The Board of the National Employment Lawyers Association consists of twenty-four members from around the country.
The President, Vice President of Public Policy, First Vice President, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Vice President of Affiliate Relations, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President constitute the Executive Committee. Two-thirds of the Board is elected by the general membership in the Spring, and one-third is appointed by the Board in the Summer of every year.
Questions and comments for the NELA Board may be sent to execboard@nelahq.org. Are you a journalist looking to connect with NELA leadership? Reach out to us at media@nelahq.org to speak with a board member or representative—we are ready to share insights and updates on the front lines of workers’ rights advocacy.
Our Board

President
M. Nieves Bolaños
Hawks Quindel, S.C.
Chicago, IL

First Vice President
Ben Lebsack
Lowrey Parady Lebsack DeFazio
Denver, CO

Vice President of Legislation and Public Policy
Shelby Leighton
Public Justice
Washington, DC

Vice President of Affiliate Relations
Adria Lynn Silva
Sass Law Firm
Tampa, FL

Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility
Bryce W. Ashby
Donati Law, PLLC
Memphis, TN

Secretary
Summer H. Murshid
Hawks Quindel, SC
Milwaukee WI

Treasurer
Christopher Houk
Houk Law Firm, PLLC
Tempe, AZ

Immediate Past President
Carla D. Brown
Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, P.C.
Reston, VA

Christine T. Elzer
Elzer Law Firm, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA

Mahir S. Nisar
Nisar Law Group, PC
New York, NY

Amanda Farahany
Barrett & Farahany
Atlanta, GA

Donna Williams Rucker
Tully Rinckey, PLLC
Washington, DC

Jamie S. Franklin
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago, IL

Robert W. Schmidt
Crews Law Firm, PC
Austin, TX

Maureen Truax Holland
Holland & Associates, PLLC
Memphis, TN

Jeffrey Neil Young
Solidarity Law
Cumberland Foreside, ME

Toni J. Jaramilla
Toni Jaramilla, A Professional Law Corporation
Los Angeles, CA

Paul H. Tobias, Founder
In Memoriam
1930-2021

Heather Newsom Leonard
Heather Leonard, PC
Birmingham, AL