QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
Seasoned professional with many years experience as conscientious facilitator, bringing people
together and helping them to settle differences, through: negotiated settlements, mediation, arbitration, conflict management. Skilled especially in labor law, employment discrimination, civil and individual rights,
family and alternative (gay) family law. Resourceful attorney with broad array
of transferable skills, such as problem solving, research, thinking independently. Earned
solid reputation as leader, manager, with proven oral, written (and editorial) communication skills. Successful also in working with elected officials in the legislative branch in organizing hearings and
working on policy development and legislative strategy. Senior Arbitrator, Better
Business Bureau; Mediator, DC Superior Court.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
·
Advised and assisted
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel (GC) and Regional Offices on theories of litigation or dismissal and
on evidentiary issues. GC accepted overwhelming majority of recommendations,
including recommendations to dismiss, which are non-appealable final decisions. Received
Merit Citation from GC for work.
·
Advanced rapidly to independent
NLRB Advice Attorney. Shortly thereafter promoted to GS-15 and managed work of
six NLRB Advice Attorneys. Specialized in novel issues of labor law and in areas
of labor law overlapping with other employment statutes, especially Civil Rights Act as it pertained to employment discrimination. Received Merit Citation for work, as did members of team.
·
Investigated and litigated
unfair labor practice charges while on detail to Regional Office; maintained 85% settlement rate on assigned cases.
·
Received appointment
(detailed from NLRB) to Civil Rights Task Force of President Carter's Government Reorganization Project. Learned quickly and was given responsibility for Equal Pay Act (EPA), Age Discrimination in Employment
Act, Bennett Amendment to Civil Rights Act and Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act. Recommendation to amend CRA was accepted by President and later signed into law. Also acted as liaison with concerned public interest groups.
·
Organized and coordinated
hearings concerning proposed constitutional amendments to overturn Roe v. Wade.
a. Narrowed and focused issues for each session,
managed selection of witnesses, briefed Senator on pro and con arguments, and prepared questions to pose to witnesses.
b. Handled delicate technical questions regarding ratifying Equal Rights Amendment and consulted with
state and national groups confronted with rescission threats.
·
Analyzed wide range of
political issues (such as Golden Gate Bridge, protecting Cable Car lines, for height limits, against Southern Crossing, and
for Gay Rights) for Supervisor in San Francisco and successfully recommended positions taken.
a. Demonstrated continued sensitivity to current
and emergent issues important to Latino and Gay communities and to City.
b. Put forward suggestions and developed them into legislative resolutions, position statements and press
releases, among other written documents.
c. Analyzed relevant proposed state and federal
legislation and research, and authored testimony detailing City position.
·
Performed legislative
research, drafted position papers, wrote and/or edited newsletter and press releases, worked with reporters, constituents
and interest group representatives. At the time was youngest Administrative Assistant
on Capitol Hill and the only woman.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Attorney/Mediator, Solo Practitioner, 1985-Present.
Advice and Supervisory Advice Attorney, National Labor Relations Board,
1975-1985. Special Assistant, Hon. Birch Bayh, Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee
on Constitutional Amendments, 1974. Administrative Assistant, Hon. Robert E.
Gonzales, Board of Supervisors (San Francisco, CA), 1970-1971. Legislative Assistant,
Hon. Allard K. Lowenstein, U.S. House of Representatives, 1969-1970. Administrative
Assistant, Hon. Thomas M. Rees, U. S. House of Representatives, 1965-1969.
EDUCATION
JD, Indiana University School of Law (Law Journal Editorial Board) cum laude, 1975
(two articles published)
BA, University of Maryland, History, English, Political Theory, cum laude
LICENSES
AND CERTIFICATIONS
District of Columbia Bar Admission by Exam, 1975, #912972
Arbitrator and Senior Arbitrator Certification, Better Business Bureau, 1985 and 1986
Mediator Certification, DC Superior Court, 1985
District of Columbia Public Schools Licensed Substitute Teacher, #16537
SquareTrade Online Mediator, 2003
MEMBERSHIPS
American Bar Association, Sections on Dispute Resolution, Family Law, Individual Rights, Labor and Employment Law;
District of Columbia Bar Association, Labor and Employment and Civil and Individual Rights; Association for Conflict Resolution;
AARP; ACLU; ParentsFLAG; Washington Ethical Society; Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, 2001-2002.
