Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., Denver, CO

Of Counsel, March 2023 – Present

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP, New York, NY

Non-Equity Partner, January 2023 – March 2023

Of Counsel, August 2021 – December 2022

Associate, July 2019 – August 2021

• Successfully defended the firm’s hotel client and an individually named female manager and obtained a unanimous jury verdict in a case alleging a hostile work environment, quid pro quo sexual harassment, and retaliatory termination of employment.
• Independently managed a litigation caseload, including conducting depositions and drafting state and federal motions,
  discovery demands, settlement agreements and negotiations, reports, and agency position statements in labor,
  employment, product liability, general casualty, and personal injury cases.
• Advised clients in Florida and New York regarding employment matters, including wage and hour and COVID-related regulations.
• First-chaired a trial in the Eastern District of New York through verdict on city, state, and federal hostile work environment, disability discrimination, and retaliation claims.
• Arbitrated a wrongful termination union grievance of an employee who committed an egregious safety violation—including preparing pre- and post-arbitration briefs, delivering opening statement, and direct examination of witnesses—resulting in a decision in the employer’s favor.
• Arbitrated a Florida state law discrimination claim brought by an employee who voluntarily resigned after receiving a written warning for engaging in workplace violence—including preparing pre- and post-arbitration briefs, cross-examination of plaintiff, and direct examination of defense witnesses—resulting in a decision in the employer’s favor.

Beranbaum Menken LLP, New York, NY

Associate, December 2016 – July 2019

• Drafted pleadings, discovery requests and responses, memoranda of law, motions, and briefs in civil matters.
• Investigated, evaluated, negotiated settlements of, and litigated claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under Title VII, the ADA, the FLSA, the FMLA, and various federal and state whistleblower statutes.
• Appeared on the record in state and federal court and attended mediations and EEOC hearings.

Federal & Local Government

Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD, New York, NY

Policy Analyst/Project Manager, August 2015 – December 2016

• Managed a confidential investigation into NYPD’s handling of U Visa certification requests, including planning all stages of the investigation, conducting interviews with NYPD officials and community stakeholders, drafting document and data requests, researching legal issues, and coordinating the efforts of two data assistants and a special investigator to gather, review, and present data.
• Investigated NYPD’s implementation of patrol guide procedures concerning transgender and gender nonconforming people, including conducting interviews of NYPD personnel at the precinct and executive levels and analyzing civilian complaints.
• Identified issues and submitted proposals for investigations based on evidence from multiple sources, including media outlets, CompStat, and interviews with community stakeholders.
• Drafted significant portions of multiple reports for publication.
• Assessed whether police misconduct cases were candidates for prosecution and presented findings to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the City Department of Investigation.

Social Security Administration, Woodlawn, MD

Attorney Advisor, September 2014 – August 2015

• Wrote one to two legally sufficient decisions per day for Administrative Law Judges in Social Security disability appeals.
• Ensured all decisions were consistent with adjudication policies in Social Security law, regulations, and rulings.

District of Columbia Office of Police Complaints, Washington, DC

Law Clerk/Legal Assistant, January 2014 – August 2014

• Helped draft and finalize the agency’s policy recommendation on Enhancing Police Accountability through an Effective On-body Camera Program for Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officers, available at http://tinyurl.com/mh2952t.
• Collaborated with an attorney at the ACLU to draft a policy recommendation proposing solutions to the problem of access to the civilian complaint process at MPD stations and substations.
• Analyzed complaint data spanning several years, identified trends, and researched best practices on which to base policy recommendations to the Mayor, D.C. Council, and Chief of Police.
• Conducted legal research and wrote legal memoranda on issues related to police misconduct and agency operations, including civil forfeiture and “jump-outs.”
• Edited civilian complaint dismissal reports, focusing on legal justifications for dismissal.
• Attended D.C. Council hearings and meetings with high-ranking MPD officials.

Direct Representation of Underserved Groups

University of Miami School of Law Children & Youth Law Clinic, Coral Gables, FL

Student Legal Intern, August 2012 – May 2013

• Helped research and draft a brief in an appeal of a final decision of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities before the Florida Third District Court of Appeals.
• Represented children in foster care and former foster youth in dependency, health care and disability (including Medicaid waiver issues), mental health, independent living, and other general civil legal matters.
• Appeared on behalf of clients before the Florida Department of Children & Families Office of Appeal Hearings.
• Received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for the top student in the Clinic.  Served as a Student Fellow.

Florida Justice Institute, Inc., Miami, FL

Legal Intern, July 2012 – August 2013

• Supported staff attorneys on civil lawsuits involving housing, disability, and sexual orientation discrimination.
• Drafted legal memoranda, pre-trial motions, and public records requests.
• Wrote a motion in limine to exclude an expert witness in Lebron v. Wilkins, No. 6:11-cv-01473-Orl-35DAB, a class action before the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida.
• Coordinated efforts of local attorneys and elder affairs specialists to revise the Older Floridians Handbook (6th Edition) for publication, including researching elder law issues and developing new content.

Policy Advocacy & Community Organizing

CopWatchDC, Washington, DC

Organizing Committee Member, September 2014 – August 2015

• Organized know-your-rights trainings and CopWatches in collaboration with other activists and grassroots groups.
• Managed social media and email accounts.  Created pamphlets, flyers for events, and email updates.  Developed content for copwatchdc.org.

University of Miami School of Law Children & Youth Law Clinic, Coral Gables, FL

Student Fellow, August 2013 – December 2013

• Instructed law students in litigation, legislative, and policy advocacy strategy relating to permanent guardianship for incapacitated former foster youth.
• Wrote letters to and conducted conference calls with high-level Department of Children and Families staff regarding proposed changes to guardianship law.
• Earned the C.A.M.P. for Justice Foundation Hendry Bandier Fellowship for dedication to child advocacy and human rights.

National Center for Lesbian Rights, Washington, DC

Policy Clerk, June 2013 – August 2013

• Reviewed, analyzed, and wrote about pending regulations, policy proposals, and legislation related to combatting anti-LGBT bias in sports, comprehensive sex education, equal access to healthcare, and LGBT-inclusive immigration reform.
• Lobbied for key legislators on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) out of committee for a vote by the full Senate.

International Law & Policy

U.S.-Russia Social Expertise Exchange, Moscow, Russia

Emerging Professional Fellow, Rule of Law Working Group, February 2015 – April 2015

• Gave a presentation on police relations with LGBTQ communities in the U.S. for Russian human rights lawyers at an American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative conference in Moscow.
• Collaborated with Russian and American human rights activists and legal professionals to establish best practices for civilian oversight of law enforcement.
• Forged connections between Russian and American grassroots activists working on freedom of assembly and police accountability issues.

HOPE Public Interest Resource Center, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Independent Legal Researcher, June 2012

• Researched treaties and compliance with international law under the supervision of an attorney at the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti.
• Observed conditions in seven camps for internally displaced persons in Port-au-Prince.
• Interviewed directors of non-governmental organizations specializing in resolving human rights issues.