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Felicia, a partner in the litigation department, focuses her practice on employment laws and directs the firm's immigration practice. She also serves as the chair of the firm's Diversity Committee.
Regularly advising businesses on employment law compliance, litigation avoidance, and on the protection of their intellectual assets, Felicia has considerable experience defending Title VII, REDA, and FMLA claims; enforcing and opposing restrictive covenants; handling Department of Labor wage investigations; and conducting sexual harassment investigations and wage audits. She represents employers in state and federal courts as well as federal and state arbitration venues. Felicia also drafts employment related contracts, policies and agreements, restrictive covenants, including executive employment agreements, handbooks, and telecommuting agreements and regularly conducts training on employment and immigration laws.
Optimizing on the natural synergy between her employment law experience and immigration laws, Felicia focuses her immigration practice on business and employment immigration. She provides counsel and assistance to businesses and individuals with regard to temporary and permanent visas and citizenship matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other U.S. and foreign governmental authorities.
Representative Matters
Immigration: Strategizes with employers to determine appropriate temporary and/or permanent visa avenues for U.S. business visits and training, employment, and/or residence of foreign nationals in the United States, including J-1 visa waivers for physicians, H-1Bs, L-1s, Es, PERM, and green card processing.
Assists clients with naturalization and citizenship matters.
Advises clients on compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to avoid violating record-keeping, anti-discrimination, unauthorized hiring, and I-9 employment reverification provisions of those Acts.
Employment law litigation and counseling: Defended brokerage firm in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by an employee, resulting in settlement favorable to client.
Defended restaurant in Title VII religious discrimination lawsuit brought by the EEOC, resulting in settlement favorable to client.
Defended brokerage firm in arbitration brought by employee alleging wrongful termination, libel, slander, and improper U5 filing.
Defended manufacturer in a lawsuit brought by the Department of Labor alleging a violation of North Carolina's Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act, resulting in settlement favorable to client.
Defended manufacturer in lawsuit on share ownership theories.
Advised and directed numerous manufacturers against covenants not to compete.
Defended a television broadcasting company in Title VII claim brought by news personality and directed client through response to community outcry.
Publications, Presentations and Awards
North Carolina Super Lawyers, Employment and Labor Law, 2008
Best Lawyers in America, Immigration Law, Labor and Employment Law, 2007-2008
"Strategies for Responding to EEOC Charges and Investigations," presentation to Charlotte Employers Association, July 2007
"FCPA, IP and Immigration, Oh My: Legal Considerations for International Business Transactions," Firm Seminar, January 2007
"Avoiding Pitfalls in the Hiring Process," Firm Seminar, 2007 and 1998
"How Proposed Administrative and Legislative FMLA Changes Will Affect Your Organization" and "Working with the Medical Profession to Obtain Complete and Essential Medical Information Under the FMLA," Council on Management Education, FMLA Update Seminar, January 2006
"Employing Foreign Physicians and Nurses," October 2005
"Diversity in Business Catalyst," honored by Charlotte Business Journal, 2004
Employment Rountable panelist, National Association of African American Human Resources Professionals, May 2004
"H-1B Changes That May Impact Business," Charlotte Mayor's International Cabinet, December 2003
"What Will the New H-1B Changes Mean to You?" Charlotte Mayor's International Cabinet, November 2003
"Immigration for Non-Immigration Attorneys," North Carolina Black Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, June 2003
"Immigration Law 101: What Every Employer Must Know," Council on Education in Management, 2000
Women in Business Achievement Award, awarded by Charlotte Business Journal, 1997
"The Practical Dilemma of Sexual Harassment Claims," Firm Seminar, 1997
"Overview of Employment Laws," North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys at Annual Meeting, 1996
Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, Speaker, 1992 and 2001
Annual North Carolina/South Carolina Employment Law Conference, Speaker, 1996
"Ten to Watch: Attorneys that have an Impact on North Carolina Business," Triangle Business Journal, May 1998
"40 under 40" award from Charlotte Business Journal for outstanding achievements in both business and community involvement, 1995
Professional, Civic and Community Involvement
Professional: American Bar Association, House of Delegates and Employment and Health Law Section Member
American Immigration Lawyers Association and Carolinas Chapter, Member
Charlotte Mayor's International Cabinet (MIC), Mayoral Appointment 2002-2005, Executive Committee 2004
Mecklenburg County Bar, Special Committee on Diversity and chair of its Law Firm/Law Departments Subcommittee, 2004-present
North Carolina Bar Association, Personnel Committee, 2002-present; Labor and Employment Law Section, Treasurer, 1999-2002; Legislative Chair, 1998; Nominating Committee, 2000-2002; Race Relations Commission, 1995-2000; Labor Law and Litigation Sections, Member
Chief Justice William H. Bobbitt American Inn of Court, Pupil, 1996
North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, 1990-present; John S. Leary, Sr. Bar Association, Secretary, 1992-1994
Civic/Community: Levine Museum of the New South, Board of Directors
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Personnel Committee
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and Charlotte Chapter, Outreach Committee Chair
Past Board Memberships include: Arts & Science Council; Mecklenburg County Bar; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Urban League; Johnston YMCA; Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center; and NC Medical Board, Gubernatorial Appointee |
