Severance Agreements 101: Drafting Enforceable Provisions to Mitigate Employer Risk

Ms. Danis has over 25 years of experience protecting the rights of individuals and advocating for justice in employment discrimination, civil rights, breach of contract, and constitutional cases. Before joining the firm, she developed and resolved groundbreaking cases during a distinguished career as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). An experienced advocate for employees who have been victims of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, Ms. Danis has practiced in federal trial, appellate, and administrative courts. She previously held senior roles in the DOJ, including Deputy Chief and trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section, Acting Deputy Special Counsel and Special Litigation Counsel in the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section, and attorney in the Appellate Section. At the EEOC’s Office of General Counsel, she successfully litigated appeals in disability discrimination and sexual harassment cases. Ms. Danis has been at the forefront of pursuing employment discrimination claims that involve technology, AI, and automation in employment decision making. She has successfully challenged facially neutral hiring practices with disparate impacts based on sex, race, or national origin, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Her work has also targeted the misuse of temporary employment-based visa programs in the agricultural, hospitality, and technology sectors, with particular expertise in IT recruiting and staffing practices.

Ms. Sholinsky advises employers on all facets of the employment relationship, from pre-employment considerations and hiring to terminations and post-employment restrictions. She develops and audits employers' policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and local law and best practices. Ms. Sholinsky counsels employers with respect to the avoidance of employment-related disputes, employee discipline, leaves of absence, accommodation requests, and termination of employment. Ms. Sholinsky serves on the adjunct faculty of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where she teaches courses concerning human resources and the law. She also frequently speaks at events and webinars on employment law topics and authors numerous publications on employment law issues.