Mercedes Colwin

Mercedes Colwin, a highly successful trial attorney, is the founding partner of GRSM’s New York City Office. She handles a wide variety of litigation, including employment law, commercial litigation, class actions, products liability, professional liability, wage and hour class actions, defamation and related First Amendment claims, civil rights violations and criminal law.

Mercedes has defended thousands of cases throughout the country to a favorable result and won over ninety percent of her numerous trials and arbitrations. She regularly litigates business disputes and defends corporations and executives of Fortune 500 companies accused of wrongdoing, including claims of sexual misconduct.

Prior to private practice, Mercedes served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Division of Human Rights. During these nine years of service, while a partner at a major regional New York law firm, she presided over three thousand cases brought under federal and state discrimination laws.

Mercedes has received several significant honors. Forbes Business American Airlines named Mercedes one of the six most influential women in America. The list includes dignitaries such as former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Notre Dame Law School presented Mercedes with the prestigious Graciela Olivarez Award for outstanding achievement as a leading Hispanic lawyer of the highest ethical and moral standards. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor received the same award. MultiCultural Law magazine also profiled Mercedes in a Leadership Interview titled, Reaching Back to Diversify the Legal Professional. Human Resources Magazine named Mercedes as one of the Nation’s Most Powerful Rising Employment Attorneys. Law Dragon selected Mercedes as one of the leading corporate employment lawyers in the country. This distinction celebrates her illustrious and exceptional contributions to the legal profession. In November 2025, Mercedes was awarded the PLUS Foundation’s Excellence in Diversity Award.

Widely regarded as a top national legal analyst, she regularly appears on television to discuss critical legal issues affecting the nation.