executive Director of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He is the only person ever to helm both SAG and AFTRA, the two largest performers’ unions in the world. Prior to those executive experiences, Mr. Hessinger also worked in-house for several years as the Director of Labor Relations for CBS, Inc. Drawing upon that experience, Mr. Hessinger represents a diverse group of clients in the advertising, entertainment and media industries, including movie studios, television networks, talent agencies, advertisers, advertising agencies and major record labels. He served for many years as a Trustee on the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans and is an expert in navigating clients through the audit procedures of those plans. Given the breadth of his background in those industries, Mr. Hessinger’s representational activities have expanded well beyond the realm of traditional labor into a myriad of business and transactional issues unique to advertising, entertainment and media clients. In addition to SAG and AFTRA, Mr. Hessinger deals regularly with the Directors Guild, Writers Guild, IATSE, NABET and the American Federation of Musicians.
Outside of the entertainment industry, Mr. Hessinger’s practice also includes the representation of public sector clients and multinational corporations in the private sector, such as agribusinesses, manufacturers, and financial services firms. Greg has negotiated close to a hundred collective bargaining agreements in a variety of industries and has extensive experience in dealing with major unions such as the Teamsters, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers, SEIU, IBEW, Steelworkers, Fraternal Order of Police, IUE and others. Mr. Hessinger also regularly counsels clients in high-stakes restrictive covenant and non-compete matters, particularly in the financial services industry.
Mr. Hessinger is a 1990 graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. In 1987, he received his B.A. in Political Science from Lebanon Valley College, serving as captain of the football team for two years. Mr. Hessinger resides in Chesterfield, New Jersey with his wife Paula and their three children.