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Domenico (Nick) Zaino

Domenico (Nick) Zaino

Partner

  • Waterbury
  • [email protected]

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Legal Services

  • Labor & Employment
  • Municipal Law
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Education

  • University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., 1996
  • Trinity College, B.A., 1993

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • Connecticut
  • Rhode Island

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

Domenico (Nick) Zaino

Partner

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Home » Our Team » Domenico (Nick) Zaino

  • Overview
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Nick is co-leader of the firm’s Business Services Group. He practices primarily in the area of labor and employment law and has extensive experience counseling, representing, and training employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. Nick also has experience representing employers in traditional labor matters including negotiating collective bargaining agreements, arbitrating grievances, and defending unfair labor practice complaints.  His clients range from small to large companies in various industries such as banking, health care, education, manufacturing, engineering, retail, construction, and non-profit organizations.

Working closely with C-level executives, in-house counsel, human resource professionals and business owners, Nick provides pragmatic advice on compliance and preventative strategies related to virtually every type of employment issue including: managing employees with medical issues; workplace investigations; discrimination and harassment; hiring and employee discipline; handling retaliation/whistleblower issues; workforce restructuring and downsizing; drafting employment, retention, separation, non-competition, confidentiality, change in control, and independent contractor agreements; wage and hour compliance; and labor law. Nick regularly conducts training on these issues, tailoring the programs to address the employer’s needs.

Nick’s practice also focuses on representing clients in the education sector, including independent private schools and universities. He works closely with heads of schools, deans, and other school administrators on student and employee disciplinary matters, investigations of wrongdoing, employment contracts, enrollment agreements, child abuse and neglect allegations, and a myriad of other day-to-day compliance and risk management issues.

In 2024, Nick successfully completed 40 hours of Mediation Skills Training from the Quinnipiac School of Law Center on Dispute Resolution.

“Domenico Zaino is frequently sought out for representation by employers in sexual harassment and retaliation claims. He also handles WARN Act disputes and discrimination cases.”

Chambers USA Guide 2023

“Nick is an outstanding lawyer who has mastered the art of being a deep subject matter expert who provides practical and effective solutions.”

Chambers USA Guide 2025

Affiliations

  • Connecticut Bar Association – Board of Governors, 2015-2016

  • Past Chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section and current Ex-Officio Executive Committee Member

  • American Bar Association – Labor and Employment Section

Distinctions

  • Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers® in Stamford, Connecticut – Employment Law: Management, 2026

  • Best Lawyers® – Employment Law: Management, 2021-2026

  • Ranked in Chambers USA Guide – Labor & Employment, Connecticut, 2010-2025

  • Who’s Who Legal: Labour and Employment and Thought Leader, 2015-2024

  • Connecticut Super Lawyers® – Employment & Labor, 2010-2025

Community

  • Board of Directors, Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Board Member, Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation
  • Personnel Committee, United Way of Greater Waterbury

Experience

  • Counseled a large, regional employer on planning and implementation of all aspects of a company-wide reduction in force, including conducting a disparate impact analysis, WARN Act obligations, severance agreements, and notices to employees.

  • Counseled client through labor union representation petition and negotiated first labor contract.

  • Conducted extensive reviews and audits of wage and hour practices and coordinated large-scale reclassification of exempt positions.

  • Conducted extensive revisions of policies and practices for multi-state employer relating to FMLA, criminal background checks, hiring forms, and paid time off policies.

  • Obtained numerous dismissals of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation complaints.

  • Successful representation of employers in Department of Labor audits and complaints on wage and hour issues, and issues related to the classification of workers as independent contractors.

IRS Publishes 2026 Retirement Plan Limits

November 20, 2025
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announces changes to various limits affecting 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans. These 2026 changes were announced in IRS Notice 2025-67.  Below is a summary of the limits that generally apply to 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans.  These new 2026 limits should be communicated
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What Happened to the FTC Rule on Non-Competes?

November 11, 2025
You may recall that in April 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized a rule that would have made most non-compete clauses between an employer and employee unenforceable. The FTC concluded that non-compete clauses suppress wages, stifle workers’ mobility, harm competition and violate Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission
Read More

Carmody Lawyers Named to the 2025 Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars Lists

October 21, 2025
Carmody is pleased to announce that 36 of its lawyers have been selected for inclusion on the Connecticut Super Lawyers® and Connecticut Rising Stars lists for 2025. Super Lawyers recognizes lawyers who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice. Please visit www.SuperLawyers.com/SelectionProcess to learn more information on the selection process.
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When Remote Work Is Not a “Reasonable Accommodation”

October 07, 2025
Takeaways for Employers Essential Job Duties Take Precedence Clear, Accurate Job Descriptions Are Critical Engage in the Interactive Process Document Everything Consistency in Application Is Key The Connecticut Appellate Court recently held that an employee’s request to work entirely on a remote basis was not reasonable where some essential job
Read More

Connecticut Medical Leave Laws Expanded to Cover Private Schools

September 25, 2025
Effective October 1, 2025, the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (CT FMLA) and the Connecticut Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Program (CTPL) will expand to cover non-certified employees of nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. Prior to this expansion, eligible private school employees were only covered under the federal Family
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HR Hotline Live: Common Wage & Hour Issues

December 11, 2025
From properly notifying employees about compensation and benefits to ensuring pay stubs and time tracking are accurate, every detail matters when complying with wage and hour laws—often one of the most challenging aspects of any manager’s job. Carmody Labor & Employment partners Vincent Farisello and Nick Zaino will be speaking on the nuances of common
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Expanded Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Requirements

September 11, 2025
Carmody Labor & Employment partners Vincent Farisello and Nick Zaino will be speaking on the Connecticut Paid Sick Leave law to the Waterbury Regional Chamber's Human Resources Council. As many employers know, the Connecticut Paid Sick Leave law was significantly expanded effective January 1,2025 to cover more employers and employees,
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HR Hotline Live: Employee Terminations

September 18, 2025
Terminating workers can be one of the hardest parts of managing a business and its people. You hope to never have to do it, but it’s often impossible to avoid. Carmody Labor & Employment partners Vincent Farisello and Nick Zaino will be speaking on the nuances of employee terminations with
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HR Legal Update and Networking Event

June 25, 2025
With so many changes already underway at the federal level and proposed legislative changes pending at the Connecticut General Assembly, staying informed is more important than ever for Connecticut employers. Join Carmody’s Labor & Employment team for an essential seminar tailored for HR professionals, business leaders, and in-house legal counsel. We'll break
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HR Hotline Live: Avoiding Hiring Hazards

June 04, 2025
Hiring a new employee isn’t just about finding the right skills and experience—it’s also a legal minefield. From interview questions to background checks, missteps can lead to costly compliance issues. Carmody Labor & Employment partners Vincent Farisello and Nick Zaino join CBIA’s HR counsel Diane Mokriski for this productive virtual event.
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2025 Executive Orders and Their Impact on HR

March 20, 2025
Labor & Employment partners Vincent Farisello and Nick Zaino discuss key developments that have occurred at the federal level that significantly impact employers and human resource leaders: Key learning points: Various Executive Orders targeting DEI initiatives, affirmative action and discrimination laws Major development at the NLRB and new leadership at
Read More

Major Changes to Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave Law

January 16, 2025
Carmody Labor & Employment partners Vincent Farisello and Nick Zaino discuss the major changes to Connecticut's Paid Sick Leave Law that became effective January 1, 2025, in this informal Zoom session through the Waterbury Regional Chamber's Human Resources Council. Register here.

HR Hotline Live: Managing Employee Absences

February 25, 2025
Get answers to your toughest questions about FMLA, paid sick leave, no-shows, and more in this interactive Q&A session with Carmody partners Vincent Farisello and Nick Zaino. Register here.

HR Hotline Live: Paid Sick Leave Update

December 05, 2024
Connecticut’s new paid sick leave law has brought confusion and frustration to many employers. Whether you’ve already attended training on the new law, or are just beginning, this HR Hotline Live webinar will clear up the confusion, simplify the issues, and outline exactly what you need to know for compliance.
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HR Hotline Live: Prevent & Navigate Workplace Discrimination Complaints

June 03, 2024
Navigating the complexities of workplace discrimination complaints can be daunting. However, arming yourself with the right knowledge and strategies can protect your organization from potential legal pitfalls. Join us June 3 for HR Hotline Live: Prevent & Navigate Workplace Discrimination Complaints, where CBIA HR Counsel Diane Mokriski and Carmody Torrance
Read More

FMLA Compliance and Managing Medical Leave

May 15, 2024
Please join us for this highly interactive half-day workshop where we will tackle one of today’s most challenging areas for employers – FMLA compliance and managing employee medical leaves. We will discuss numerous real-world scenarios that will provide attendees with an understanding of their obligations under the Connecticut and federal
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The Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges Annual Member Forum

November 03, 2023
CCIC's Annual Forum provides our members with an opportunity to gain information and discuss solutions with industry experts and colleagues from other institutions about the latest trends on campuses.   Carmody will provide a review of new Connecticut laws that were passed during the most recent legislative session and bills
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