Top best Labor Lawyers in Washington | 505 available

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.

Ms. Bezdicek's specialty is employment cases, including discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, failure to accommodate disabilities, sexual harassment, wage claims, and wrongful terminations. She also has extensive experience in general litigation, transactions, and other legal matters.. Prior to forming her own firm, Ms. Bezdicek worked for years with Williams & Connolly LLP, one of the top firms in the country. She left to form her own firm in 2012 to develop closer relationships with her clients and be able to accommodate them in a more affordable way. In early 2022, upon request, Ms. Bezdicek went back to Williams & Connolly LLP. Although she loved working there, she missed the flexibility and autonomy of having her own firm and choosing her own clients. She is now back with Bez Law P.C. with offices in both Washington, DC and San Diego, CA. She is known for fiercely representing her clients and achieving the most favorable results possible.

Mr. Marx has practiced law in Washington DC for over three decades. Many of his clients are high profile organizations and individuals. He has extensive experience in a wide range of compliance issues. He is a national lecturer on legal topics. He appeared regularly on WUSA and his views have been quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and ABC’s Nightly News. He is the author of the Disability Law Compliance Manual and the Disability Law Compliance Report, both published by Thomson Reuters. He is the managing partner of Marx and Lieberman, PLLC and general counsel to the lobbying firm of Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. Mr. Marx has an LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center and a J.D. from the Washington and Lee School of Law, where he was an executive editor of the Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Washington University in St. Louis.  and .

Mr. Lloyd has more than a decade of experience advocating for the rights of employees around the world. He specializes in matters of federal employment law, including many types of discrimination complaints, complaints of sexual harassment, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, non-selection, whistleblower retaliation, security clearance matters, and in replies to and appeals of proposed adverse personnel actions and disciplinary actions. He has represented federal employees before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Office of Special Counsel (OSC), and Virginia Employment Commission (VEC).. Mr. Lloyd earned his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. During law school he held a summer associate position in labor and employment law at the European law firm Capstan Avocats, and served as legal assistant at CASA of Maryland, specializing in employee and immigrant advocacy.. Mr. Lloyd was a Presidential Scholar at Brigham Young University where he earned a BA with a double major in Political Science and French.. Mr. Lloyd is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA). He has spoken on employment law matters before professional groups including Blacks in Government, the American Bar Association, and NELA. Mr. Lloyd is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mr. Kumin has been selected by his peers for the 2012-2019 editions of “Best Lawyers in America” in the categories of “Employment Law - Individuals” and “Litigation - Labor and Employment” for the D.C. area, and named by both Washingtonian magazine and “Super Lawyers” magazine as one of the area’s top employment attorneys. Since 2011, Martindale-Hubbell has rated Mr. Kumin “AV Preeminent,” its highest possible peer review rating. A founder and partner at Katz, Marshall & Banks since 2007, Mr. Kumin has been successfully advising employees about their legal rights, resolving difficult situations with employers, and litigating employment claims in court for nearly twenty years. He practices in the areas of whistleblower protection, sexual and religious harassment, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), disability, discrimination, retaliation, severance negotiations, contractual disputes, and other areas of employment law. He also represents employees in filing whistleblower reward tips with the federal govenment, such as False Claims Act ("qui tam") lawuits and award tips submitted to the SEC, IRS, and CFTC.. From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Kumin served as the Co-Chair of the D.C. Bar Association's Labor & Employment Section, and was elected by the Section’s members to serve on its Steering Committee from 2012 to 2015. Mr. Kumin currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association. He has lectured about whistleblower protection and Sarbanes-Oxley claims, SEC/IRS reward programs, disability, family medical leave, sexual harassment, retaliation, religious harassment, wrongful discharge, equal payment laws, legal ethics, employee severance issues, and litigation practice before the American Bar Association, the D.C. Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association, the American Law Institute, and employee and labor groups. Recently, Mr. Kumin partnered with the D.C. Attorney General’s Office to help provide training on a number of employment laws to over 500 District attorneys, human resource directors, managers, and employees.. Mr. Kumin has litigated cases in federal and state courts, in arbitration, and before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board. He is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the California Bar Association.. Mr. Kumin received his law degree from Yale Law School and his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University. Following law school graduation, Mr. Kumin served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Tena Campbell, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.. See more at

Mr. Avakian has argued cases before numerous federal trial courts, every United States Court of Appeal, and has successfully petitioned for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States.  Moreover, he has engaged in private arbitrations, federal administrative litigation, and adversary court litigation with private parties, the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Federal Election Commission, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the United States Department of Labor.. As former Associate Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Labor, Mr. Avakian participated in the overall management of the Department at the Secretarial level and engaged in matters pertaining to policy and program coordination with its Agencies and Offices. He received broad guidance from the Deputy Secretary and analyzed and advised on the implications of proposed, new or revised policies, regulations, and legislative proposals, and assessed their impact on the private sector regulated communities. He led Departmental projects and consulted with senior management officials of the Department, regarding major initiatives, proposed legislation, changes in Departmental regulations, milestones to be achieved, cabinet level matters affecting the Department, and international trade.. He developed briefing papers on matters of economic concern for the Deputy Secretary in the formulation of Departmental policy. He carried out assignments involving contacts with Departmental officials of other Federal agencies for information and coordination of action.. Before and after returning to private practice, Mr. Avakian was a Partner in the Wimberly, Lawson & Avakian Law Firm, a nationally recognized law firm specializing in employment relations and labor law matters. Mr Avakian was also Vice-President to the Center on National Labor Policy, Inc., a non-profit legal foundation chartered to protect individual rights under federal labor law.. Mr. Avakian has testified on proposed legislation and suggested statutory language at the request of various congressional committees in both Houses of Congress, including the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Equal Access to Justice Act and the Senate Labor Subcommittee on the Freedom in the Workplace Act. He has also counseled clients during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on bills to amend the Hobb’s Anti-Extortion Act. In addition, Mr. Avakian has testified before the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the NLRB on changes to its representational regulations, and provided administrative comments on proposed regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act before the U.S. Department of Labor, and amicus curiae briefs to the NLRB.. Mr. Avakian has been recognized as a public policy expert in labor law by the Heritage Foundation, and has appeared on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightwatch, Mcneil Lehrer News Hour, CNN News and quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post. Mr. Avakian has testified on proposed legislation and suggested statutory language at the request of various congressional committees including the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Equal Access to Justice Act and the Senate Labor Subcommittee on the Freedom in the Workplace Act.  He has also counseled clients during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on bills to amend the Hobb’s Anti-Extortion Act.  In addition, Mr. Avakian has testified before the Federal Election Commission and National Labor Relations Board on proposed regulations affecting employers and labor organizations, has provided administrative comments on proposed regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act before the U.S. Department of Labor, and amicus curiae briefs to the National Labor Relations Board.

Michael Schulman is member of the labor and employment practice group at Kirkland & Ellis, based in Washington, D.C. Michael has extensive experience counseling employers on issues related to federal, state, and local employment and labor laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. He has counseled companies to ensure compliance with these laws, as well as companies evaluating potential exposure arising out of non-compliance.. In addition to counseling, Michael represents employers in federal and state court litigation, administrative agency proceedings, and arbitrations arising out of alleged labor and employment law violations. Michael has defended employers against actions brought by government agencies, such as the EEOC, as well as actions initiated by current and former employees.

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.

Michael Goldstein is an associate attorney in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Washington, D.C., office, where he focuses his practice on federal employment law. Prior to joining the firm, Michael worked for two employment firms and a disability rights nonprofit. He also worked as a legal contractor within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section. He has previous experience representing federal employees in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) cases. He has also represented private-sector employees in D.C. Superior Court.. Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz, California, and his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Washington Council of Lawyers.. In his spare time, Michael enjoys playing softball with a recreational sports league on the National Mall, going to concerts, and hanging out with dogs.

Michael Ellement has represented employees who have been discriminated against because of their gender, race, and age; sexually harassed and sexually assaulted at work; and whistleblowers who have been unlawfully fired after uncovering misconduct. He has extensive experience negotiating severance agreements.  He has also litigated complex matters in courts and before administrative agencies throughout the country, both at the trial at appellate level.

MELISSA E. PIERRE-LOUIS WASHINGTON is the founding member of the Washington Law Firm PLLC. She was a former partner at Outten & Golden LLP in New York and Washington D.C., where she successfully represented employees in litigation and negotiation in all areas of employment law for over a decade, including individual discrimination and retaliation claims, sexual harassment, whistleblower claims, contractual claims, and wage and hour actions. Ms. Washington also handles a variety of professional and executive compensation and benefits matters, including the negotiation of employment contracts, severance agreements, and restrictive covenants. Ms. Washington has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2017, 2018, 2020-2021 and by LawDragon as the 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers in 2020 and 2021. Ms. Washington is a seasoned litigator with substantial experience representing plaintiffs in both individual and class action cases in state and federal courts, as well as before FINRA and administrative agencies. She also works with clients to avoid litigation where appropriate, and to craft unique solutions to clients’ problems through a combination of negotiation, mediation and alternative dispute resolution.. Ms. Washington is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the Washington Bar Association, the New York State and City Bar Associations, and the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is the former co-chair of the FMLA subcommittee of ABA Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee. She is also the former Chair of the National Employment Lawyers Association's Lawyers of Color Committee.

Maya Sequeira represents employees in individual and class actions involving gender and pregnancy discrimination. For example, Ms. Sequeira currently represents women with claims of gender discrimination in a collective action against the Big Four accounting firm KPMG in Kassman, et al. v. KPMG. As part of her advocacy on behalf of women in the workplace, Ms. Sequeira co-authored an amicus brief on behalf of Health Care Providers in Young v. UPS.  She also serves as Editor of Shattering the Ceiling.

Matthew Stiff joined Katz, Marshall & Banks in June 2009.  Mr. Stiff is a tireless advocate and has helped achieve successful outcomes for numerous clients under the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate whistleblower protections, the False Claims Act anti-retaliation provisions and the anti-discrimination and retaliation protections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and corresponding state laws.. Mr. Stiff received a Bachelor of Arts in history from The Ohio State University, graduatingsumma cum laude with honors, in 2005. He graduated from New York University School of Law in 2008, where he served on the Student-Faculty Executive Committee and was involved in the school’s fundraising efforts in support of public interest legal careers. He received an NYU Law post-graduate public interest fellowship in September 2009.. Prior to joining Katz, Marshall & Banks, Mr. Stiff worked with the Human Rights Campaign as a McCleary Law Fellow. In connection with this work, Mr. Stiff authored “Breaking Down Barriers: An Administrator’s Guide to State Law & Best Policy Practice for LGBT Healthcare Access” (Human Rights Campaign Foundation, May 2009). He additionally co-authored “Disparate Treatment: Understanding the Impact of Same-Sex Relationship Recognition on the LGBT Healthcare Experience,” published by Health Lawyers News, the American Health Lawyers Association’s official publication, in July 2009, later presenting his work at the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association’s National Conference.. Mr. Stiff formerly sat on the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index Advisory Council, where he consulted with national healthcare facilities on LGBT healthcare access issues in a pro bono capacity.

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

Lynne Bernabei has been litigating employment discrimination, civil rights, and whistleblower protection cases for over thirty years. She is a founding partner of Bernabei & Kabat, PLLC, where she handles claims of civil rights violations, discrimination, and other employment and contract disputes. Ms. Bernabei has developed extensive trial experience in federal and local courts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, and before administrative agencies. Ms. Bernabei has argued appeals before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Fourth Circuit, the Sixth Circuit, the D.C. Circuit, and the Federal Circuit.. Lynne Bernabei received a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard University in 1972. In 1977, she received a J.D. degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School. Ms. Bernabei clerked for the Honorable William B. Bryant, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, from 1977-1978.. Ms. Bernabei was selected for inclusion in all editions of The Best Lawyers In America, since 2006. From 2002 onward, the Washingtonian magazine named Lynne Bernabei on its list of Best Attorneys in Washington, D.C. In April, 2004 the Legal Times Magazine named Lynne Bernabei one of top 12 Leading Labor & Employment Litigators in Washington, D.C. In November, 2002, Washingtonian magazine named Ms. Bernabei as one of Washington, D.C.’s top 75 lawyers. In November, 1997, Washingtonian magazine named Ms. Bernabei as one of Washington, D.C.’s top 100 most powerful women. Ms. Bernabei has also been featured in an article that appeared in The City Paper in August of 1992, entitled “The Women to See,” and in the July/August, 1988 edition of The American Lawyer, entitled “Lynne Bernabei: In Tune with Whistle-Blowers.” She was also featured in an article that appeared in The Washington Lawyer, entitled “Whistleblowers and the Law,” June 2001. Ms. Bernabei has appeared on “Sixty Minutes,” the “Today” show, Court TV, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX, and MSNBC national news broadcasts, National Public Radio, and many other broadcast media outlets. She has also been quoted regularly by New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, People, Time, National Law Journal, Legal Times, ABA Journal, and numerous other print media outlets for her expertise in employment law and civil rights issues.. Ms. Bernabei serves as a member of the editorial board of the Labor Law Journal and formerly served on the board of the Journal of Employment Discrimination. She is also a faculty member of the American Law Institute-American Bar Association and teaches courses on employment law and civil rights matters for the District of Columbia Bar and as a guest lecturer at law schools. Ms. Bernabei has been selected as a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and is also a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association. Ms. Bernabei is on the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) for its National Roster of Neutrals.. Representative Matters:

Lisa Fentress is a dedicated and passionate advocate and experienced first chair trial attorney.  Lisa and her colleagues and of counsel have extensive experience in employment related litigation.  Lisa and her colleagues have represented both plaintiffs/aggrieved employees in both the federal and private sector and corporate defendants in a vast array of employment law related matters.. Lisa started her career as a law clerk in the District of Columbia Superior Court where she was fortunate enough to observe, first hand, some of the best trial attorneys in the nation’s capital.  Lisa followed her clerkship as an associate at Jordan Coyne Savits & Lopata and Semmes Bowen & Semmes defending businesses in litigation with a primary focus on workers compensation defense.  After her experience in private practice Lisa spent 12 (twelve) years as Assistant General Counsel in the Litigation Section of the General Counsel’s office of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).  In this capacity Lisa defended the transit authority in personal injury and employment litigation.  Lisa was a first chair trial attorney for 12 (twelve) years and during that time tried over 75 (seventy-five) cases in the District of Columbia and Maryland state and federal courts.  This unique opportunity gave Lisa the opportunity to take more cases to trial than a typical associate in private practice and allowed her to develop enhanced trial, litigation, mediation and settlement negotiation skills.. Finally, Lisa spent the last 12 (twelve) years in house working for Marriott International as an attorney in Marriott International’s Risk Management department managing all insurance covered employment litigation as well as general liability, workers compensation, property, fidelity, fiduciary and cyber litigation against the company.  As a result, Lisa has a clear understanding of the business impact of litigation against an employer and has a deep and clear understanding of effective litigation strategies to save costs and resolve litigated matters effectively and efficiently.. Lisa and her colleagues have a great depth of experience in defending employers in employment related litigation and in representing Plaintiff’s in employment related litigation.  The Fentress law firm’s philosophy is that this experience representing both employers and plaintiffs ultimately gives the client, plaintiff or defendant, the absolute best representation available.  A strong and deep understanding of the perspectives and strategies of both plaintiffs and defendants makes for the best representation of your employment law related needs whether you are an employer or an employee.   Why wouldn’t you want an attorney representing you that definitely knows and understands the perspectives, strategies and drivers on each side of the fence in litigation?. In addition and of utmost importance Lisa is dedicated to her work and firmly believes that every client deserves the best of all of her combined skills.  Lisa is tenacious and will not stop fighting for her clients until she achieves the best possible result in the case.  She is not afraid of hard work and tirelessly investigates and strategizes every aspect of the matter.  Her experience has taught her that things are   not always as they appear and often there is more than one side to the story.. Lisa also understands that each client’s case is unique.  Each person or company/organization who seeks her counsel has individual concerns and goals regarding their case.  She is committed to listening to these concerns and answering any questions.  Lisa works diligently to approach your case as if it is her only case and you are her only client.  She individualizes her representation to meet your specific needs and to achieve the best possible result in your case.. If you are looking for an attorney who gives you Passionate Representation and Personal Attention, Contact Lisa today.

Licensed attorney with demonstrated history of impactful work in the legal field through advocating for expanded civil rights and greater worker protections. In my current role, I provide legal representation, advice, and guidance to clients in matters related to employment and labor law.

Lauren A. Khouri is an associate attorney withCorreia & Puth, PLLC, dedicating her practice to the civil rights of employees in the workplace. Ms. Khouri represents clients in all aspects of the firm’s litigation practice, including sex discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, disability discrimination, and retaliation claims under Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in education. Her work also includes fighting pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, and additional types of discrimination and retaliation prohibited by state and federal civil rights statutes.. Prior to joining Correia & Puth, Ms. Khouri served as a fellow at the National Women’s Law Center, where she advocated for women’s economic security and equality in education and employment. She worked to protect the rights of pregnant and parenting students and employees, and to increase protections against discrimination in the workplace and schools through administrative actions and legislative advocacy.. Khouri earned her law degree from American University Washington College of Law (WCL). During law school, she served as a student attorney in the General Practice Clinic where she litigated family law cases in Montgomery County, Maryland. She interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Department of Justice, where she assisted on civil and criminal litigation. She also worked with D.C. Public Schools in the General Counsel’s Office, aiding the District in compliance with Title IX and other federal and local laws. Ms. Khouri spent time at the National Partnership for Women & Families developing state and federal workplace fairness policies and at the White House Domestic Policy Counsel supporting cities’ efforts to provide comprehensive, place-based social service delivery.. Ms. Khouri was the Senior Content Editor for American University Labor & Employment Law Forum, a member of WCL Moot Court Honor Society, and the WCL representative to the American Bar Association. She is a recipient of the American University Dean’s Award for Professional Responsibility and the Pro Bono Exceptional Service Honors Award.. Prior to law school, Ms. Khouri completed a year-long fellowship with the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, a social justice leadership development initiative. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Saint Louis University.. Active in her community, Ms. Khouri is a member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association and the National Employment Lawyers Association. She serves on the board of directors of Teaching for Change, which supports educators working to advance social change through classroom instruction. She is an intake volunteer with the D.C. Employment Justice Center Worker’s Rights Clinic, a walk-in advice clinic for low-wage workers experiencing workplace challenges. Ms. Khouri also works with Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact & Innovation on ways to highlight local government’s community engagement and empowerment efforts.. She is admitted to practice law in New York and is permitted to practice law in the District of Columbia—pursuant to Rule 49(c)(8)—while under the supervision of the firm’s licensed partners.

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.

Kate Mueting is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Sanford Heisler Sharp and a Co-Chair of the firm’s Title VII Practice. She represents employees in a broad range of employment claims, including discrimination on the basis of gender, pregnancy, race, and sexual orientation.. Kate represents professionals at the highest levels in their fields, including Big Law partners and corporate executives. She has advised C-Suite executives in the pharmaceutical, technology, consulting, media, and communications industries against their Fortune 500 employers and has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of her clients.. Kate currently serves as lead counsel in the hard-fought Donna Kassman et al. v. KPMG LLP, which seeks to remedy that firm’s systemic discrimination in pay and promotion, discrimination based on pregnancy, and chronic failure to properly investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination and harassment. Kate leads a team of more than a dozen fighting to challenge gender discrimination at the Big Four Accounting Firm. Kate and her colleagues won conditional certification of the Equal Pay Act claims, and since then more than 1,100 female employees have joined the litigation as a means of securing fair and equitable compensation. Since Sanford Heisler Sharp filed the case in 2011, Kate and her team have defeated multiple attempts by KPMG to dismiss the case, and she has successfully advocated for the inclusion of additional Named Plaintiffs and of numerous other female employees of KPMG through equitable tolling.. Kate is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at bar associations, educational institutions, and law firms. Kate is actively involved in the District of Columbia’s Women’s Bar Association, where she leads the Membership Committee. In September 2018, the Association named Kate the winner of its coveted “Mussey-Gillett Shining Star Award” that recognizes members who make extraordinary contributions to advance the mission of the Association. Kate is also a member of the Legal Network for Gender Equity.. In 2017, Kate earned recognition as one of 40 Washington, D.C. “Rising Stars” from the National Law Journal. She has also been honored as a leading litigator by other publications, including the Washington, D.C,. Super Lawyers Magazine and eBoss Watch.. Prior to joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Kate worked at Covington & Burling, LLP, and she clerked for Michael J. Melloy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the Richard J. Leon on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She also served as a Team Leader for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.

Jonathan C. Puth is a member of Correia & Puth and an advocate for the civil rights of employees. Mr. Puth represents clients with claims of sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, whistleblower retaliation, and claims for wages, commissions, and contract rights. Mr. Puth is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of the District of Columbia and Maryland, and the United States Supreme Court.. Mr. Puth regularly advises clients regarding all aspects their employment relationships and their legal rights, including potential discrimination claims, terms of separation from employment, employment contracts, and severance negotiations. Mr. Puth also counsels employees who are facing unfair treatment or other difficulties in the workplace. Mr. Puth served as co-counsel to the plaintiff class in Hartman v. Powell, a gender discrimination class action that garnered the largest award in the history of the Civil Rights Act, and was awarded the 2000 Trial Lawyer of the Year award by Trial Lawyers for Public Justice for his work on that landmark case. Mr. Puth has for years been selected for inclusion by Super Lawyers and by Best Lawyers for his work representing employees in the Washington, DC region, and is rated by Martindale-Hubbell as “AV Preeminent,” the highest attorney peer review rating.. Throughout his career Ms. Puth has continually devoted his practice to the representation of employees, not employers, with claims of sex harassment, whistleblower retaliation, discrimination, wage and commission theft, severance negotiations, contract disputes, and employee counseling.. Mr. Puth is Past President of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), a voluntary bar association of over 350 members dedicated to the representation of employees and to the advancement of employee rights. He has served on MWELA’s board since 1998 and is a long-standing and active member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA). Mr. Puth has worked continually to advance the interests of the plaintiffs’ employment law bar, including by leading and directing continuing education programs, by writing and filing amicus curiae briefs with area courts and the United States Supreme Court, and by working to increase dialogue among employment law practitioners in the region. Mr. Puth received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1992. Prior to law school, Mr. Puth received his B.A. from the University of Colorado in 1981, and was then employed as an advocate for civil rights and the environment with non-profit organizations and for United States Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

John P. Mahoney focuses his practice on litigating federal employment law, labor, and national security clearance law cases. He counsels and represents federal employees, contractors, agencies, unions, and employee associations in a wide range of issues, including employment discrimination, EEOC complaints, MSPB appeals, whistleblower retaliation cases, and more. He is a nationally recognized attorney who has earned a Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has been selected as a 2017 Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment Law. Mr. Mahoney, who also served as the Vice Chair of and an administrative judge with the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Personnel Appeals Board (PAB), has an impressive record of success and is known for being able to deliver smart solutions along with caring advocacy.. To learn more about John P. Mahoney, Esq. visit his profile page on the website at:

John McKnight is a Senior Litigation Counsel in the Washington, DC office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, a national law firm with offices in Washington DC, New York, California, Tennessee, and Maryland. He received his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2011.. Mr. McKnight is experienced in the representation of clients in qui tam lawsuits under the U.S. False Claims Act and works on sealed and unsealed qui tam whistleblower cases involving fraud against the federal and state governments. He was an integral part of the litigation team that ultimately secured an $11.3 million settlement in U.S. ex rel. Cox v. Smith & Nephew, the first Trade Agreements Act settlement involving a medical device company. In addition to the Trade Agreements Act, Mr. McKnight works on cases involving the SEC Whistleblower program, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Price Reduction Clause, the Price Adjustment Clause, Medicare procurement guidelines, and numerous other fraud-based statutes.. Mr. McKnight is a member of the Maryland Bar Association, and speaks intermediate-level Mandarin Chinese.. *****. Prior to joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, Mr. McKnight was an Associate at McKnight and Kennedy, LLC in Silver Spring, Maryland, which he joined following his graduation from the University of Maryland School of Law.. While at the University of Maryland, Mr. McKnight interned with the Human Rights Team at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and with United States District Court Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. (Retired) of the District of Columbia, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge William Jackson, and Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson of the United States District Court of the District of Columbia. He also participated in the University of Maryland’s International and Comparative Law Clinic in China, where he worked with actors in the Chinese microcredit industry.

Joe has been representing both corporate and individual clients in civil litigation since he began practicing. Joe’s practice encompasses all phases of litigation, mediation and arbitration in both federal and state courts in the Mid-Atlantic region, and focuses on the defense of a variety of claims, including those arising in the areas of employment, construction, defamation, professional liability, contracts, premises liability, personal injury/liability, and insurance coverage matters.