New York Labor Law Attorneys - New York City, NY, Garden City, Long Island, NY

Basil A. Paterson

Basil A. Paterson is a Member of the law firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. located in Garden City, Long Island, N.Y. and Co-Chair of the firm’s Labor practice. Among the more than forty labor unions the firm has as clients, Mr. Paterson personally represents Local 1199/SEIU; and the United Federation of Teachers.

Basil Paterson attended New York City public schools and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School, for which he was honored at its Centennial Celebration as Alumnus of the Year. He has been a Visiting Professor at State University of New York at New Paltz, an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University School of Education, and a Visiting Professor at Hunter College.

Mr. Paterson is the recipient of numerous awards, including the "Pierre Toussaint Award" from the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the "Robert J. Kibbee Award for Public Service and Achievement" from the City University of New York, the Council of Senior Centers and Services’ “Advocate for the Aging” Award, and has received citations from the Franciscan Handmaids of Mary and the Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs in Higher Education. Mr. Paterson is rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level in professional excellence. He was the 2012 recipient of The Long Island Business News’ Leadership in Law Lifetime Achievement Award and recognized by Long Island Pulse Magazine in 2010 and 2011 as one of the region's "Top Legal Eagles". In 2011 Mr. Paterson received an award from the New York Amsterdam News & Bill Lynch Associates, LLC entitled "Tying Communities Together" in recognition of outstanding service in support of the Labor Movement of New York City. In 2010, he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Peggy Browning Fund for Supporting the Labor Movement and Improving the Lives of Working People. In 2009, Mr. Paterson received the "Living Legends Award" from the City University of New York's Medgar Evers College. In 2008, he received the "Civil Leadership Award" from the Citizens Union of the City of New York. In 2007, Mr. Paterson received the "Abraham Krasnoff Courage and Commitment Award". In 2006, he was awarded the "Community Service Award" by North General Hospital at their Visionary Awards gala in New York City. Mr. Paterson was presented with the "President’s Award" by St. John’s University Law School in 2003 for his exceptional personal and professional success and the outstanding service he has rendered to the University and society.

Mr. Paterson has served as New York’s Secretary of State and as New York City Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations and Personnel. He has also served as a New York State Senator, Vice Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, and as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Paterson chaired the New York City Mayor’s Judiciary Committee for four years, and the New York State Governor’s Judicial Screening Panel for the Second Department for eight years. He ended his tenure at the Commission on Judicial Nominations after serving for twelve years. He also served for ten years as a member of the Board of Editors of the New York Law Journal. He was in 2003 appointed to the newly formed Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections. Mr. Paterson is Chairman of the National Grid Foundation Board of Directors. Mr. Paterson has served as Co-Chairman of the New York State Governor’s Commission on Determinate Sentencing, and the New York State Commission on Powers of Local Government. He has the distinction of having served as the Chair of the first Arbitration Panel mandated by New York State legislation.