Paolo Meireles

Paolo C. Meireles is a partner at Shavitz Law Group, and head of the firms’ Financial Services Claims Department.   Paolo’s practice focuses on class and collective action cases seeking unpaid wages on behalf of current and former employees nationwide. As head of the firm’s Financial Services Claims Department, Paolo has litigated employee rights class action financial sector cases against some of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated financial intuitions and banks, resulting in millions of dollars in unpaid wages and damages on behalf of his clients. This includes recovering $2,850,000.00 on behalf Financial Representatives employed by Country Financial who allege they were not paid overtime wages while in training (Koszyk, et al. v. Country Financial a/k/a CC Services, Inc., No. 16 cv 3571 (N.D. Ill.)); $23,000,000.00 on behalf of Mortgage Loan Originators at a national financial institution (confidential settlement); and $2,620,000.00 on behalf of Bank of the West’s Customer Service Managers who allege they were “misclassified” as salaried employees and not paid overtime wages for hours worked over 40 per week (Meller, et al. v. Bank of the West, 18 cv 33 (S.D. Iowa); among countless others. Barred in Florida, New Jersey, and New York, as well as Federal Courts nationwide, Paolo represents clients throughout the country in their fight for fair treatment in the workplace.

“Immigrants, we get the job done.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda 

Prior to joining Shavitz Law Group, Paolo’s advocacy began with his work in the public sector assisting consumer debt clients with Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims, for which he was awarded the New York City Civil Court Pro Bono Award. Since joining the Shavitz Law Group team in 2012, Paolo has helped give a voice to employees who have been undervalued and underpaid.

Paolo received his Juris Doctorate from Fordham University School of Law, where he was honored with the Thomas F. Reddy Intellectual Property Award and the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award. Prior to law school, Paolo attended Lynn University where he graduated with Academic Honors, earning a B.A. in Behavioral Science.

• • Wage and hour collective and class cases, including Fair Labor Standards Act and Equal Pay Act claims

  • Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) claims

Fordham University School of Law

J.D., 2010

Thomas F. Reddy Intellectual Property Award Recipient; Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award Recipient

Lynn University

B.A., Behavioral Science, 2006
Academic Honors Award

Bar Admissions

New Jersey, 2011
New York, 2011
Florida, 2011

Court Admissions

Florida State, 2011
Northern District of Florida, 2014
Middle District of Florida, 2013
Southern District of Florida, 2012
New York State, 2011
Northern District of New York, 2013
Southern District of New York, 2013
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2015
New Jersey State, 2011
District of New Jersey, 2011
District of Colorado, 2017
Eastern District of Michigan, 2014

Memberships

The Florida Bar (Labor and Employment Law Section)

$12,500,000.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Financial Solutions Advisors who were misclassified as overtime exempt employees.

$1,200,000.00 unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Beall’s Area Managers who allege they were misclassified as overtime exempt employees.

$2,850,000.00 unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Financial Representatives employed by Country Financial who allege they were not paid overtime wages for time spent completing training from home.

$5,995,000.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Financial Advisors in training who allege they were not paid for time spent working from home to complete training requirements from home.

$3,530,000.00 unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of OfficeMax Assistant Store Managers who allege they were misclassified as employees exempt from overtime pay.

$14,000,000.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Financial Advisors in training.

$6,497,500.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of hourly-paid Assistant Managers in bank branches who were not paid for time spent working during uncompensated meal breaks.

$8,906,118.47 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of hourly-paid Client Associates in financial investment centers who were not paid for time spent preparing for licensing exams.

$23,500,000.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Mortgage Loan Originators working for a large financial institution.

$2,435,000.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Financial Advisors in training who allege they were not paid wages for time spent completing training requirements from home.

$1,780,000.00 unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Aspen Dental Office Managers who allege they were misclassified as employees exempt from overtime pay.

$3,3000,000.00 unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of RBC’s Client Associates.

$2,620,000.00 unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Bank of the West’s Customer Service Managers who allege they were misclassified as employees exempt from overtime pay for hours worked over 40 per week.

$3,257,000.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of Relationship Bankers at a large financial institution who claim they were not paid overtime wages for hours spent preparing for required licenses.

$6,970,000.00 confidential unpaid overtime wages settlement on behalf of call-center based financial advisors working beyond 40 hours per week without overtime pay.

• • New York City Civil Court Pro Bono Award