Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson is an associate in Robinson & Cole's Labor & Employment Section, focusing her practice on public and private sector labor and employment law. She represents employers in claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, collective bargaining, defense of unfair labor practice charges, workers' compensation retaliation, and other labor and employment disputes and litigation, including affirmative action complaints and compliance evaluations involving the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Ms. Cole-Johnson counsels companies and human resource professionals in all areas of employment and traditional labor law, including discharge and discrimination issues, contract and grievance administration, personnel policies and handbooks, affirmative action compliance, employee discipline, wage and hour issues, disability and reasonable accommodation, family and medical leave, unemployment, employment contracts, severance and separation agreements, individual terminations and reductions in force, and workplace health and safety issues. She also represents employers in related federal and state administrative proceedings, including discrimination claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, workers' compensation retaliation claims before the State of Connecticut Workers' Compensation Commission, and retaliation claims before the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
Ms. Cole-Johnson also practices in the area of U.S. immigration law, focusing on business immigration. Her immigration practice involves assisting multinational companies when staffing their U.S. offices by successfully obtaining appropriate immigration status for their employees. She enables manufacturing, chemical, and biotechnology companies, including Fortune 100 companies, world-renowned universities, and some of the world's largest chemical and pharmaceutical companies, to retain valuable key business people, scientists, and researchers by obtaining both temporary and permanent immigration status. While her practice encompasses all business-related nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions, Ms. Cole-Johnson focuses on petitions for outstanding researchers and individuals with extraordinary ability.
Prior to law school, Ms. Cole-Johnson taught in the Atlanta Public School System. She interned with Chief Judge M. Yvette Miller at the Georgia Court of Appeals and participated in Emory University School of Law's Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic.
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Connecticut Bar Association
- George W. Crawford Black Bar Association
- Human Resources Association of Central Connecticut, Membership Committee
- Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity, Associates' Advisory Committee
Community Involvement
- YWCA Hartford Region, Board of Directors, 2011
- Greater Hartford Arts Council, Grant Panelist
- Emory University Alumni Admission Network
- Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Scholarship Committee
Honors and Awards
- Recognized in the special section "Lawyers of Color: High Achievers," Connecticut Law Tribune, 2011
- Emory University School of Law, Dean's Public Service Award
Publications & Presentations
Presentations
- Panelist at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving's Scholarship Reception (6/9/2011). Ray Hardman, host of WNPR's Morning Edition and director of Public Affairs for Connecticut Public Television, moderated the panel.
- "Managing a Mobile Workforce: Complying with Wage and Hour Laws and Protecting Company Interests," copresented with Stephen W. Aronson, Jean E. Tomasco (5/25/2011), Moderator of this webinar
- Panelist at Career Beginnings workshop for Hartford area high school students (2/9/2011); Career Beginnings is a joint venture of the MetroHartford Alliance and the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education.
News
5.10.12, Robinson & Cole Stands Against Racism
1.03.12, Robinson & Cole Announces Mentor of the Year Award Recipients
11.02.11, Robinson & Cole Lawyers Participating in Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity Mentoring Program
10.27.11, Attorney to Serve Again as Grant Panelist for Arts Council
9.30.11, Connecticut Law Tribune Recognizes Four Robinson & Cole Attorneys
6.13.11, Labor and Employment Attorney Serves as Panelist at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving's Scholarship Reception
6.03.11, Labor and Employment Attorneys Discuss Legal Considerations of Telework Arrangements
4.26.11, Robinson & Cole Attorneys Support YWCA's Largest Annual Fundraiser
4.11.11, Labor and Employment Attorneys Address Social Media in the Workplace
2.14.11, Labor and Employment Associate Shares the Ins and Outs of a Legal Career with High School Students
1.31.11, YWCA of Hartford Region Elects Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson to Board
12.10.10, Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson to Represent Firm on Advisory Committee for Diversity
10.15.10, Attorney to Serve as Grant Panelist for Greater Hartford Arts Council
4.26.10, Attorneys Represent Robinson & Cole at George W. Crawford Black Bar Association Annual Dinner