The Latest: On July 11, 2022, we filed a brief on behalf of a coalition of organizations and labor unions including Communications Workers of America , the Service Employees International Union , the American Federation of Teachers , the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and National Employment Law Project urging the court to reverse a prior ruling that incorrectly interpreted the law, harming workers and communities. This brief was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware in In re Start Man Furniture; the initial ruling was in the Bankruptcy Court. On June 15, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the COVID-19 pandemic is not a “natural disaster” that exempts employers from advance notice requirements. This ruling reversed the lower court’s decision. A separate court in Florida also rejected a misinterpretation of the Act that would harm workers laid off due to economic downturns caused by COVID-19.
In each of these cases, the court reached the conclusion urged by our brief on behalf of a coalition of unions and workers’ rights advocates.
BACKGROUND
Congress enacted the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act to require employers to provide 60 days of advance notice before mass layoffs. This is an essential protection for workers, families and communities that enables state and local governments to help laid-off employees find new jobs, and gives workers time to retrain, apply for new jobs, and adjust their financial circumstances before losing income. However, Congress’s intent to protect workers through the WARN Act has been under attack in the courts.
The promise of democracy includes economic security, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions have lost jobs. At Democracy Forward, we will continue to fight for workers and their families.
BRIEFS
In March 2020, U.S. Well Services laid off many of its employees without providing any notice. Workers brought suit, but a district court accepted the company’s flawed legal position that, because of COVID-19, the “natural disaster” exception to the WARN act applied, thereby relieving U.S. Well Services of its obligation to provide any advance notice. The workers appealed the court’s decision to the Fifth Circuit.
On October 6th, 2021, we filed a brief on behalf of leading unions urging the Fifth Circuit to reject the lower court’s incorrect interpretation of the WARN Act — a reading that undermines Congress’s intent to protect workers.
As detailed in the brief, the “natural disaster” exception to the WARN Act requires employers to demonstrate that a mass layoff is a direct result of a natural disaster. U.S. Well Services’ layoffs were not. In cases like this, where a layoff is caused by an economic downturn, the WARN Act requires employers to provide workers as much advance notice as possible.
Separately, in Jones v. Scribe Opco Inc. (Bic Graphics), the defendant furloughed hundreds of employees and then, because of the “economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” permanently laid off many of those workers it had furloughed—without providing notice in accordance with its duty under the WARN Act.
IN THEIR WORDS
- Chris Shelton, President of the Communications Workers of America– “Now more than ever, we have to guarantee protections for workers who are facing unprecedented challenges from the pandemic and ongoing workplace issues. The WARN Act is an important check on corporate power, requiring companies to provide sufficient notice to workers before massive layoffs. Instead of taking responsibility, companies in clear violation of this law are seeking to undermine it. We will not stand for it. We will continue to join with our allies to defend workers’ rights and hold companies accountable.”
- Mary Kay Henry, International President of the Service Employees International Union– “This is not a gray area — The WARN Act clearly requires employers to give workers advance notice before a layoff due to COVID policies. No matter what you look like, where you’re from or what you do for a living, every person working in our country needs the ability to plan for their immediate future. As we look to move past the pandemic, our justice system cannot continue to allow unscrupulous corporations to use any excuse to deny workers their rights. It is vital that the Court upholds the WARN Act to ensure every worker is respected, protected, and paid in these uncertain times.”
- Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers– “Working people keep our economy afloat, yet the gap between the wealthiest Americans and the rest of us has never been larger. Too many families struggle to access the middle class and face heartbreaking choices between basics like housing, groceries and medication, yet corporate profits continue to soar. The WARN Act helps level the playing field, offering working people critical protections on the job, including adequate warning from their employers prior to major layoffs. In this brief, we join our union family and allies in urging the court to reject any misinterpretation of this important law and to continue requiring large companies to do right by their workforces and provide ample notice to any worker who is at risk of losing their livelihood.”
- Cathy Ruckelshaus, General Counsel & Legal Director of the National Employment Law Project– “The National Employment Law Project (NELP) believes that all workers have the right to dignity at work and to earn a living, including sustaining themselves when they are out of work while looking for another job. The WARN Act provides a minimum notice requirement on employers deciding to shut down or lay off workers and any exception to that basic fairness rule should be strictly scrutinized. The company here could have provided more notice to its workers, and it should be held to account for failing to do so.”
- Skye Perryman, CEO & President, Democracy Forward– “Advance notice benefits workers’ economic security and mental health and helps promote communities’ stability in the face of mass layoffs. We’re honored to represent leading unions in urging the court to reject an incorrect interpretation of the WARN Act’s requirements that will deny workers advance notice of layoffs—hurting them, their families, and their communities.”
Last Updated: July 27, 2022
Skye Perryman is a lawyer, advocate, and leader with a track record of taking on and winning critical fights that advance democratic values, stop abuses of power, and improve the wellbeing of people and communities. She was named President and CEO of Democracy Forward Foundation in June 2021, returning to the organization where she was on the founding litigation team.
She most recently served as the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, where she oversaw its broad portfolio of legal, policy, and public affairs work and led a number of groundbreaking initiatives that enhanced access and equity in health care. Prior to ACOG, Skye was a Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward Foundation where, as one of the organization’s founding litigators, she developed and filed some of the first cases challenging unprecedented and unlawful executive action in the post-2016 era.
Skye began her legal career at Covington & Burling LLP and later practiced at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr (WilmerHale). In private practice, she handled complex and high-stakes matters at the intersection of law and policy for clients across industries, while maintaining a robust pro bono practice dedicated to vindicating the civil and constitutional rights of people. Earlier in her career, Skye coordinated programs for underserved youth in Central Texas public schools. She was also part of early efforts to build coalitions between labor and environmental stakeholders supporting investment in renewable energy infrastructure and good jobs.
Skye volunteers her time as a mentor and serves on the boards of several organizations, including the First Shift Justice Project, the Atlas Performing Arts Center, and the Interfaith Alliance. She teaches courses at American University and is an active alumna of Baylor University, where she helped to initiate a thousands-strong alumni movement calling on the University to change its restrictive policies regarding LGBTQ+ student organizations.
Skye grew up in Texas and is a proud product of its public schools. She holds a Juris Doctor with honors from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from Baylor University where she is a member of the Board of Advocates for the College of Arts and Sciences. She has received numerous accolades, including being named a four-time Washington Rising Star by SuperLawyers, a Top 40 Under 40 Trailblazer by the Leadership Center for Excellence, the Baylor Line Foundation’s Outstanding Young Alumna, a Harry S. Truman Scholar, and a Chuck F. C. Ruff Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. Her work has been covered in outlets such as The New York Times, National Public Radio, NBC News, The Washington Post, The Houston Chronicle, and Teen Vogue.
Armond Baboomian is an In-House Counsel at Democracy Forward.
Armond comes to Democracy Forward with a deep background in national security. Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Armond worked at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as an analyst and an Assistant General Counsel. Armond earned an LL.M. in National Security Law from Georgetown University Law Center and a J.D. with a concentration in International Law from the University of California Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). Armond attended college at University of California, Berkeley, where he studied Political Science, Rhetoric, and Business Administration.
Armond is a member of the California Bar. He now lives in Maryland and enjoys traveling.
Will Bardwell is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
After graduating with honors from the University of Mississippi in 2003, he spent two years as a newspaper reporter at a small, daily newspaper in east Mississippi. In 2008, he returned to the University of Mississippi for law school and graduated with honors.
Will joined Democracy Forward in 2022 after working for six years at the Southern Poverty Law Center, where he developed and litigated cases concerning public education, voting rights, prison conditions, disproportionate sentencing, and other civil rights issues. Before SPLC, Will was in private practice for five years. Will also served as a law clerk at the Mississippi Supreme Court and for Judge Carlton W. Reeves at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. His experience spans every stage of litigation, and he has litigated in venues ranging from Mississippi justice courts to the United States Supreme Court.
Will is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Magnolia Bar Association, the D.C. Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association. He is a Green Bay Packers fan and an avid golfer who has contributed to a handful of golf publications, including The Fried Egg and The Golfer’s Journal.
Brittany Bernardi is the Manager of Talent Acquisition and Training at Democracy Forward.
Brittany joins Democracy Forward with a strong background in advancing mission-driven and people-centric programs. Previously, she held the position of Manager of Talent Acquisition at Civic News Company, where she implemented hiring practices that fostered equity and inclusion. With a background in startup environments, Brittany has supported technical hiring, learning and development programming, and operational support. Her work is guided by a commitment to the Democracy Forward mission, and how our people enable our essential work.
Brittany received her B.A. in Communications from Hope College, and her M.A. In Museum Studies from CUNY. She currently resides in Queens, NY, where she can often be found at her sewing machine.
Jennifer is Chief People, Culture, and Operations Officer at Democracy Forward. She is a People, Culture, and Human Resources professional whose career spans the full talent lifecycle of people-centered initiatives. She has served in executive roles with responsibilities including talent acquisition, executive coaching, employee relations, compensation, benefits administration, diversity, equity and inclusion and culture curation.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward Jennifer served as Chief People Officer for Civic News Company, the New York based parent company of nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat and Votebeat. There she oversaw the building and maintenance of company culture and all aspects of the organization’s people-centric policies and practices. Jennifer also served as Chief Talent Officer for Richmond Public Schools, the school district in Richmond, Virginia. The majority of Jennifer’s career was spent supporting mission based organizations as well as national law firms by overseeing operations and initiatives that affect employee experience and company culture.
Dr. Ananda Burra is a Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward, litigating in support of at-risk communities, including to thwart abuses of power and to protect individual and collective rights.
Ananda’s practice at Democracy Forward builds on his experience in complex litigation in local, regional, national, and international fora. Before coming to Democracy Forward, Ananda was an associate at the civil rights boutique of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP, where he was part of major wins against corporate and government bad actors in the fields of climate misinformation, the rights of incarcerated individuals, and the rights of poor and marginalized communities. He was recognized as a “Super Lawyer: Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters. Ananda developed his litigation skills as an associate in the international arbitration and litigation practice at Jones Day, where his pro bono practice focused on migrant rights, racial justice, and access to courts.
Most recently, Ananda served as Associate Professor of Law and Associate Dean at BML Munjal University in New Delhi, India. He holds a PhD in legal history from the University of Michigan and obtained his JD magna cum laude from the same institution. His research focused on civil procedure, racial justice, and international law. Ananda clerked for Judge Joan Donoghue and Judge Giorgio Gaja at the International Court of Justice in The Hague and was a fellow at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at Cambridge University and at the University of Virginia’s School of Law. He received his BA from Williams College. After growing up in India and living in a half-dozen countries, Ananda is now based in North Carolina. He is admitted to the New York, DC, and North Carolina bars, as well as to numerous federal courts.
Tatiana Calderon is Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Democracy Forward.
Tatiana joined Democracy Forward with over a decade of legislative and political experience. Most recently, Tatiana spent 2.5 years at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advocating to advance women’s health care and the ob-gyn specialty. Prior to ACOG, Tatiana spent 8 years in the U.S. House of Representatives working for Congresswoman Gwen Moore, where she managed a broad portfolio of issues, including health care and immigration.
Tatiana received her B.A. in Political Science at the University of Connecticut and currently resides in Silver Spring, MD with her partner and their beloved shih poo named Ted.
Sunu P. Chandy (she/her) is a Senior Advisor with Democracy Forward. Sunu has served as a civil rights lawyer for over 20 years including in the context of workers’ rights, gender justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. She is also a published poet, and the author of the award-winning collection, My Dear Comrades.
Before joining Democracy Forward, Sunu served as Legal Director of the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) for six years until August 2023. There, she oversaw the Center’s direct litigation efforts and amicus practice, including as counsel on several Supreme Court amicus briefs. Sunu also led the Center’s policy work on LGBTQI+ Rights including by providing Congressional testimony, and also gave strategic input for other policy work including around workplace justice.
Before NWLC, Sunu served as the Deputy Director for the Civil Rights Division with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she led civil rights enforcement including under Section 1557 of the ACA. Before that, Sunu and her family moved to DC in the Fall of 2014 when she was recruited into the General Counsel role at the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR), and there she oversaw the agency’s civil rights legal determinations, including matters of first impression under the Fair Criminal Record Screening Act.
Previously, Sunu was a federal attorney with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the New York District Office for 15 years and litigated cases based on race, sex, national origin, disability, age and religion-based discrimination. At EEOC, Sunu also led outreach initiatives including as a member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAPPI) Regional Working Group. Before that, Sunu began her legal career as a law firm associate representing unions and individual workers in New York City at Gladstein, Reif and Megginniss, LLP.
Sunu earned her B.A. in Peace and Global Studies/Women’s Studies from Earlham College, her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law and her MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from Queens College, CUNY. Sunu has served on the boards of directors of several organizations including the Audre Lorde Project, South Asian Women’s Creative Collective (SAWCC), LeGal (the LGBTQ attorneys’ organization in New York City), and Split This Rock, a national social justice poetry organization. Sunu currently serves on the board of the Transgender Law Center. Sunu is cited as a legal expert on a range of topics including workplace civil rights, gender justice, and LGBTQ+ rights including by The New York Times, The Washington Post, LA Times, and NPR.
Andrianna Dunbar is Chief of Staff at Democracy Forward.
Andrianna has almost a decade and a half of experience in the legal industry, spending fourteen years at WilmerHale LLP. Most recently, Andrianna served in a leadership role in legal talent development where she focused on attorney development, integration, and attorney employee relations. She is the Chair of the National Association of Legal Placement Lawyer and Law Student Well Being Interest Group and is a Steering Committee member for the Atlas Performing Arts Fundraiser and Gala.
Andrianna grew up in Arizona and graduated from Baylor University before settling in the D.C. area with her family.
Orlando Economos is a Legal Fellow at Democracy Forward.
His work includes challenges designed to preserve civil rights remedies against attempted diminution, as well as affirmative actions to increase the access of citizens to democracy.
Orlando received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he focused on election law and voting rights. He served as legal assistant to Civil Rights Commissioner David Kladney, and later presented oral argument to the D.C. Circuit as a student attorney with the Civil Rights Clinic at Georgetown.
Orlando is native to northern New Jersey. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University and a diploma from St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Cathedral’s Greek Afternoon School.
Hannah Finnie is Senior Writer and Executive Communications Advisor at Democracy Forward, where she transforms legal ideas into accessible language.
Previously Hannah worked to protect and expand access to reproductive rights and health at the National Women’s Law Center, where she also co-founded the staff union. Before that she worked in policy and communications at the Center for American Progress, and also served as the CAP Union President. Hannah has written for a wide variety of leaders, from White House principals to non-profit executives.
Hannah received her B.A. in mathematics and political science from Emory University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. In law school she was a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, representing low-paid workers facing employment issues. She resides in Washington, D.C., with her dog, Willa, and in her spare time likes to write about the intersection of workers’ rights and pop culture.
Carrie Flaxman is Senior Advisor at Democracy Forward. Carrie joins Democracy Forward after nearly two decades as a litigator and legal advisor for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) where she most recently was PPFA’s Senior Director of Public Policy, Litigation, and Law. Over the course of her career, Flaxman has served as lead counsel in a number of trial and appellate matters at the state and federal levels, winning victories that maintained and improved access to reproductive health care services against difficult odds. Flaxman began her legal career as a clerk for Judge Edward R. Becker of the US Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit, held positions at two national law firms where she handled complex litigation matters, and then joined PPFA. She later served as a consulting attorney for reproductive rights organizations before rejoining PPFA’s national office. At Democracy Forward, Flaxman will support the organization in crafting legal strategies to advance the rights of all people and to stop attempts by state and local governmental actors to undermine our democratic values. “Today, people in the United States have fewer rights than they did just a few years ago because of an extremist legal movement that is seeking to use the courts to reverse hard-won progress. The harms of this extremism are felt in communities across the country, and I could not be more excited to join Democracy Forward’s work to disrupt harmful, anti-democratic activity and build for a better future.” Flaxman is a graduate of Yale Law School, where she was executive editor of the Yale Law Journal, and Princeton University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Rachel was a Clinical Fellow and Staff Attorney with the Civil Litigation Clinic at Georgetown University Law Center, where she was lead counsel on APA, FOIA, and other public interest cases. Rachel has argued motions and appeals in state and federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Before joining the Clinic, she was an associate at Covington & Burling, LLP, where she practiced insurance litigation and maintained an active pro bono practice.
Rachel clerked for Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont and Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Rachel graduated from Yale Law School, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities.
Rachel is a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars.
Shelley Friedland is a Senior Legal Assistant at Democracy Forward.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Shelley was a paralegal at Harmon, Curran, Spielberg, & Eisenberg, LLP, where she assisted attorneys in incorporating nonprofit organizations and guided nonprofit clients through the federal and state tax exemption application processes.
Shelley received her B.A in Political Science from The George Washington University. She is passionate about the intersection of the law, justice, and nonprofit landscape and hopes to pursue a J.D.
Emily Froude is a research assistant at Democracy Forward. She previously worked as a senior legal assistant. Prior to joining DF, Emily was a senior paralegal at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition. In that role, she screened unaccompanied immigrant children for visas and assisted attorneys in representing the kids in court and with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and political science from Miami University, and is working towards a master of international affairs concentrating in democracy studies at George Washington University. She is fluent in Spanish.
Joe Gaeta is Director of Oversight and Engagement at Democracy Forward.
Joe comes to Democracy Forward with over twenty years of experience as a lawyer in state and federal government. Most recently, he was Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice Office of Legislative Affairs, serving as DOJ’s liaison to Congress on oversight, nominations, and legislation. Joe previously served as a Trial Attorney in the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division at DOJ, litigating fair housing cases across the country.
Between stints at DOJ, Joe worked in several roles in the United States Senate. He was Chief Counsel of the Budget Committee under Chairman Kent Conrad, where he played a key role in the passage of the Affordable Care Act. A proud native of the biggest little state in the Union, Joe served as Legislative Director, Oversight Director, and Chief Counsel for Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, where he focused on issues related to the influence of special interests on the judiciary and Congress. Earlier in his career, Joe worked for then-Attorney General Whitehouse in the Civil Division of the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General.
Joe began his legal career clerking for Judge Myron Thompson in the Middle District of Alabama. He received his law degree from Stanford Law School, where he was Order of the Coif, has a M.Sc. in Political Theory from the London School of Economics, and has a B.A. magna cum laude in History and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Aman George is Senior Counsel & Legal Policy Director at Democracy Forward. His work has included challenges to environmental protection rollbacks, weakening of the Affordable Care Act, and inadequate transparency into the White House’s national security authorities.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Aman was a white collar investigations associate at Covington & Burling. His time at Covington also included pro bono work on capital defense and redistricting matters, as well as civil litigation related to insurance, trade, and patent disputes. Prior to law school, Aman was a business analyst at McKinsey & Company for three years.
Aman is a native of northern Virginia, who holds a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Government and Foreign Affairs and Economics from the University of Virginia.
Aleshadye (El-shuh-dye) Getachew is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
Before joining Democracy Forward, Aleshadye practiced at Children’s Rights in New York, where she investigated and litigated federal class actions on behalf of youth seeking structural reform of state systems. Prior to joining Children’s Rights, Aleshadye litigated complex civil cases and jury trials across the country at Wilkinson Stekloff, a boutique trial firm.
Aleshadye graduated from Georgetown University Law Center cum laude, where she received the Outstanding Student Advocate award for her clinic work on behalf of unhoused communities. She earned her B.S. from Cornell University, and served as a middle school English teacher in Louisiana before going to law school.
Aleshadye is a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars.
Maddy Gitomer is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
Before joining Democracy Forward, Maddy was a member of the Privacy and Cybersecurity practice at Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C., where she focused on health privacy law, including regulatory counseling. Maddy also maintained a robust pro bono practice focused on protecting reproductive rights, defending against LGBTQ+ discrimination, and expanding access to health care. Earlier in her career, Maddy served as one of Senator Dodd’s professional staff members on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s Subcommittee on Children and Families. There she helped pass the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and served as Chairman Dodd’s lead education policy staff member in the negotiation of The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.
Maddy holds a J.D. from The University of Pennsylvania Law School, a master’s degree in education policy from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and a B.A. from American University. While in law school, Maddy received the Edward C. Baker Award for the student with the most pro bono hours in her graduating class and the Penn Law Pro Bono Award for her leadership of the Custody and Support Assistance Clinic. Maddy was also named one of the Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.
Maddy is a member of the New Jersey, Maryland, and District of Columbia Bars.
Sarah Goetz is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Sarah was a Madison Legal Fellow at Americans United for Separation of Church and State, where she litigated constitutional and other religion-based cases. At Americans United, Sarah authored numerous trial and appellate briefs in federal and state courts across the country. Before that, she was a legal fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, where she litigated settlement enforcement actions concerning conditions of confinement.
Sarah clerked for Magistrate Judge Stephan M. Vidmar of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. She graduated summa cum laude from American University Washington College of Law, where she was a Public Interest/Public Service Scholar. During law school, Sarah was a member of law review and a student-attorney in the criminal defense clinic. She graduated with honors from Vassar College, where she earned a B.A. in English.
Sarah is a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars.
Kaitlyn Golden is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
Before joining Democracy Forward, Kaitlyn was a litigator at Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C., where she handled complex civil matters at all stages of a litigation. For two years, Kaitlyn also served as the full-time senior associate in charge of U.S. Pro Bono, managing the firm’s pro bono practice and litigating gender justice and civil rights matters.
Prior to her legal career, Kaitlyn served as a Press Assistant to U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and as a Communications Coordinator at the Brooking Institution. Kaitlyn holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from Ithaca College.
Kaitlyn is a member of the Washington and District of Columbia Bars.
David Graham-Caso is a Senior Communications Specialist for Democracy Forward.
David joins Democracy Forward after having been on the forefront of some exciting and important recent progressive efforts. He led the Sierra Club’s communications work in the Western US to stop new coal-fired power plants from being permitted and to replace those still running with clean energy; he served as the point-person for the LA City Councilmember leading the way toward a $15 minimum wage and the spokesperson for the Councilmember during contentious and crucial debates about how to end homelessness in Los Angeles. David has also led campaigns, including the multimillion dollar effort to defeat Proposition 23 on the 2010 California ballot, as well as the successful underdog campaign to elect the first openly LGBT candidate to citywide office in the history of Los Angeles. Immediately prior to joining Democracy Forward, David served as the Communications Director for the Senate campaign of progressive icon, Representative Barbara Lee.
David grew up in Southern California as the child of public school teachers and union advocates and is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles.
Ryan Hardmeyer is Social Media Manager at Democracy Forward.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, he has worked on city, county, state, and national campaigns and issues — managing robust social media operations for high-profile elected officials, driving innovative and effective digital strategy for competitive political campaigns, and conducting critical research on diverse policy areas ranging from housing security and climate action to LGBTQ+ safety and social media regulation.
Ryan graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Political Science and B.A. in Public Administration, where they received the Honors Council Award for Academic Excellence & Vice Presidential Student Service Award. Now, Ryan is a Luskin Fellow & Master of Public Policy Candidate at UCLA, with a desire to advance good governance, equitable progress, and collective social welfare.
Rachel Hayden is a Senior Advisor to the President at Democracy Forward.
Rachel has more than two decades of experience supporting executives and organizations in their growth, evolution, and pursuit of excellence. She has successfully led marketing and public relations teams across a range of industries, launching luxury brands, creating national and international events, partnerships and collaborations, and other strategic projects. Her experience includes nearly two decades as Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the world-class, Michelin Three Star Inn at Little Washington. As Director of Marketing at Linder Global Events, Rachel oversaw a broad portfolio of engagements and public relations for the company and its large nonprofit and Fortune 100 clients, while also supporting the organization’s CEO in business expansion, relationship management and public appearances.
She has crafted and supported fundraising efforts to benefit numerous nonprofits including YouthAIDS, Share Our Strength, HRC, Chefs for Equality, the Washington Ballet, and World Central Kitchen.
Linda Heeyoung Park is a Legal Fellow, co-sponsored by Harvard Law School, at Democracy Forward.
Linda, from Seoul, South Korea, earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Rice University, a master’s degree in public policy from Peking University, and a JD from Harvard Law School. During law school, she was a member of the Board of Student Advisors and served as a Co-President of the Korean Association. She worked as a student attorney in the Veterans Law and Disability Benefits Clinic, Crimmigration Clinic, and Capital Punishment Clinic. She spent her 1L summer at the Orleans Public Defenders and 2L summer at Public Counsel, where she received the Grunfeld/Regan Award. At law school, she won the David Grossman Exemplary Clinical Student Award for her work successfully appealing denials of disability benefits for war veterans.
Following law school, she clerked for Judge Catharine F. Easterly in the D.C. Court of Appeals and then for Judge Neal E. Kravitz in the D.C. Superior Court. Linda enjoys weightlifting, reading, listening to Korean music, and singing (in the shower).
Lydia Hubert-Peterson is the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of Democracy Forward.
Before joining Democracy Forward in 2023, Lydia served as the Executive Assistant to the CEO of the National Audubon Society. In this role she supported crucial conservation efforts across the hemisphere.
Originally from the state of Minnesota, Lydia worked for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in multiple capacities. Originally interning in her Minneapolis office and on her 2018 reelection campaign. In February 2021, Lydia joined the Senator’s Presidential Campaign where she traveled the country as a National Advance Organizer. After the Senator’s campaign ended, Lydia joined the Senator’s official office in D.C. where she served as a Staff Assistant and as the Senator’s Special Assistant.
Lydia received her B.A. in Political Science and Global Studies from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Keonnie Igwe is an Education Research Analyst at Democracy Forward.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Keonnie worked at Griffin & Strong, P.C. managing disparity studies and supporting other research projects on actualizing racial and gender equity in school districts, counties, and states across the country. She has also worked for the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice and the Southern Education Foundation partnering with local stakeholders and using research to advocate for educational equity for marginalized children.
After earning her B.S. in psychology at Georgia Southern University, Keonnie spent the first years of her career teaching middle and high school English in Louisiana. She resides in Atlanta where she uses her free time to write about the intersection of race, faith and politics and play tabletop Magic the Gathering.
Cecilia Jacobsen is Director of People and Practice Management at Democracy Forward
Cecilia joined Democracy Forward in 2023 with more than 17 years experience in the public and private sector as a people and program leader. She brings strategic and analytical thinking as well as a robust background in project management, resource allocation, and organizational development and training. Most recently, Cecilia spent 5 years with a global technology company, serving as Chief of Staff & Senior Adviser for HR Strategy to the Chief of People and Culture, developing cross-functional programs to support the employee base and achieve business objectives. Prior to her corporate experience, she worked for more than a decade as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, providing critical national security insights to policymakers. During this time, she also worked at the White House serving President Barack Obama on the National Security Council.
Cecilia received her B.A. in International Relations from Connecticut College and currently resides in Boulder, CO with her family. She serves as a volunteer Partner with Social Venture Partners Boulder County, an organization that supports local nonprofits and philanthropic changemakers to create a community where everyone can thrive.
Priyanka John is a Legal Assistant at Democracy Forward. Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Priyanka completed an internship with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under the Department of Transportation, where she helped to enforce federal regulations in consumer and business disputes and facilitated the revision of federal documents about consumer rights and protections. Priyanka received her B.A. in Community and Global Public Health from the University of Michigan, and hopes to pursue a J.D. sometime in the future.
Emma Leibowitz is a Legal Fellow, co-sponsored by Harvard Law School, at Democracy Forward.
Emma graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2023. While at Harvard, Emma served as a Solicited Content Editor for the Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and was a member of the school’s chapter of People’s Parity Project. She worked as a student-attorney in the Veterans Law and Disability Benefits Clinic and as an extern in the office of Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta at the Department of Justice. She also was a Teaching Fellow for Constitutional Law. During her summers, she worked on immigration direct services and in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
Before law school, Emma spent two years on the legal team at the Obama Foundation and a year as a paralegal at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, where she supported women and children seeking asylum. Originally from the DC-area, Emma graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in History.
Max Levy is Digital Strategy Director at Democracy Forward. He returned to the organization in early 2023, having previously served as Digital Communications Manager from 2018-2020.
Most recently, Max helped set records as Digital Fundraising Director for Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign. He has also executed digital strategy and campaigns with Biden for President, Warren for President, and campaigns and organizations at the state, local, and national levels. Additionally, Max was a political appointee for the first year of the Biden Administration at the Environmental Protection Agency, in the Office of Public Engagement and Environmental Education.
Max was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communications and Public Service. He and his dog Alice (@alicetheeyebrows on Instagram!) live in Washington, D.C.
William Loman is an In House Counsel at Democracy Forward.
William Loman has served for over twenty years advising private and public sector companies on a broad range of corporate matters with extensive experience in matters regarding business transactions, nonprofit organizations, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance and securities.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Mr. Loman served as the General Counsel for Catalist, a data information, management and analytics company that provides voter data and information to political and nonprofit organizations within the progressive community. Mr. Loman has also served as Associate General Counsel for the industry-leading, information technology and management consulting company, BearingPoint, Inc., where he played a key role in the execution of multi-million-dollar, transactional agreements with the company’s largest commercial clients, as well as the development and implementation of risk mitigation strategies and dispute avoidance. Prior to BearingPoint, Mr. Loman held key positions in the General Counsel office at Acterna Corporation and DoubleClick and was a Corporate Finance and Securities Associate at the law firm of Bryan Cave in New York.
Mr. Loman served with high distinction in the United States Marine Corps Division of the Judge Advocate General Corps and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. degree in Sociology/Political Science from Howard University, with high honors. Mr. Loman is a member of the New York State Bar, New York State Bar Association and American Bar Association.
Maher Mahmood is Counsel at Democracy Forward. Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Maher was an Assistant County Attorney for Hennepin County in Minnesota. During her time at the County Attorney’s Office, she argued several motions and gained trial experience. She also worked in private practice focusing on areas of employment, white collar, and corporate law.
Maher holds a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and is currently licensed to practice in Minnesota and the District of Columbia.
Brooke Menschel is a Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
Brooke joined Democracy Forward from Brooklyn Defender Services, where she served as the Director of Civil Rights and Law Reform. In that role, she worked to address systemic deficiencies in New York City’s Department of Correction and family, immigration, and criminal courts. Prior to joining BDS, Brooke litigated state and federal trial and appellate cases concerning children’s rights, juvenile justice, the criminal legal system, and mass incarceration in the Deep South at the Southern Poverty Law Center and in New York at the local affiliate of the ACLU.
Before going to law school, Brooke worked as a policy and legislative advocate on human and civil rights issues in Washington, D.C. for the American Jewish Committee, and as communications strategist at the Anti-Defamation League in Boston.
Brooke received her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and her B.A. from Tufts University. She is a member of the bar in Washington, D.C. and New York.
Daniel Miller is the Senior Democracy and Social Progress Advisor at Democracy Forward.
Daniel has a range of experience advocating for civics education and democracy. He founded and organized the Society for Constitutional Protection for this purpose in New York. Most recently, he served as the Director of Content and Strategy at the Renew Democracy Initiative. His writings have appeared in the Washington Post, CNN, the Daily Beast, and others.
Daniel is a lawyer by training, clerking for a federal judge after law school. He has also dedicated a significant amount of time to pro-bono immigration work. Daniel is a member of the New York Bar.
Originally from Washington, D.C., Daniel has a Bachelor of Arts in Astrophysics from Princeton University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Kristen Miller is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
At Democracy Forward, Kristen has represented non-profits and individuals in litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act, other Federal statutes, and the U.S. Constitution. In particular, Kristen’s cases have involved civil rights, health care, consumer protections, and the environment, among other issues.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Kristen was a member of the Environment and Natural Resources practice at Vinson & Elkins in Washington, D.C. Kristen’s practice at Vinson & Elkins focused on administrative law, including litigation and regulatory counseling. She also maintained an active pro bono practice.
Kristen graduated from New York University Law School, where she was a member of the NYU Moot Court Board competitions team. During law school, she served as a legal clerk in the Department of Justice’s Environment & Natural Resources Division as well as in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Policy. She also holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.
Kristen is a member of the New York and District of Columbia Bars.
Gracia Mirindi is an Administrative Assistant, Operations at Democracy Forward.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Gracia was a Legal Assistant at Fellow LaBriola, LLP, in Atlanta GA where she assisted attorneys and legal staff members in criminal cases, civil litigation, and insurance recovery. She also worked as an Underwriting Assistant for Beazley Group in Atlanta GA.
Gracia received her B.A in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law from Georgia State University. She is currently pursuing a MS in Criminal Justice and is very passionate about the intersection of the law, crime, and public policy. She hopes to pursue a PhD in the future.
Sterling Moore is a Senior Legal Fellow at Democracy Forward.
Sterling comes to Democracy Forward with a background in law, having received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. There, he served on the Virginia Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. Following law school, he worked as a litigator in private practice and clerked for the Honorable Andrew J. Kleinfeld of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Originally from Texas, Sterling holds a B.B.A. in Economics and Business Fellows from Baylor University. Before attending law school, he served as a scholarship program coordinator at a community nonprofit in Waco, TX.
Sterling is a member of the District of Columbia and Texas Bars.
Jessica Morton is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward, where she has represented non-profits and individuals in both litigation and regulatory advocacy. Her work has included challenges to abuses of executive power at the state level, advocacy for federal criminal legal system reform, environmental justice, and other issues.
Before joining Democracy Forward, she was a litigator at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where she practiced complex civil litigation at all three levels of the federal court system. Jessica also maintained a significant pro bono practice focused on voting rights, civil rights, and criminal justice. She has been honored as a co-recipient of the Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Young Lawyers Section of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. Jessica has also served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.
Jessica clerked for the Honorable John D. Bates of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the Honorable Albert Diaz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Jessica graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where she served as Executive Articles Editor of the Michigan Law Review. She also holds an M.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame.
Jessica is a member of the District of Columbia and Illinois bars.
Hannah Niles is an Executive Coordinator at Democracy Forward.
Before joining Democracy Forward, Hannah served as the Executive Coordinator to the President of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. During her time at CAP she supported cross-organizational efforts to build bold, progressive ideas to improve the lives of all Americans. She contributed to the operational management of the policy and advocacy departments and acted as project coordinator on collaborative efforts to promote institutional priorities.
Hannah received her B.A in Business Administration with a concentration in management from Loyola University Maryland. She will graduate in the Fall of 2024 from Mount St. Mary’s University with an MBA and certificate in project management.
Victoria (Tory) Nugent is Legal Director at Democracy Forward. Prior to coming to Democracy Forward, Ms. Nugent was a Partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, one of the nation’s foremost class action firms. While there, she served as Co-Chair of the firm’s Consumer Practice Group (2021-2023) and Public Client Practice Group (2017-2020) and served on the firm’s Executive Committee (2020 – 2022). During her years at Cohen Milstein, she was a highly regarded consumer protection litigator and oversaw significant consumer fraud investigations and litigation on behalf of the state Attorneys General of Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, and Vermont, as well as class actions brought on behalf of consumers, borrowers, farmers, and small business owners under the laws of numerous states.
Prior to joining Cohen Milstein worked at Public Citizen for seven years and was a law fellow
sponsored by the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL/Equal Justice Works) at
Public Justice.
Since 2018, Ms. Nugent has been a member of Public Justice Foundation’s Board of Directors. She served on the D.C. Bar Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct from 2012 to 2019 and since 2019, she has been a member of the Bar’s Legal Ethics Committee. In 2022, she was elected to the membership of the American Law Institute. Ms. Nugent received her B.A. from Wesleyan University and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Katie O’Connell is Democracy Forward’s Director of Partnerships. Katie is passionate about supporting change-making individuals and organizations and brings to her role at Democracy Forward more than 20 years experience leading partnerships, development, and fundraising teams.
Katie’s depth and breadth of experience includes supporting a number of membership associations, political campaigns, and issue advocacy organizations, including Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (EarthJustice), NARAL Pro-Choice America, the Greater Southeast Healthcare System, and U.S. Senate and gubernatorial campaigns. Katie grew up in Texas and bleeds burnt orange – Hook’em Horns.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Katie spent several years working in communications for Democratic campaigns and nonprofits. She has previous internship experience in the Office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker, DC-based public affairs agencies, and a civil rights law firm.
Katie received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and English with Highest Honors from Williams College and spent a year of her undergraduate studies at Exeter College, University of Oxford.
Mark Samburg is Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Mark worked at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, most recently as the Senior Legal Advisor to the Deputy Director and to the Chief Operating Officer. He previously served in several other roles at the Bureau, including as Chief of Staff of the Bureau’s Division of Supervision, Enforcement, and Fair Lending. Before joining the Bureau, he worked in private practice as outside counsel to state and municipal attorneys on consumer protection actions.
Mark clerked for Judge Leonard I. Garth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and for Associate Justices Lubbie Harper, Jr. and Joette Katz of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He was a Harvard Law School Heyman Fellow and has served as an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. Mark graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and summa cum laude from Brandeis University.
Mark is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, and several federal courts.
Ben Seel is a Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward. He recently returned to Democracy Forward after completing a clerkship with Judge James L. Robart of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Prior to clerking, Ben’s work at Democracy Forward included litigating cases against the Trump administration on immigration, social justice, and veterans issues, as well on matters of governmental transparency and accountability. He has represented a wide array of clients, including governmental and non-profit organizations. Before joining Democracy Forward, Ben was a member of the Litigation & Arbitration practice in Milbank LLP’s Washington, D.C. office where he maintained an active pro bono practice that included work on criminal justice, civil rights, and immigration issues.
Ben was born and raised in Maine and holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. in History from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and in Washington State.
Anjali Singapur is a Research Analyst at Democracy Forward. Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Anjali was a paralegal at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she supported litigation defending abortion access in state and federal courts across the country.
Anjali received her B.A. in political science and anthropology from Swarthmore College and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Leslie Smith is the Operations Manager at Democracy Forward where she supports the organization’s team of lawyers, communications strategists, policy experts, and leadership in achieving Democracy Forward’s mission. Leslie is committed to ensuring that all members of Democracy Forward’s staff and broader community are provided the tools needed to make an impact and to work in a welcoming and inclusive community.
Leslie has deep experience in supporting mission-based organizations and entities, having worked both in the federal government and non-profit institutions for more than 20 years. She is particularly passionate about finding new ways of building community in the workplace. Leslie enjoys spending time with family, traveling and reading. Leslie currently resides in Maryland with her son and daughter.
Jamie Solomon is a Research Assistant at Democracy Forward.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Jamie was a Housing Advocate and Paralegal at the Rhode Island Center for Justice, where she helped defend clients facing eviction and supported other impact litigation projects.
Jamie received her B.A. in History with honors from Brown University, where she also did research for the Political Theory Project and the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice.
Kelsey Speers is Senior Engagement and Education Advisor at Democracy Forward.
Kelsey comes to Democracy Forward with more than a decade of experience working in government and non-profit spaces. She most recently worked as Research Director at American Oversight, an ethics watchdog dedicated to advancing government transparency and accountability. Before that, she served as a political analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency and also worked in legislative affairs, bridging national security policy, mission operations, and congressional oversight.
Kelsey graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College in Government and Psychology, and she earned her master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University.
Robin Thurston is Legal Director at Democracy Forward.
Robin has been at Democracy Forward since 2017, during which time she has represented local governments, unions, and non-profit organizations in litigating against government misconduct and anti-democratic policies. She has also led Democracy Forward’s regulatory advocacy work, bringing a diverse range of perspectives and expertise into federal policymaking.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, she served as a trial attorney in the Federal Programs Branch of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. In this position, she defended high profile challenges to government policies and programs. Earlier in her career, Robin enforced consumer protection laws at the Federal Trade Commission.
Robin clerked for the Honorable Paul L. Friedman of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. She holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in History with High Honors from Stanford University.
Megan Uzzell is the Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs Director at Democracy Forward.
Megan joined Democracy Forward after having served eight years at the U.S. Department of Labor, where she most recently was the Associate Deputy Secretary for Policy. In this role Megan led Departmental efforts on regulatory, policy and agency matters such as wage standards, work and family policy, enforcement, immigration and worker safety. Prior to joining the Labor Department, Megan served in the U.S. House of Representatives, working as Legislative Director for a member from Southern California and handling energy, environment, appropriations and transportation matters. In 2005, Megan was named one of the Hill’s top 35 staffers under 35.
Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Megan has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Political Science and International Affairs from Drake University, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from George Washington University.