As we come to the close of Black History Month, it is important to reflect upon and recognize both the singular achievements of, and the unique and central role played by Black people in our nation’s cultural, intellectual, political, and legal history. At NELA, we should take this opportunity to do the same for our incredible colleagues. Today, I honor one such colleague very close to my own heart—Carla Brown, NELA’s first Black woman president. Carla is a force, a fearless leader, and seriously fun. There are few people I have ever met who are as thoughtful as Carla. I often say, that while many of us find ourselves playing checkers, Carla is always playing chess. I have been so honored to serve on the NELA Executive Board with her and to count her not only as a trusted colleague but, most importantly, as a valued friend.

Carla’s professional achievements speak for themselves. She is a partner at Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, P.C. in Reston, Virgina. She regularly and successfully tries cases in Virgina, Washington D.C., and Maryland with outstanding results, for which she has been widely recognized. She has been featured as one of Virginia’s Go To Lawyers by Virginia Lawyers Weekly, was named Lawyer of the Year in 2014 by the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), was named one of Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s Leaders in the Law, and LawDragon selected her as a 2023 Top 500 Leading Civil Rights and Plaintiff Employment Lawyer in the United States—just to name a few of her honors.

Carla has served as an integral member of NELA’s Executive Board since 2015, becoming NELA’s first Black woman President in 2023. As NELA’s immediate Past President, she continues to provide input, guidance, and her signature thoughtfulness to the Board’s discussions and decision-making processes. Carla graciously accepted the responsibility of upholding NELA’s time-honored tradition to open our Annual Convention—the Roll Call of the States, so memorably founded and led by NELA Founder Paul Tobias for many years. In that role (pun intended), she did not disappoint. She has honored the legacy of that special moment in each of our Annual Conventions while also infusing it with her own special flair, for example by dressing up in stars and stripes and using song lyrics to introduce each state.

This past week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Carla and reflecting a bit about NELA and its importance and impact, including in these particular times. 

NELA and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

During a month where we have seen increased and unprecedented attacks on DEIA programs and initiatives, Carla noted that NELA always has been ahead of the curve in this area, dedicated to equity and inclusion for years before it became a tagline. NELA has long been committed to the idea that viewpoints and perspectives that are different matter and it valued inclusion of all kinds, ensuring we put that commitment into action. This is reflected in the work of NELA’s DEIA committee, the creation of a Vice President (VP) of DEIA on NELA’s Executive Committee, and throughout NELA’s mission, values, programming, and work.

NELA’s Importance to Attorneys

When asked why NELA is important to her/workers’ rights attorneys, Carla rightly pointed out that NELA is the community of the best lawyers who practice in our field and have the very best arguments for any issue that might arise in our cases. For example, she recalled how someone posted to the NELA Exchange that you should always be sure to ask defendants to release your client from their non-compete at the outset of litigation and that, if defendants refuse, it is an argument that can be raised in order to increase damages. Carla applied this in one of her cases. As predicted, the defendant refused and, at the damages stage, the court agreed to a longer period for damages as a result. She reiterated what so many of us know to be true: some of the best arguments, as well as the tips, tricks, and tactics that every NELA member should remember and/or consider adopting, to improve their skill set and more effectively advocate for their clients, are things that we will learn and be reminded of at NELA’s Annual Convention. It’s those things that can make all the difference in our cases, in the outcomes we achieve for our clients, in making the law more equitable for workers, and in making us better lawyers.

The Importance of NELA Now

NELA has always been important for workers’ rights advocates, but Carla affirmed the unfortunate truth: this work is not going to get easier for us over the next four years, in many ways it is going to get harder, making our NELA community more important than ever. We are going to have to deal with negative public perceptions in our jury pools and we are going to have to educate, advocate, and fight to overcome them. She noted that, though she does not practice in a place that is particularly friendly for plaintiffs’ employment lawyers, she is not alone among NELA members in having to navigate hostile territory, and our members who regularly practice in not-so-friendly courts are still getting great verdicts and are standing ready to share what they know. We are going to have to be more creative than ever and more united than ever, but we have members who are already doing incredible things in the face of, for example, the appalling recent attacks on federal workers. Sharing good ideas and strategies, giving advice, and providing solidarity and support, is going to be of utmost importance. And, perhaps most importantly, it really does help not to feel so alone in this.

As NELA members, we really are never alone in this work and must never allow our colleagues to feel that they are alone either.

Carla on Carla

When I asked Carla if there was something she thought we should know about her that maybe we did not, in the unpretentious way that I have found to be typical of her, she returned the focus and the accolades to others. She wanted us to know how much she appreciates NELA’s members, who are always willing to give advice and be available to do so whenever it is needed. When people post on the NELA Exchange, reach out on the telephone or email, or strike up an impromptu conversation at one of our events, NELA members will really try to help. She is grateful to all those who have responded to her queries when she was in a pinch. She rightly pointed out how much it means to have that kind of support and how valuable it is that people who have their own busy practices and caseloads will give so freely to their fellow NELA members.  We truly try to help each other be the best possible versions of ourselves as advocates.

I hope you will all join me in honoring Carla Brown and thanking her for her service to NELA, for being an integral part of its leadership, and for doing so much to make NELA the unique and valuable organization that it is.