Mikaela Shaw Masoudpour

Experience: Employment Law Counsel, Investigations, and Training: Partnered with employers to design and implement improved, preventative human resources systems, including drafting of new employee-facing policies and HR/supervisor manuals, reworking of hiring and compensation practices, performance review systems and disciplinary procedures, and associated manager trainings.; Led, on a privileged basis, multiple cohort analyses to assess and evaluate pay practices and recommend systemic and recordkeeping improvements to rectify and avoid ongoing pay equity issues.; Conducted workplace harassment and retaliation investigations, including of executives and a university dean, prepared or counseled employers on the preparation of investigation reports, and counseled on both specific and systemic measures to minimize the risk of lawsuits or liability.; Counseled companies of all sizes and across industries on workplace compliance matters (including employment agreements, hiring, restrictive covenants, leaves and accommodations, pay practices, positive employee relations, and terminations).; Designed and conducted dynamic workplace training seminars for executive and leadership level to rank and file employees of clients ranging from Fortune 200 retailer to financial firms to numerous small employers operating at a single site. Topics have included respectful workplace, interviewing, performance management, bystander intervention, workplace investigations, leave and accommodation, wage and hour, and employment law 101.; Negotiated contentious departure of executive from financial services company on favorable terms to business.; Conducted cultural assessment of leading international bank, using qualitative and quantitative tools, and helped the client devise and implement strategic plan to address leadership, accountability, policies, procedures, and training.; Advised wide range of employers in retail, insurance, healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing on workplace safety and response to COVID-19.; Employment Litigation and Audits: Won complete summary judgment for transportation provider in action brought by former internal investigator alleging 7-counts of discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and state laws. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit appeal dismissed.; Engaged part-way through Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) audit investigating allegedly discriminatory hiring and pay practices of energy provider. Secured OFCCP investigation closure with a no-violations finding.; Obtained emergency workplace order of protection for nationwide manufacturer following evidentiary hearing in light of gun violence threats made by former employee.; Achieved partial motion to dismiss cutting nearly 30 years off the EEOC's claimed liability for claims of alleged sex discrimination in hiring, laying the groundwork for early favorable resolution.; Won dismissal at the motion to dismiss phase of putative multi-state wage and hour class action against Fortune 500 manufacturer. Employees elected to dismiss appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.; Opposed NLRB's 10(j) petition in federal court, leading to favorable resolution in advance of labor arbitration impacting a core labor practice of the manufacturer.; The above representations were handled by Ms. Masoudpour prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.; Internships: Judicial Extern, Hon. Andrea Wood, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2015