Top best Employment Lawyers Near me in ZIP 20006

With over two decades of experience working in the federal government – including extensive experience as a senior attorney and member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) – Cheri is a vital component of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s nationally recognized federal labor and employment practice group. Additionally, as a former panel member of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR), she bolsters the firm’s military law practice group by assisting with the removal of injustices from and the correction of errors in service military records.. As Managing Partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, Cheri oversees all federal sector legal matters handled by the firm at its D.C. location and manages the staff and resources of the office. Cheri represents federal managers, employees, and contractors who are primarily litigating Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints and U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals. She also represents employees seeking whistleblower protection, those involved in Office of Special Counsel (OSC) cases and those employees who are involved with Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigations across the government. Due to her extensive knowledge of the SES, Cheri focuses her work on senior executives and other senior leaders across government who need representation in all of these forums. She is the firm’s Chairperson of the Federal Labor and Employment Law practice group.. Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Cheri served as the Department of the Air Force’s deputy general counsel for fiscal, ethics and administrative law at the Pentagon. While working at the Pentagon, Cheri also was appointed as a panel member (and later panel chair) on the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records. There, she reviewed and voted on cases. In her role as deputy general counsel for fiscal, ethics and administrative law, she was also called upon by the Air Force Review Boards Agency to provide legal advice to several of the boards on legal, policy and procedural matters that arose in a variety of cases. At the MSPB, she was the chief counsel to the chairman of the board. And at the Small Business Administration (SBA), she served as an associate general counsel for general law, the chief counsel for administrative law and a trial attorney.. Cheri also has extensive private sector experience. She began her legal career working in the litigation department of a large Maryland law firm and later moved on to a Washington, D.C. law firm where she handled all facets of federal civil litigation. As a consultant, she has assisted a law firm with Whistleblower Protection Act litigation and drafted federal agency non-SES performance plans for submission to and approval by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).. Cheri received her juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, California, where she studied political science.. NOT ADMITTED TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR. DC PRACTICE LIMITED TO PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SOLELY BEFORE A SPECIAL COURT, DEPARTMENT, OR AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES. ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN MARYLAND.

With more than two decades of experience litigating a vast range of high stakes federal employment law matters, Ms. Rucker is a vital component of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s nationally recognized federal labor and employment law practice group. Prior to joining the firm, she was principal of her own labor and employment firm in Washington, D.C., and has held top positions at a number of prestigious firms throughout her extensive career. As president-elect and executive board member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), she routinely interfaces with dynamic issues and information pertaining to employment law, and enjoys the respect of the top federal labor and employment attorneys in the country.. As a partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Ms. Rucker represents federal employees who require assistance with discrimination, harassment, disability retirement, retaliation, and disciplinary and adverse action matters, among a range of others. She also represents state and private sector employees regarding a range of similar issues.

Scott Oswald is an accomplished trial lawyer who has brought more than 40 trials to verdict and recovered more than $300 million in judgments and settlements for his clients, in cases ranging from wrongful termination to employer fraud.. Mr. Oswald litigates employment lawsuits nationwide, with a special focus on whistleblower matters - including qui tam law, which can deliver monetary rewards to employees who expose fraud against the government.. Since founding The Employment Law Group® law firm, he has spoken up for workers before federal agencies and on Capitol Hill, and has broken new ground in whistleblower law:. In 2017, after 20 years practicing law, Mr. Oswald was nominated by his colleagues to become a fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in his first year of eligibility.. Super Lawyers has recognized his achievements every year for over a decade, and he has placed on its D.C. "Top 100" list multiple times. Since 2013, Mr. Oswald has been honored in The Best Lawyers in America. He has been recognized as a "Top Lawyer" in D.C. by Washingtonian Magazine and Northern Virginia magazine, and is ranked by Lawdragon as one of the top plaintiff-side employment lawyers in the United States. Since 2021, Mr. Oswald has been ranked by Chambers, a prestigious global legal directory.. Mr. Oswald is the current programming chair for the Federal Bar Association's Qui Tam Section and has served in the past as both section chair and chair of its Professional Ethics Committee. He is also a proud past president of the Metropolitan Employment Lawyers Association and currently heads its Bench-Bar Committee. Mr. Oswald is co-chair of an employment law subcommittee at the American Bar Association and has roles in other professional groups, including the D.C. Bar and the National Employment Lawyers Association.

Rosemary Dettling is a senior employment attorney with the Federal Employee Legal Services Center (FELSC). She is devoted to upholding the civil rights of federal workers across the country. Ms. Dettling specializes in EEOC administrative hearings and MSPB appeals. She has over 32 years of federal sector EEO and MSPB experience. She has handled hundreds of federal sector discrimination and harassment cases based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and disability.. "Top Employment Lawyer, Washingtonian Magazine, August 2025"

Ricardo J.A. Pitts-Wiley is a Partner with the Federal Practice Group and concentrates his practice in federal sector employment and labor law.. Mr. Pitts-Wiley provides representation to federal employees in a wide range of employment and labor issues including discrimination, sexual harassment, equal pay, adverse action, security clearance revocations, and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims. He has nearly nine years of experience in matters relating to federal employment cases and has significant experience representing clients in all stages of federal administrative legal process.. Prior to joining the Federal Practice Group, Mr. Pitts-Wiley served the legal needs of federal personnel at two other well-respected Washington, D.C. law firms for over eight years.. Mr. Pitts-Wiley earned his Juris Doctor at American University Washington School of Law in Washington, D.C. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University where he majored in Public Policy Studies and in African & African-American Studies.. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Nicole is an experienced attorney who handles a full range of labor and employment law matters, including advising clients with union issues.. A particular area of focus for Nicole is advising employers on OSHA-related risk and compliance. Even the most vigilant, employee-centric companies can experience a workplace accident, which invariably draws the attention of OSHA and other safety regulators. If not properly addressed from the onset, OSHA investigations can cost substantial employee goodwill and reputational damage, and expose businesses to civil liability and criminal prosecution. Nicole is regarded as an experienced "first responder" for companies facing serious worker safety matters.. Prior to starting her own firm, Nicole was an equity partner at DLA Piper and Venable, LLP, and a Shareholder at Vedder Price. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center and she is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.. In addition to her practice, Nicole volunteers as a board member and general counsel for the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. She is also a board member of the National Children's Medical Center and a member of the International Women's Forum.. Nicole resides in Virginia with her husband Larry. When not working, Nicole enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing golf, and loves watching professional and college football, especially SEC football.

Neil McPhie is the Virginia Managing Partner for Tully Rinckey PLLC and concentrates his practice in federal sector employment and labor law.. As a former chairman of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Mr. McPhie brings a high level of authority and invaluable experience to Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Arlington office, which he manages. In over 30 years of public service, Mr. McPhie has led two government organizations and managed multi-million dollar budgets, in addition to serving as a litigator, adjudicator, employment and personnel lawyer, and human capital strategic advocate. Now at the firm, he pulls from this experience to effectively represent federal employees and personnel in a wide range of employment and labor issues, including discrimination, sexual harassment, equal pay, adverse action, Title VII claims, and Inspector General (IG) investigations.. Following his appointment to a seven-year term by President George W. Bush, Mr. McPhie became a member of the MSPB on April 23, 2003. Later that year, on Dec. 10, President Bush designated him as the board’s vice chairman, and he subsequently became its acting chairman. The U.S. Senate confirmed McPhie as MSPB chairman on Nov. 21, 2004. He was the seventh chairman of the MSPB since its creation in 1979. His term expired on March 1, 2009, though he was statutorily allowed to continue service as chairman of the MSPB until his successor was sworn in on Nov. 12, 2009. At the MSPB, Mr. McPhie played an integral role in revamping what had been viewed as a lethargic agency. Under his leadership, the independent quasi-judicial agency operated more efficiently. The average time MSPB appellants had to wait for the board to decide on their cases went from 295 days in 2003 to less than 100 days in 2009. Another one of Mr. McPhie’s accomplishments as chairman was the 2004 creation of a permanent MSPB Mediation Appeals Program, which is a nationwide program that provides mediation services to MSPB appellants. Mr. McPhie’s in-depth knowledge of federal merit systems gives him an edge in helping clients receive justice in their federal employment cases with expedience. At the time of his appointment to the MSPB, Mr. McPhie was serving as a senior assistant attorney general with the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia. From 1998 to 2002, he served as the executive director of the Virginia Department of Employment Dispute Resolution. He oversaw the management of the agency and directed the implementation of its statewide grievance, mediation, training and consultation programs. Based on this experience, Mr. McPhie knows first-hand how government employers approach employment disputes, allowing him to more effectively represent federal employees in such cases. From 1982 to 1988, Mr. McPhie served as an assistant attorney general for the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, where he defended state agencies and officials in state and federal courts. After receiving his juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center in 1976 and up to when he joined the Attorney General’s office, Mr. McPhie served as a trial and appellate attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mr. McPhie graduated magna cum laude from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in 1973. He has been admitted to bars in Virginia, the District of Columbia and Iowa. His court admissions include the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, several U.S. circuits courts of appeals and district courts in Virginia.

Ms. White is a partner at the Federal Practice Group and she specializes in federal sector employment litigation, practicing before the EEOC, the MSPB, the D.C. Office of Employee Appeals, the D.C. Office of Human Rights, and local and federal courts in civil rights, anti-discrimination and personnel/civil service cases. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Washington, D.C., and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She has also appeared pro hac vice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Ms. White is a member of the American Bar Association, the D.C. Bar's Employment Law section, and the New York State Bar Association. In 2007 and 2009, Ms. White served as a faculty member at the EEOC's Annual EXCEL Conference. She was a presenting member of a panel at the 2011 MWELA Conference in Washington, D.C. which discussed ways to avoid intrusive discovery tactics in employment litigation.

Ms. Friedman is a partner with the Federal Practice Group, focusing on federal and private sector employment and labor law from the pre-litigation phase through all stages of litigation and before administrative bodies such as the EEOC, OIG, OSC and MSPB and courts. Her expertise includes EEO discrimination, reasonable accommodation requests, retaliation for whistleblower disclosures, prohibited personnel practices, misconduct (disciplinary and adverse action) and performance defense, security clearance, wage and hour issues, disability retirement and Inspector General investigations. She is cleared to handle classified information and regularly represents intelligence agency employees in discrimination and disciplinary cases. Joanna has represented federal employees in agencies such as the Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Naval Intelligence Office, and National Reconnaissance Office, as well as federal contractors located in the DC metro area. Joanna has had great success in settling EEOC and MSPB case matters through her aggressive litigation approach.. Before joining The Federal Practice Group, Joanna was a partner in another employment law firm where she co-chaired their EEOC Practice Group. Prior to this affiliation she represented federal employees at a Washington, D.C.-based employment law firm. In addition to her significant federal employment litigation experience, she also has substantial courtroom experience representing individuals charged with criminal law offenses while working with a private criminal law defense firm, as well as a private bar attorney for the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office.. Joanna earned her juris doctorate at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. During her time in law school, she was an active member of the Public Interest Committee, an intern at the Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Division in Queens, as well as a participant in the New York City Courtroom Advocates Program, representing women seeking orders of protection. Additionally, Joanna received a masters degree in law from American University Washington School of Law in the Program on Law and Government. There, she concentrated her study on advanced constitutional and civil rights law. Joanna also holds a bachelor's of arts degree from American University, where she majored in laws and society at the School of Public Affairs.

Michael L. Vogelsang, Jr., is a principal at The Employment Law Group® law firm, where he frequently handles cases that involve whistleblower retaliation, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and other workplace claims.. Since joining the firm in 2007, Mr. Vogelsang has gained extensive experience representing federal employees. He specializes in navigating the administrative labyrinth of cases across dozens of departments and agencies, such as: the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and numerous others.. Mr. Vogelsang’s federal employee work includes responding to adverse personnel actions; filing whistleblower complaints with the Office of Special Counsel; litigating discrimination claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and representing federal employees in appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board.. Mr. Vogelsang’s notable victories for clients include:. “People shouldn’t let the size of the government or of their employer make them believe that they don’t have a claim or can’t have their voice heard,” Mr. Vogelsang says. “It can be an intimidating process, but TELG can hold your hand and bring down barriers throughout that process.”. Mr. Vogelsang is a fan of the second option, often preferring to take a bold approach to cases. He remains direct and focused when telling clients what they need to know and when pushing to achieve their goals. Mr. Vogelsang enjoys digging into the legal background of cases and takes care to build a nuanced perspective and strategy. His personal goal is to level the playing field for employees, who often suffer from the inconsistency of administrative courts and biased favor shown towards agencies.. Mr. Vogelsang has co-chaired private-sector jury trials in federal courts in the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Colorado. He is also active in the LGBT+ community and has litigated sexual orientation discrimination cases in both state and federal court.. Before coming to TELG, Mr. Vogelsang worked as a contract project assistant and paralegal, providing support for various class action civil liability cases. He also served as the real estate legal assistant for The Nature Conservancy in its Latin American division. During his tenure with The Nature Conservancy, he assisted the company’s international programs with purchasing and protecting large tracts of valuable grasslands, watersheds, rain forests, deserts, and coastal preserves throughout Central and South America.. Mr. Vogelsang’s interest in Latin America started during his undergraduate years at the American University, where he majored in International Studies and spent a semester abroad studying Latin American culture and Spanish language in Santiago, Chile. As a result, Mr. Vogelsang is conversant in Spanish. He later received his law degree from the American University Washington College of Law and is a member of the Virginia, D.C., and Maryland bars.. Mr. Vogelsang is a member of several professional organizations including the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar, and the D.C. LGBT Bar.. For the past two years, The Best Lawyers in America has recognized Mr. Vogelsang for his expertise in employment law and litigation. Lawdragon regularly places him on its annual list of top 500 plaintiff-side employment lawyers. In 2019, Super Lawyers also recognized Mr. Vogelsang as a “Rising Star,” an honor only given to 2.5% of practicing attorneys in each state.. In his personal life, Mr. Vogelsang sees himself as a bit of a nerd. His office is decorated with Stars Wars LEGO, and he’s a big fan of comic books, particularly of Marvel’s Thor. Mr. Vogelsang also enjoys hiking and, as a Los Angeles, CA, native, going to the beach. He loves finding new recipes to try out in the kitchen and especially likes North African, Moroccan, and Greek dishes.

Matthew D. Estes represents clients in employment law matters and specializes in the representation of federal employees before the EEOC and MSPB.

Known for his deft touch in high-stakes negotiations, Adam Carter frequently helps executives to reach favorable agreements with their companies at pivotal career moments such as hiring, promotion, and separation.. He is also a seasoned courtroom advocate who has won numerous cases at trial and on appeal. He represents clients who bring claims against their employers for wrongful termination, retaliation, and discrimination of all sorts.. Mr. Carter has strong experience representing service members and veterans who face bias in the workplace, including at defense contractors and government agencies. He has written and spoken about the rights of employees under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), a federal statute that forbids employers from discriminating against workers based on their military service.. He is also devoted to helping employees at higher educational institutions, including college professors and administrators who stand up to discrimination on campus.. Among his notable outcomes for clients:. Just as important as such victories, however, are the many settlements Mr. Carter has negotiated without courtroom conflict. At The Employment Law Group® law firm, Mr. Carter teaches the intricacies of negotiation to new and upcoming attorneys. While he’s always prepared for litigation, a satisfactory resolution is his true goal.. “I see myself as a problem solver,” he says. “I like to help good people get through bad situations — and since there’s not much I haven’t seen by now, I often can identify the fastest route to the best result.”. Clients working with Mr. Carter can expect a nimble attorney who shows everyone the care and attention they deserve. While no lawyer can guarantee a result, he readily commits to dedication, open communication, and a brisk work pace.. “I bring my A game all the time,” he says. “I bring it in service of every matter — large, small, and in-between. What matters to me is a happy client.”. Multiple publications and rating organizations have recognized Mr. Carter for his work, including Northern Virginia magazine and Lawdragon. For the past eight years, The Best Lawyers in America has honored him for his prowess in three areas of law: employment law, litigation, and qui tam law. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers for 13 years running and named multiple times on its “Top 100” list for all D.C. lawyers — not just employment specialists. In 2021, Mr. Carter was ranked by Chambers, a prestigious global legal directory. In 2023, Mr. Carter was nominated by his colleagues to become a fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.. Mr. Carter received his law degree in 1991 from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as editor-in-chief of the American Criminal Law Review. He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Oliver Gasch of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, then spent several years defending individuals and corporations in white-collar criminal cases.. A founding attorney at TELG, Mr. Carter has since dedicated most of his career to employment law. His white-collar defense experience gives him insight into the tactics of opposing counsel in whistleblower actions under the False Claims Act, among other laws.. Mr. Carter is known for his sharp command of detail, first honed as a defender in criminal cases where small facts can make or break a case. He now represents clients in a wide range of venues, from federal courts to state courts to arbitration to informal Zoom negotiations.. He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland, and in many federal courts around the nation — including the U.S. Supreme Court.. Mr. Carter is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association. He is an active participant in two social clubs for attorneys: the Barristers, for which he serves as treasurer, and the Counsellors, for which he served as president from 2018 to 2019.. Beyond professional associations, Mr. Carter spends much of his free time in service to his community. He is currently the treasurer of Friends of Stead Park, an organization dedicated to redeveloping a local park for children in D.C. He is also an active member of the Order of Malta, a Catholic organization through which he has helped to plan 15 pilgrimages to Lourdes for ill people and their companions.. Since the start of the pandemic, Mr. Carter has revisited many of his childhood hobbies, including gardening and sports — especially racquet sports. Cooking and baking are another interest, inspired in part by his mother and one of his sisters, both of whom have formal culinary training.. As an avid socializer and connoisseur of minutiae, he really missed trivia nights during the lockdown.

Kellee Boulais Kruse is a principal at The Employment Law Group® law firm with a passion for working on civil rights cases, especially those concerning discrimination. She has additional experience with contract disputes, whistleblower retaliation cases, and claims brought under state and federal statutes such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Energy Reorganization Act, and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.. Ms. Kruse represents both private-sector and federal employees. Prior employment with the government gives her an insider perspective on the federal employee experience and on the complexities involved with navigating government channels while protecting and helping clients. While working in a federal agency, Ms. Kruse came face-to-face with civil rights violations, which pushed her to pursue law and become an advocate.. Ms. Kruse has been with TELG since 2006, when she was hired as a law clerk while attending The George Washington University Law School. She is admitted to practice in D.C., Virginia, and various federal courts and has also gained extensive experience representing clients before administrative bodies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Merit Systems Protection Board; and the Office of Administrative Law Judges at the U.S. Department of Labor.. Since becoming an attorney, Ms. Kruse has worked on cases in unique areas of employment law such as family responsibilities discrimination and nuclear whistleblowers — thus, expanding fields with previously scarce case law. Those cases, along with an appellate decision that determined that federal whistleblowers have the right to a hearing if the MSPB denies them one, are now cited by others involved in similar lawsuits.. For Ms. Kruse, the concerns of her clients are always a priority, and she makes time to answer any and all questions they may have no matter how seemingly trivial. Her goal is two-fold: to ensure clients feel heard by making their case reflect the issues they consider important; and to give clients the confidence they need to share their experiences and fight for the justice they deserve.. “Sometimes people don’t even know whether help is available to them or if anything can be done,” Ms. Kruse says. “We can take them by the hand and walk them through the process of, for instance, requesting accommodations. And while we can’t promise retaliation won’t happen, we can be with them if it does.”. At TELG, Ms. Kruse often provides mentorship and advice to law clerks on a range of subjects from litigation to what it’s like to be a working mom. She has also helped former associates as they worked towards becoming principals with the firm.. Ms. Kruse serves as co-chair of the Employment Law Forum for the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, where she is a mentor for rising women attorneys looking to break into employment law and litigation in general. She helps with fundraising and organizing panels on topics such as equal pay and what employers should consider when returning to the office after the COVID-19 pandemic. Her service with the WBADC and elsewhere reflects a dedication to elevating the social, economic, and legal status of women through the law — something she strives for in her daily work, too.. Ms. Kruse is also a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, where she spoke on a conference panel regarding cases with newly emerging COVID-related issues. Ms. Kruse represented one of the first cases in district court that involved COVID-related discrimination.. Multiple publications have recognized Ms. Kruse for her work in representing employees. She was most recently named by The Best Lawyers in America for her expertise in employment law and litigation and by Lawdragon on its list of top 500 plaintiff-side employment lawyers across the country. In 2019, Super Lawyers recognized Ms. Kruse as a “Rising Star,” an honor based on peer evaluations and professional achievement that is only given to 2.5% of practicing lawyers in each state.. Ms. Kruse thinks of herself as a caretaker and has a compassionate heart that she pours not only into her cases but also into her family. At home, the Cub Scouts are a bit of a family affair. Ms. Kruse and her husband are den leaders for their daughter and son respectively. All four of them often go exploring the outdoors and camping, where Ms. Kruse learns interesting skills alongside her children such as cooking over a fire. Beyond that, Ms. Kruse also enjoys playing the piano and spending time with their dog, Rosie, and cat, Wilma.

Jason Zuckerman represents employees in a wide variety of workplace-related disputes, including whistleblower retaliation, harassment, qui tam, wrongful discharge, discrimination, non-compete, and other employment-related claims.  His broad experience includes practicing employment law at a national law firm, serving as a Principal at The Employment Law Group, and serving as Senior Legal Advisor to the Special Counsel at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the federal agency charged with protecting whistleblowers in the federal government. In 2012, the Secretary of Labor appointed Zuckerman to serve on the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Secretary of Labor to improve OSHA’s administration of federal whistleblower protections.. Zuckerman is rated 10 out of 10 by Avvo, based largely on client reviews, and rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell based on peer reviews.  He was recognized by Washingtonian magazine as a “Top Whistleblower Lawyer” in 2007 and 2009, selected by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America® in the category of employment law (2011-2014), and selected by his peers to be listed in SuperLawyers (2012 and 2015) in the category of labor and employment law. He has lectured extensively on whistleblower law and employment law, especially on Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes-Oxley and False Claims Act actions, and has written several articles on whistleblower protections. Zuckerman co-authored a chapter on litigating whistleblower cases for Whistleblowing: The Law of Retaliatory Discharge, drafted a chapter on the D.C. Whistleblower Protection Act for the D.C. Practice Manual, and is a contributing author of International Handbook on Whistleblowing Research. For nearly a decade, Zuckerman has been a contributing author to an annual update on the whistleblower protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act published by the ABA Fair Labor Standards Legislation Committee. Zuckerman’s articles have been cited in various treatises and in a federal court opinion on the scope of Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower protection. Zuckerman has trained administrative law judges, agency EEO directors, senior OIG officials and delegations from more than 30 countries on federal whistleblower protections.. In addition to shaping whistleblower protection law through successful outcomes for clients, Zuckerman has worked with whistleblower advocates to draft and lobby for passage of whistleblower protection laws, and advocate for more effective and vigorous enforcement of whistleblower protection laws. Zuckerman drafted portions of the 2009 amendments to the D.C. Whistleblower Protection Act, which is now the strongest public sector whistleblower protection statute at the state level, and testified at a hearing about those amendments. Zuckerman’s recommendations for improving OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program are cited in Congressional hearing testimony and a top-to-bottom review of the program, and comments that he co-authored are cited in final regulations implementing the whistleblower protection provisions of the Energy Reorganization Act and six environmental statutes. He also led a coalition of whistleblower advocates in meetings with the SEC Chairman, two other Commissioners and senior SEC staff to offer the whistleblower perspective on proposed regulations implementing the whistleblower reward provision of the Dodd-Frank Act. Zuckerman has drafted amicus curiae briefs in leading whistleblower retaliation cases, including Powers v. Union Pacific Railroad, Johnson v. Siemens, Bonds v. Leavitt, and Welch v. Chao, and his advice on whistleblower protections is cited in Financial Statement Fraud: Prevention and Detection and Nonprofit Financial Management: A Practical Guide.. Zuckerman serves as Co-Chair of the Whistleblower Subcommittee of the ABA Labor and Employment Section’s Employee Rights and Responsibilities Committee and served as Co-Chair of the National Employment Lawyers Association’s Whistleblower Committee, Co-Chair of the Sarbanes-Oxley Subcommittee of the ABA Labor and Employment Fair Labor Standards Legislation Committee, Co-Chair of the Whistleblower Committee of the District of Columbia Bar’s Labor and Employment Section, and member of Law 360’s Employment Editorial Advisory Board.. Zuckerman graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Georgetown University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia, where he served as Articles Editor of the Virginia Journal of Law and Technology. In law school, he received the University of Virginia School of Law’s Pro Bono Award for his advocacy on behalf of prison inmates and mentally disabled individuals and helped establish a successful pro bono program that encourages students to volunteer a minimum of 150 hours of pro bono service during law school.

Janel Quinn is a principal at The Employment Law Group® law firm, where she represents whistleblowers who report fraud on the government in the hopes of halting schemes to cheat U.S. taxpayers.. Ms. Quinn seeks protection, vindication, and rewards for her whistleblower clients through various methods and statutes including: the federal False Claims Act (FCA) and its state equivalents; the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; the IRS whistleblower rewards program and the Taxpayer First Act; and the Financial Institutions Anti-Fraud Enforcement Act of 1990.. She also pursues employment claims for clients who are fired or otherwise punished for raising concerns about fraud, wrongdoing, or misconduct in the workplace.. Since joining the firm in 2012, Ms. Quinn’s cases have exposed fraud against numerous federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.. Her notable victories for clients include:. After working on many qui tam cases, Ms. Quinn got the opportunity to take over and manage the day-to-day operations of TELG’s qui tam practice in 2018 and now oversees all whistleblower cases. As a result, she works on a large amount of cases simultaneously, but her meticulous nature and time management skills ensure that all cases are handled to meet high standards and all clients remain well informed.. “Whistleblowers do a lot of good work in trying to correct wrongs, and they deserve to be rewarded for their efforts,” Ms. Quinn says. “We want to help potential whistleblowers do what they feel will ultimately bring them peace. Although combatting fraud can be a lengthy, difficult process, for some, they sleep easier at night knowing they didn’t stand by and do nothing.”. Ms. Quinn’s whistleblower practice includes filing qui tam lawsuits in federal courts; submitting robust and actionable tips, complaints, and referrals (TCRs) to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and filing Form 211 disclosures with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.. Ms. Quinn also works with government prosecutors during their investigations of clients’ allegations; supports the U.S. Department of Justice in its resolution of intervened qui tam matters; and, where necessary, litigates declined FCA matters in federal district courts. She is admitted to practice in Virginia, D.C., and various federal courts.. Because of her educational background, Ms. Quinn has a particular interest in cases involving healthcare fraud. She received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics with a minor in political communication from James Madison University. Originally, Ms. Quinn considered working in food security or nutrition policies, but after graduating, she moved to D.C. to live with her aunt, who ultimately encouraged her to pursue law school. Ms. Quinn graduated cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law.. Ms. Quinn is a member of the Federal Bar Association’s Qui Tam Section, the National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association.. For three years in a row, Super Lawyers recognized Ms. Quinn as a “Rising Star,” an honor based on peer evaluations and professional achievement that is only given to 2.5% of practicing lawyers in each state. Ms. Quinn has also been recognized by Lawdragon 500, landing on its list of top 500 plaintiff-side employment lawyers across the country.. In her free time, Ms. Quinn spends a lot of time with her family in the DMV area, including the aunt who spurred her on to become a lawyer. She enjoys cooking, working out on her Peloton, and hanging out with her feisty cat, Ruthie, who is, of course, named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

J. Michael "Mike" King is a licensed attorney (DC and Colorado) with over 15 years of legal experience in the private, public, and non-governmental sectors.. Mike specializes in employment law and international law. He represents employees in all stages of litigation and in alternative dispute resolution including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and informal settlement negotiations. Mike handles disputes involving a wide range of issues including harassment, discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, whistleblowing, wrongful termination, wrongful discharge, removal, suspension, redundancy, suspension and revocation of security clearance, non-selection for position, denial of promotion, demotion, involuntary reassignment, wage and hour, workplace safety, performance reviews, reasonable accommodations, disability determinations, workers' compensation, employee benefits, severance agreements, and noncompete agreements. He also represents employees in internal investigations involving allegations of misconduct.. Mike represents staff of international organizations including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and United Nations organs in international civil service employment disputes at the administrative review, grievance, appeal, and arbitration stages. He also represents employees of embassies, consulates, and other foreign missions located in the United States in employment-related claims.. Mike also advises employees of numerous federal government agencies in a wide range of matters including Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints, adverse actions, whistleblower complaints, prohibited personnel practices complaints, administrative grievances, ethics complaints, and management reviews. These matters have included claims and/or appeals filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Offices of Inspector General (IG), and Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). He also represents employees of the Government of the District of Columbia, private businesses, and nonprofits.. At the federal and local courts in D.C., Mike has experience litigating a diverse range of civil matters including employment disputes, contracts claims, torts, Administrative Procedure Act (APA) cases, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act claims.. Prior to joining the Law Offices in 2012, Mike served as a Consultant (2009-2010) and Legal Counsel for Institutional Matters (2010-2012) at the World Bank Group's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). He advised ICSID's Secretary-General and senior management on institutional matters including governance, policy, public relations, document management, annual meetings, conferences, and publications. He also served as Staff Editor (2009), Managing Editor (2010-2011), and Associate Editor (2012) of ICSID's scholarly journal, the ICSID Review Foreign Investment Law Journal.. In his free time, Mike enjoys hiking with his wife and two dogs, gardening, fossil hunting, and playing drums and bass guitar.

I primarily represent clients involved in government investigations. I have defended some of the largest corporations in the country in criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions, as well as in parallel administrative, regulatory and civil litigation. My experience includes antitrust, securities, foreign corrupt practices, banking law, hedge funds, export controls and contractor corruption. I also have significant experience counseling individuals and corporations involved in congressional investigations.. I also represent individuals in government investigations.. In a relatively recent case, I successfully defended a telecommunications executive and business owner accused of fraud in a lengthy trial, during which my client was acquitted of all charges.  In addition to government investigations, I often represent individuals and companies in complex commercial litigation and disputes involving First Amendment issues such as defamation and invasion of privacy.. I maintain a strong interest in and commitment to representing non-profit organizations and providing legal services pro bono.

I am the principal counsel of The Law Office of Gerald L. Gilliard, Esq., LLC.. I am an employment, whistleblower, and discrimination law attorney whose backgound includes nationwide representation of Federal employees facing workplace discrimination and unwarranted adverse action, as Staff Counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO.  I have served as Of Counsel in the employment law and government contracts departments of three prominent Washington law firms, and most recently, as the founder of a small plaintiff's law firm defending and protecting employees against discrimination, retaliation, and adverse actions.. My subject matter expertise includes extensive practice before federal courts, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, and U.S. Office of Special Counsel, and also expert-level knowledge about employment and labor relations law, adverse and performance based actions, alleged discrimination and whistleblower reprisal, security clearance revocations, competitive and non-competitive promotions, suitability determinations, background investigations, probationary periods, pay and benefits, worker's compensation, hours of duty and time and attendance, performance assessment and deficiencies, and disability retirement, and removal, standards of conduct, and investigations.. Victories for my clients include a 2017 victory at a three-day federal sector EEOC hearing, the 2014 execution of a sizable private litigation settlement of an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint (despite the client's untimely death), 2013 reinstatement of a federal police officer fired for being a witness in a fellow officer's EEOC case, the 2008 reinstatement of two African-American male TSA screening officers barred from work for wearing hair braids, the successful 2009 defense of the security clearance of a federal security officer with a dual U.S.-Jordan citizenship, obtaining back pay and reinstatement for a Federal officer fired for falling asleep on post in 2008, and orchestrating the 2010 dismissal of an agency executive who falsified payroll records.  I began my legal career as an associate with Grayson & Kubli, P.C., the only law firm to successfully take to trial companies profiting illegally from the Iraq postwar reconstruction.. I enjoy being a manager, a coach, and a mentor to law students and to new attorneys in this field.  I really enjoy spending time with my family and attending my childrens' basketball games and soccer matches.

I am a Partner at Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, P.C., in Washington, DC.  I handle whistleblower and other employment matters in the federal and private sectors. I have extensive experience in whistleblower matters before the U.S. Department of Labor, and in federal trial and appellate courts.  I also handle discrimination, retaliation and Civil Rights cases.. My professional bio is at:. My personal web page is at:

I am a litigator with complex litigation experience on behalf of international companies. My primary practice areas are employment and business law. My approach as an attorney is to listen diligently to my client's concerns then to craft a well-researched legal strategy based on best practices. Contact me to schedule a free consultation.

Honored by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” for five years running, Mr. Harrington has extensive experience representing private-sector and federal employees in cases that involve discrimination, retaliation, whistleblowing, contract disputes, wage violations, and other violations of employment and civil rights laws.. Mr. Harrington is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and he has represented clients in federal courts nationwide. He also has deep experience before state and federal administrative bodies including the EEOC, the MSPB, and various arms of the U.S. Department of Labor.. Mr. Harrington represents clients who have suffered harm under a wide variety of laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act; the Whistleblower Protection Act; the False Claims Act; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX); and state and local laws such as the D.C. Human Rights Act and the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act.. Among his notable victories is a $1.36 million jury verdict for violation of the anti-retaliation provision of the False Claims Act.. Law is Mr. Harrington’s second full career. He joined The Employment Law Group as a litigation law clerk while attending the George Mason University School of Law as an evening student. Following his graduation from George Mason Law, he was named as an associate of the firm — and in 2013 he became the first former law clerk to ascend to ownership at The Employment Law Group.. Before attending law school, Mr. Harrington worked for 19 years in various positions at the National Association of Securities Dealers (now known as FINRA) and the NASDAQ Stock Market. In addition to helping him represent employees who report breaches of SOX, his background in financial regulation drove a strong commitment to address the imbalance of power between corporations and workers.. “I went to law school to make a positive difference for people whose civil rights have been violated &msash; especially people who have been wronged despite working hard and playing by the rules,” he explains. “I joined TELG to gain practical legal experience while I studied, and I quickly realized that employment law was a perfect fit for someone with my goals — particularly the way we practice employment law at TELG, where we focus on achieving outcomes that are chosen by each individual client.”. Also contributing to Mr. Harrington’s success as an attorney: A lifelong interest in literature. Having majored in English Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles, he became a Writing Fellow at George Mason Law, where he also served as a senior staff member of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal. At The Employment Law Group, Mr. Harrington frequently works with new clerks on their legal writing skills.

Dave Scher affords The Employment Law Group's clients the benefit of over fourteen years of diverse legal experience.  Mr. Scher also serves The Employment Law Group's clients by providing them with unparalleled electronic discovery expertise and a strong background in complex litigation.. A graduate of Cornell University and Fordham Law School, Mr. Scher began his career in New York and New Jersey practicing in the field of corporate commercial litigation.  He then worked as in-house counsel for several major corporations, including Sony Electronics, Pearson PLC and USWeb, where he specialized in Silicon Valley, California during the high point of the Internet boom in technology transactions, intellectual property and commercial law.  In 2003 Mr. Scher combined his legal and technical expertise to work as a legal consultant for Kroll On Track, providing electronic discovery consulting, services and support to top 200 law firms in Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.. During his career, Mr. Scher has negotiated multi million dollar alliance and joint venture transactions, settled numerous cases with minimal impact to his clients, managed an eight person in-house law department, and developed the first licensing agreements for the Sony VAIO and the first hosting and application service agreements for USWeb.  Over the past two years with The Employment Law Group, Mr. Scher developed and drafted appeals in immigration matters that resulted in the invalidation of regulations potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of immigrants.  Mr. Scher has also guided the electronic discovery process in several employment cases, and in one case won an adverse jury instruction sanction that resulted in the firm's success in the case.  Mr. Scher is also engaged in several employment and whistleblower cases and has successfully defeated numerous dispositive motions.. Mr. Scher has been admitted to the bars in New Jersey, New York and California, and he is presently admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia.  In sum, Mr. Scher is known for his ability to step into any case and do what needs to be done for his clients.

As a Senior Associate at the Federal Practice Group, Sarah concentrates her practice in federal employment and labor law, including claims of age, gender, race, disability, national origin, and color discrimination, failure to accommodate, hostile work environment harassment and sexual harassment, and retaliation.. Prior to joining the Federal Practice Group, Sarah served as an associate and a law clerk for two federal employment law firms in Washington, D.C. There she represented federal managers, employees, and contractors litigating Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints and U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals, facing adverse and/or disciplinary actions, and during all stages of the security clearance process. Additionally, she has valuable experience in representing clients during alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and settlement conferences.. Sarah received her juris doctorate from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. While pursuing her law degree, she represented local residents as a D.C.-certified student-attorney before the D.C. Superior Court in family law matters. Sarah was also a member and editor of the Health Law and Policy Journal during her law school career.. Sarah holds a bachelor of science in Economics from Drexel University where she graduated magna cum laude. She is barred in both Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., and she is an active member in the American Bar Association.

As a bilingual attorney, fluent in English and Spanish, Isabel brings a unique skillset to the federal labor and employment practice group at the Federal Practice Group, where she is an Associate. At the firm, she represents federal employees with discrimination and retaliation claims as well as appeals to wrongful personnel actions.. Prior to joining the Federal Practice Group, Isabel worked for two other Washington, D.C. law firms, first as a law clerk and later as an associate. There she worked on cases related to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the D.C. Human Rights Act, the D.C. Wage Payment and Collection Law, and the D.C. Minimum Wage Act.. Before obtaining her juris doctorate at New York Law School, Isabel interned at the National Center for Refugee & Immigrant Children in Arlington, Va., where she helped Spanish-speaking immigrant children with a variety of legal matters. She also served as a judicial intern for a New York State Supreme Court judge in New York and as a summer intern for another Washington, D.C. law firm, where she worked on immigration, criminal, tort, and corporate law cases. While attending law school, she assisted unemployed workers seeking unemployment benefits by serving as a student representative for the Unemployment Action Center in New York.

Anita Mazumdar Chambers is a principal at The Employment Law Group® law firm, where she primarily focuses on matters of discrimination and retaliation. She has extensive experience in conducting corporate investigations to identify and resolve issues before needing to resort to legal action. Ms. Chambers also works in whistleblower protection, severance negotiations, and employee counseling.. Since starting with TELG in 2012, Ms. Chambers has worked with clients in industries ranging from law enforcement and other government agencies to healthcare and pharmaceutical services. She recently won $2.4 million in damages for a client who was fired after raising concerns about alleged discrimination and illegal marketing tactics at a major pharmaceuticals company.. Ms. Chambers has served as lead litigator in jurisdictions across the country, developing a special interest in cases of gender discrimination and retaliation in violation of the federal False Claims Act. In addition to her work in federal district courts, she routinely litigates matters before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board.. “My hope is that our work creates a better workplace for people,” Ms. Chambers says. “I love being a part of the mission to push the law forward for employees.”. Ms. Chambers also advocates for employee rights before possible violations necessitate legal action. Companies often ask her to conduct compliance investigations to root out any problems in their own investigative structure and to help evaluate the validity of claims, such as sexual harassment, in order to provide proper resolution. She has been praised for her quick turnaround and thorough reports.. Within TELG, Ms. Chambers manages the evaluation team and legal fellows. She also trains and mentors the firm’s law clerks on legal and trial strategy, organizational skills, and effective case management. She often checks in with clerks to help them balance their workloads and manage deadlines. Ms. Chambers is also heavily involved in drafting protocols and policies for TELG, including protocols for the evaluation process and for preparing clients for depositions.. Her clear and simple way of explaining things is not only helpful for the people she mentors but also for clients. Ms. Chambers makes a note of telling clients what they can expect during the legal process — even down to the little details of where to sit and who will be in a room — to help ease their anxiety. Her empathy and compassion have led clients to stay in touch long after their cases are over and have even prompted some clients to say that she seems to know what they’re thinking before they even say it.. “No one else is going to advocate for clients as strongly as we do,” Ms. Chambers says. “I never lose sight of the fact that this is one of the most devastating times of our clients’ lives, and I use our firm’s years of experience and resources to go head-to-head for them and do everything possible to get a good outcome.”. Before joining the firm, Ms. Chambers worked for an intellectual property litigation firm and was part of the trial team for a multimillion-dollar patent infringement case before the U.S. International Trade Commission.. Ms. Chambers has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, an honor granted to only 2.5% of attorneys in each state. In 2023, she was also named to Lawdragon’s list of the top 500 plaintiff-side employment lawyers in the United States and recognized in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch. One of Ms. Chambers’ cases, Ivie v. Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP, was named a Top 50 Labor & Employment Verdict in the U.S.. Ms. Chambers is currently a member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. She is admitted to practice in Virginia, D.C., and various federal courts.. Ms. Chambers received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, where she held numerous leadership roles in Latinx organizations. Her college experience focused on building communities and representing minorities and later pushed her to become an advocate. She received her law degree from The George Washington University Law School.. Ms. Chambers was born and raised in the D.C./northern Virginia area and is happy to raise her two kids there as well. Both of her children attend the very same preschool she attended, for which she now sits on the board, assisting with fundraising and administrative duties.. Ms. Chambers and her husband are in the process of remodeling their home and learning a lot about landscaping. As a result, their family, including their dog Abby, spends many hours outdoors. Ms. Chambers especially enjoys gardening and teaching her sons about how plants such as strawberries and hydrangeas grow.