Charlotte H. Schwartz

Charlotte Schwartz believes in equal rights and fair treatment in the workplace, including the right to organize for change.

Charlotte joined James & Hoffman in 2022. She represents workers and their unions in all manner of proceedings, including in federal and state court, and before the NLRB and EEOC. She has litigated cases involving Title VII, state and local anti-discrimination and wage payment laws, the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the False Claims Act, and breach of contract and other common law claims. She also has experience in internal union governance matters.

Recently, Charlotte has: Served as part of trial team that won a jury verdict on a sexual harassment claim on behalf of a DCPS social worker, representing one of the largest jury awards against the District on such a claim. Doe v. District of Columbia (D.D.C. 2023). Filed a brief in the Supreme Court on behalf of Starbucks workers. Successfully represented a federal employee in an EEOC hearing involving race and sex discrimination and reprisal claims. Argued a summary judgment motion on behalf of federal employees unlawfully denied overtime pay. Argued an appeal in the Federal Circuit on behalf of workers owed unpaid pandemic unemployment compensation. Represented Starbucks workers falsely accused of crimes; defeated company’s motion to dismiss on preemption grounds and motion to compel arbitration.

Prior to joining the firm, Charlotte worked at a non-profit where she authored briefs filed in the Supreme Court and courts of appeals across the country on a wide range of issues, from unconstitutional forced labor practices, to police accountability, to LGBTQ+ equality.

Previously, Charlotte served as a law clerk to the Honorable Beverly B. Martin on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and as a Heyman Fellow in Senator Richard Blumenthal’s office. While in the Senate, Charlotte did substantial work on the first impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump, prepared the Senator for numerous judicial nomination hearings, and helped write legislation and engage in oversight of issues pertaining to immigration and labor, gender justice, antitrust, and transportation network companies, among other areas.

Charlotte graduated from Yale Law School in 2019, where she litigated voting rights cases as the student director of the Rule of Law Clinic. She received her undergraduate degree in history, with First Class Honors, from McGill University.

Charlotte is a member of the Bars of New York and the District of Columbia. She lives in the District with her partner and their cats.