Sabastian S. Piedmont

Sabastian S. Piedmont is the Managing Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Syracuse office, where he primarily practices in the firm’s municipal, education, and labor and employment practice groups. At his prior firm he practiced in the same areas, specifically handling work related to COVID-19 recovery for businesses and local governments. Also, he has worked extensively with the Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff’s Benevolent Association (DSBA) during Collective Bargaining and Fact Finding between the Union and Onondaga County as well as assisting with defense of DSBA members in disciplinary matters and grievance hearings. Sabastian has recently been involved with matters of Improper Practice Charges being filed by individual employees to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), and individuals’ complaints to the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).

Sabastian has worked closely with many businesses, assisting both public and private clients with:

• Legal analysis and advice on the impacts of recent disaster and pandemic related legislation and executive orders;
• Reopening considerations and interpretation of state issues guidance;
• Drafting reopening plans and forms;
• Labor and employment considerations and advisory opinions on employment law guidance;
• Paycheck Protection Programs applications, interpretations and guidance; and
• Drafting guidance and interpretations of Small Business Administration policies in order to properly apply for PPP loan forgiveness.

He also has a background in education law, having engaged in student teaching and observations of classrooms as part of his undergraduate studies. In legal practice, he has presented seminars to school administrators regarding Federal and State complaints made against school districts, and how to properly enforce required law. As well, he provides counsel for labor disputes between staff and school administration. Sabastian has been involved in Tully Rinckey’s education practice group, specifically supporting the group with due process complaints, manifestation determination reviews, NYSED complaints, disciplinary hearings, appeals of decisions, and labor and employment issues that overlap with education law and the practice.

In addition to his background in business and education law, Sabastian also has experience with municipal law, having regularly:

• Provided counsel to municipalities across CNY;
• Drafted local laws and regulations;
• Reviewed and engaged in NYS Section 94-c renewable energy siting application processes on behalf of municipalities;
• Worked with Codes, Dogs, and Zoning Officials, to prosecute local and state codes violations, dangerous dogs violations, and for compliance with local Planning and Zoning matters; and
• Drafted NYS Mandatory Emergency Operations Plans.

In May 2019, he received his Juris Doctor and Certificate of Advanced Study in National Security & Counterterrorism Law from Syracuse University College of Law. While in law school, Sabastian interned with the District Attorney Joseph V. Cardone at the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office. In addition, he also interned with County Attorney Tina Wayland-Smith at the Madison County Attorney’s Office. He is admitted to practice in New York State Court.

While attending Syracuse University of Law, Sabastian served as the founding member and president of the Mental Wellness Society, an organization advocating for mental health and substance abuse issues faced by members in the legal field. While serving as president of the Mental Wellness Society, he organized multiple 5k events, speaker’s series addressing mental health and substance abuse issues when applying for application to the Bar, and various other events to destigmatize addressing the treatment of mental health and substance abuse.

Court and Bar Admissions

• New York State

Education

• J.D.: Syracuse University College of Law
• B.S.: SUNY College at Brockport