Profile

Mary Ellen devotes her practice to the representation of management exclusively in all aspects of labor relations, employment law, and related litigation. She litigates in state and federal courts throughout the country. 

She represents management before arbitration tribunals and administrative agencies on the state and federal level, including the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New York State Division of Human Rights. She litigates cases before the National Labor Relations Board and has served as spokesperson for management during labor negotiations. Mary Ellen represents employers in higher education, health care, manufacturing, financial services, retail and nonprofit institutions.

In addition to litigation, Mary Ellen frequently counsels clients on a full range of state and federal labor and employment law issues, including hiring and termination, discrimination complaints, sexual harassment, collective bargaining, development and administration of human resource policies and wage and hour compliance. She has lectured on numerous employment law topics, including Title VII, Title IX, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the FLSA, Section 296 of the New York State Executive Law and various aspects of employment discrimination. Mary Ellen has provided training to executives, supervisors and employees on labor and employment law issues.

Prior to joining Bond, Mary Ellen was a partner at Putney, Twombly, Hall & Hirson LLP where she was chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice.

  • Listed in:
    • The Best Lawyers in America®, Labor Law - Management, 2018-2025 (listed for more than 5 years)
    • New York Super Lawyers®, Employment & Labor, 2010, 2011; 2013-2023

  • An Interview with Mary Ellen Donnelly, Labor and Employment, Legally Bond Podcast, February 21, 2022
  • Panelist, Witness Preparation, American Arbitration Association, 2021
  • Panelist, Labor Arbitration Advocacy Case Preparation Webinar, American Arbitration Association, 2020
  • New York State Paid Sick Leave Law Webinar, Disability Provider Community, 2020 
  • Panelist, Grievance Processing, American Arbitration Association, 2019
  • Panelist, Witness Preparation, American Arbitration Association, 2019
  • Recent Trends in Employment Law, Third Annual Human Resources Professional Conference for the Disability Provider Community, 2019
  • Panelist, Wage and Hour Litigation, Suffolk County Bar Association, 2016
  • Panelist, Opening Statements in Arbitrations, American Arbitration Association, 2016
  • Changes in New York State and New York City Employment Laws, Nonprofit Organizations, 2016
  • How to Recruit and On-board Employees Legally, Human Resources Conference for the Association of Healthcare Human Resources Administrators of Greater New York, 2015
  • Panelist, Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, National Employment Lawyers Association, NY Fall Conference, 2015