Photo by David Cohen

Keith E. Secular

Partner

Keith E. Secular joined the firm in 1976, and became a Partner in 1982. Mr. Secular’s experience includes the representation of both local and national unions in the private and public sectors in litigation before courts and administrative agencies, in arbitration, and in collective bargaining.

Mr. Secular currently serves as counsel to a national union representing employees of the United States Postal Service, with responsibilities ranging from litigation, arbitration, collective bargaining, and contract administration, to union governance and counseling of union officials and governing bodies.

Mr. Secular has argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court and has served as lead counsel in five nation-wide collective bargaining impasse arbitrations. He recently served as the union-designated member of the interest arbitration panel in a sixth national impasse arbitration.

Prior to joining Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP, Mr. Secular served on the faculty of the University of Miami Law School, where he taught courses on Evidence and Labor Law. He has also served as law clerk to Judge Jack B. Weinstein of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Mr. Secular graduated magna cum laude from New York University in 1971 and received his law degree in 1974 from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was named to the Order of the Coif.

Representation Areas

Labor Representation
Workplace Litigation

Concentrations

Litigation, Collective Bargaining, Contract Arbitration, Interest Arbitration, Administrative Proceedings, Union Governance

Education

University of Chicago Law School, J.D.
New York University, B.A.,
magna cum laude

Bar Admissions

New York
District of Columbia

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York

Representative Highlights

United States Supreme Court
Air Courier Conference of America v. American Postal Workers Union, National Association of Letter Carriers, and U.S. Postal Service (1991). Argued. Issue: judicial review of agency action; standing.

United States Supreme Court
U.S. Postal Service v. National Association of Letter Carriers (1988). Argued. Issue: judicial review of labor arbitration award; public policy.

United States Supreme Court
Northwest Airlines v. Transport Workers Union and Airline Pilots Association (1981). Second seat. Issue: Employer right to contribution from union for liability under Title VII and the Equal Pay Act.

United States Courts of Appeals
U.S. Postal Service v. National Association of Letter Carriers (D.C. Circuit, 1993). Argued. Issue: Privacy Act, union access to information.

United States Courts of Appeals
Martin v. Branch 419, National Association of Letter Carriers (6th Circuit, 1991). Argued. Issue: Union restrictions on eligibility for elective office.

United States Courts of Appeals
Biller and Sombrotto v. U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (2d Circuit, 1988). Argued. Issue: Application of Hatch Act and First Amendment to political speech by union officers.

United States Courts of Appeals
Raicovich v. U.S. Postal Service (D.C. Circuit, 1982). Argued. Issue: Injured federal employee’s right to restoration to employment.

Industry Affiliations

American Bar Association
AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance