Margaret L

Associate

Abrams Fensterman • Full-time

Oct 2024 - Feb 2026 • 1 yr 4 mos

• Advised public employers and educational institutions on employment, labor, and education law matters involving Title VII, ADA, Section 1981, Section 1983, the Fourteenth Amendment, New York Civil Service Law, and Education Law. • Counseled HR, management, and public-sector leadership on employee relations, workplace investigations, grievances, discipline, accommodations, performance management, and risk mitigation. • Drafted EEOC position statements, pleadings, dispositive motions, discovery responses, legal memoranda, and other litigation documents; managed document requests and litigation deadlines. • Supported disciplinary proceedings under Civil Service Law Section 75 and Education Law Section 3020-a, including charges, arbitration strategy, witness preparation, and hearing support. • Partnered with HR professionals, labor relations personnel, unions, and executive leadership to deliver practical guidance aligned with operational objectives.

Associate Employment Counsel

GOAT • Full-time

Jan 2023 - Aug 2024 • 1 yr 7 mos

• Provided day-to-day employment law advice to HR, executive leadership, and business stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions on FMLA, ADA, FLSA, Title VII, ADEA, NLRA, WARN Act, and state employment laws. • Managed EEOC charges, state agency complaints, demand letters, mediations, pre-litigation disputes, and outside counsel support for employment litigation matters. • Advised on employee relations, investigations, grievances, leave administration, disability accommodations, corrective action, discipline, terminations, and separations. • Created and updated employment templates, handbook provisions, employee communications, separation documents, and state- specific policy updates for U.S. and international teams. • Conducted compliance audits involving wage and hour issues, employee classifications, payroll practices, HR documentation, accommodations, and employment policies. • Developed accommodations SOPs, internal playbooks, and training for HR Business Partners and managers on wage and hour compliance, leave administration, accommodations, investigations, harassment prevention, and lawful discipline.

EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY

Unilever • Full-time

Jan 2017 - Dec 2022 • 5 yrs 11 mos

• Advised HR and business leaders on federal, state, and local employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, Title VII, ADEA, NLRA, WARN Act, wage and hour compliance, leave administration, and workplace investigations. • Managed EEOC charges, state agency complaints, administrative matters, mediations, demand letters, and litigation strategy in partnership with outside counsel. • Counseled HR on recruiting, performance management, investigations, accommodations, disciplinary actions, terminations, reductions in force, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, and separation agreements. • Drafted and maintained employment policies, handbook provisions, HR guidelines, release agreements, employee communications, and state-specific policy updates. • Delivered training to HR Business Partners, managers, and leadership on employment compliance, wage and hour issues, harassment prevention, leave administration, investigations, and best practices. • Supported complex litigation matters, including document review, discovery strategy, risk assessment, and coordination with internal and external legal teams.