New York City has become the first city in the nation to protect freelance workers through legislation to prevent client non-payment, which is alleged to have become widespread. Some sources have estimated that four million workers in New York City freelance and as many as 55 million workers freelance nationwide.
Law firms and other hiring parties that engage freelance workers, including for example paralegals, expert witnesses, administrators or other support personnel should be aware of this development—attorneys, as well as sales representatives and medical professionals, are excluded from the law. It may be a precursor to similar laws adopted in other jurisdictions. Moreover, the law applies to any law firm or other hiring party that has a freelance worker located in NYC, and the hiring party need not be based or doing business in NYC.
