NELA

Empowering Workers' Rights Attorneys

Press Release

Press Release

Statement From The National Employment Lawyers Association And National Institute For Workers’ Rights On EEOC Acting Chair Lucas’ Letters To Law Firms

The National Employment Lawyers Association and the National Institute for Workers’ Rights are deeply troubled by Acting Chair Andrea Lucas’ recent letters to twenty law firms aimed at scrutinizing or undermining their attempts to prevent discrimination and promote opportunity. Acting Chair Lucas has no authority to send these letters and demand this information, as explained in the March 18 letter from former EEOC officials. The letters represent an alarming betrayal of the agency’s fundamental mission of eradicating workplace discrimination and promoting equitable employment practices.

Though NELA members are often on the other side of these law firms in cases, we stand by their side in defending their right—indeed, obligation—to ensure their workplaces are fair and free of bias. The legal profession has traditionally not been hospitable to women, people of color, and others who are underrepresented in occupations like law. Firms that are trying to change that should be lauded, not criticized.

Law firms play a pivotal role in shaping employment policies and guiding corporate America’s understanding and implementation of civil rights law. If the legal profession is dissuaded from trying to make their hiring and promotion practices fair and prevent discrimination, the downstream effect on countless organizations and industries … Read More

Chicago Attorney M. Nieves Bolaños Elected President Of The National Employment Lawyers Association

Bolaños is the first Latina to serve as board president of 39-year-old organization

Concord, Calif. – July 26, 2024 – The Board of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), the nation’s largest bar association whose members exclusively or primarily represent workers, has elected its officers for 2024-2025. The NELA Board is composed of 24 member attorneys from around the country. M. Nieves Bolaños, the first Latina to serve as NELA’s president, assumes the role from Carla D. Brown, the first Black woman leader of the organization. This transition represents a significant milestone for NELA, highlighting the importance of diverse representation in leadership roles within the organization and the legal community as a whole.

NELA Board:

President
M. Nieves Bolaños
Hawks Quindel, SC, Chicago, IL

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

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

Vice President of Affiliate Relations
Deborah H. Karpatkin
Law Office of Deborah H. Karpatkin, New York, NY

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

Secretary
Summer H. Murshid
Hawks Quindel, SC, Milwaukee WI

Treasurer
Christopher Houk
Houk Law Firm, PLLC, Tempe, … Read More

NELA Partners with Syllo to Provide Exclusive Member Pricing on a Game-Changing AI-Powered eDiscovery Litigation Platform

Syllo levels the playing field for workers’ rights advocates by allowing them to leverage AI tools previously accessible only to large firms.

NELA is thrilled to announce the launch of our partnership with Syllo, a pioneering AI-powered eDiscovery tool for litigators developed by plaintiffs’ employment lawyers. Syllo enables attorneys and paralegals to use AI to organize, understand, and litigate their matters faster and more efficiently.

The partnership is a direct result of NELA members’ request for and experience with advanced eDiscovery tools and technology to enhance their firms’ performance. As part of our mission to empower workers’ rights attorneys, we strive to provide members with benefits that make a meaningful difference in their practice, including building capacity, increasing productivity, and conserving resources.

Through this partnership, NELA members receive a significant cost savings on Syllo’s cutting-edge litigation technology with capabilities including:

  • Search and review eDiscovery, organize case files, and track deadlines.
  • Search productions for hot documents, develop chronologies of key events, and prove up your case
  • Access the NELA “Precedent Bank” with invaluable resources from your fellow NELA members.

NELA members receive 57% off on Syllo’s advanced AI tools. That means NELA membership is more than paid for in just … Read More

National Employment Lawyers Association Applauds The Equal Remedies Act Of 2024

The act would eliminate statutory damage caps and enhance protections for workers in discrimination cases

For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrea Hansen
509.306.1867
ahansen@flyingcrow.com

Concord, Calif. – May 8, 2024 – Today, in a significant milestone for workers’ rights, Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced the Equal Remedies Act of 2024. The proposed legislation calls for the elimination of statutory damage caps for employment discrimination in civil rights cases, and would modernize the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to allow those who experience age discrimination to pursue compensatory and punitive damages.

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) applauds Representatives Bonamici and Scott and Senator Markey on this important piece of legislation and strongly supports the bill to ensure workers have meaningful access to justice when they experience illegal treatment in the workplace. 

“Discrimination persists in the workplace for a lot of reasons, but these arbitrary caps that take away the jury’s role in deciding how employers who violate the law are held accountable are a significant factor,” said Linda Correia, immediate past president of NELA’s board of directors. “I have represented many workers who have been harmed by these caps and am grateful … Read More

A Win for Workers: Karla Gilbride Confirmed as General Counsel to the EEOC

NELA celebrates the confirmation of Karla Gilbride as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) General Counsel. Ms. Gilbride’s breadth of experience makes her well qualified to coordinate regional and field office litigation to maximize enforcement of federal employment anti-discrimination laws in harmony with the broader strategy of the agency.

The EEOC is the first defense for workers seeking justice when they have experienced discrimination, harassment, or other illegal treatment at their place of employment. In her hearing before the Senate HELP Committee, Ms. Gilbride’s responses demonstrated her deep knowledge of the issues for which the EEOC has responsibility and her strong commitment to the mission of the agency. For over 15 years, she has represented workers across industries, from migrant farmworkers to women in the finance industry to prison employees. She has represented many different clients, from many walks of life, but her mission has remained constant: to enforce workers’ rights to safe and equitable working conditions under the law.

Karla’s experience includes acting as Co-Director of Public Justice’s Access to Justice Project and serving as NELA’s Vice President of Public Policy. A NELA member since 2015, she has been instrumental in our efforts to end forced arbitration in employment … Read More

Strengthening Workers’ Rights: Kalpana Kotagal Confirmed as EEOC Commissioner

NELA celebrates the confirmation of Kalpana Kotagal as the newest commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Ms. Kotagal’s extensive record of fairness and justice will strengthen the EEOC as it continues its mission to protect workers from discrimination.

Ms. Kotagal has extensive litigation experience handling cases on behalf of employees under a range of federal civil rights and employment discrimination statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), the Equal Pay Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Her lifetime commitment to civil rights and equal justice as well as her creativity and leadership, will benefit the workers across the country.

“Kalpana has been an inspirational champion for workers’ rights,” said NELA Executive Director Jeffrey Mittman, “and her long-awaited confirmation is a well-deserved recognition of her efforts. We congratulate Kalpana and look forward to working with her and the full complement of EEOC Commissioners to continue pursuing equity for those suffering injustices in the workplace, and clarify the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers alike.”

Ms. Kotagal is a partner in Cohen Milstein’s Civil Rights … Read More

NELA Stands Against Dobbs’ Assault on Reproductive Justice

For immediate release
Concord, CA – June 24, 2022
Contact: Andrea Hansen, (509) 306-1867, ahansen@flyingcrow.com

Since the founding of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) in 1985, and the National Institute for Workers’ Rights in 2008, our shared vision for working people has remained constant: a future in which all workers are treated with dignity and respect; workplaces are equitable, diverse, and inclusive; and the well-being of workers is a priority in business practices. Full civil rights and equality for women and people of color are essential to workplace equity.

As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortion services will become unavailable to millions of workers across the country. By permitting states to interfere in the private medical decisions of those who are pregnant, the economic security and physical safety of all women are now at risk. This risk will be disproportionately borne by low-income workers and families, and by women of color.

NELA lawyers represent workers in all fifty states and fight daily mistreatment by employers–including gender, race, and pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment and assault, and denial of benefits.

Linda Correia, President of NELA and Institute board member stated: … Read More

A Victory for Workers—Bill Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Claims is Sent to President for Signing

Yesterday, the Senate passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (S. 2342). The bill gives survivors the chance to have their case heard in a court of law, rather than being forced into arbitration, away from public view. NELA and its public education and advocacy organization, the National Institute for Workers’ Rights (formerly the Employee Rights Advocacy Institute For Law & Policy), have worked for over a decade to end forced arbitration in the workplace. In 2009, the Institute coined the term “forced arbitration” following the release of significant public opinion research. Recently, NELA members from across the country lobbied for the end of this unjust practice during our 2021 Virtual Lobby Day. We look forward to the President’s signature on this historic piece of legislation.

NELA applauds the Senate for coming together in a unified and bipartisan fashion to support an issue that affects every segment of the workforce. We celebrate today’s victory, but this is not the end of our call to action. No worker, whether their claim relates to sexual harassment, stolen wages, or illegal discrimination based on race, disability, LGBTQ+ status, gender, or other reasons, should be denied the … Read More

NELA Applauds Passage of Forced Arbitration Bill (H.R. 4445)

The Ending Forced Arbitration Of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (H.R. 4445) passed with bipartisan support yesterday, 335–97. NELA has been working for two decades to end forced arbitration, the pernicious employer practice of barring workers from pursuing justice in open court. The “Me Too” movement exposed aspects of the terrible harm done by forced arbitration clauses, which shield employers from accountability for sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace, enabling this conduct to continue unabated. Yesterday’s House vote is a victory in the fight to end forced arbitration. We applaud the House on this bipartisan vote.

NELA urges the Senate to pass this bill. But this is not the end of our call to action. More is needed. No worker—whether their claim relates to sexual harassment, stolen wages, or illegal harassment based on race, disability, LGBTQ+ status, or other reasons, should be denied the right to pursue justice in a court of law, in the full light of day. We call on both the House and Senate to pass the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (FAIR Act S. 505/H.R. 963) which would broadly prohibit forced arbitration of workplace and consumer disputes.… Read More

NELA Statement on Justice Stephen Breyer’s Retirement

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and National Institute for Workers’ Rights (the Institute) thank Justice Stephen Breyer for his nearly 30 years of service on the U.S. Supreme Court. He will leave a legacy of opinions in support of women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, health care, and civil liberties—issues that affect working people from all walks of life.

As we honor Justice Breyer’s legacy, we celebrate this opportunity for President Biden to keep his commitment to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court. We support the Biden Administration in continuing to bring both demographic and experiential diversity to the federal bench, which is far stronger, fairer and more reflective of our country today as a result. NELA and the Institute will continue to advocate for a federal bench that upholds our commitment to civil rights and equal justice on issues that affect working people. We urge President Biden and the Senate to move forward expeditiously, and to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court from among our nation’s abundance of highly qualified women jurists, scholars and lawyers.

About the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)

Founded in 1985, the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) is the nation’s largest bar … Read More

National Employment Lawyers Association Celebrates The Confirmation Of Jennifer Sung To The Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals

Concord, Calif. – December 15, 2021 – On Thursday, the Senate voted to confirm Jennifer Sung 50-49 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Oregon. Ms. Sung has outstanding credentials and is eminently qualified to serve on the Ninth Circuit. She brings her extensive experience in labor and employment law to the bench, having worked first as a labor organizer and later as an attorney and litigator specializing in labor, employment, and constitutional law on behalf of workers from all walks of life. Most recently, Ms. Sung served as a member of the Oregon Employment Relations Board where she adjudicated labor and employment disputes. She clerked for Judge Betty Binns Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and was awarded a Skadden Fellowship at the Brennan Center for Justice.

In addition to Ms. Sung’s stellar professional qualifications, she is the first member of the Asian American Pacific Islander community to be confirmed to the federal bench in Oregon, where Asian American Pacific Islanders comprise about 12 percent of the general population. The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) applauds this historic confirmation.

Ms. Sung’s appointment represents progress on two critically important and longstanding NELA goals: … Read More

NELA Statement on the Confirmation of Myrna Perez to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Contact: Andrea Hansen, ahansen@flyingcrow.com, (509) 306-1867

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) celebrates today’s U.S. Senate vote confirming Judge Myrna Pérez to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Pérez is one of only two Latinx judges serving on the Second Circuit, which serves a diverse region with a large Latinx community. She is also the first Latina to serve on the Second Circuit since Justice Sonia Sotomayor was appointed to the Supreme Court. Latinx Americans make up only eight percent of active federal judges in the nation.

Pérez’s extensive experience as a litigator and legal academic makes her eminently qualified to serve on the Second Circuit. Her deep expertise in voting rights and election law is critically important. Ensuring that the federal bench includes more attorneys whose careers have been devoted to advancing civil and individual rights is vital to our democracy.  

NELA has long advocated for and spoken out about the importance of experiential diversity on the bench. Research shows that judges with corporate or prosecutorial backgrounds are far more likely to rule against workers. Demographic and professional diversity within the federal judiciary is essential to ensure that workers have a fair shot at justice.

NELA is … Read More