Racquel B. Martin

Racquel assists public and private employers in a variety of labor and employment matters, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, wage and hour, FMLA, WARN, non-competition, and non-solicitation claims. Experienced in managing discovery, conducting witness interviews, preparing dispositive motions, and mediating disputes, Racquel represents clients in state and federal court, arbitration, and in front of administrative agencies. She collaborates with employers to draft and implement employment policies, handbooks, and agreements and aids employers in handling employee discipline and termination matters. Racquel also conducts workplace investigations and employee trainings for employers. She regularly identifies strategies and tools for clients to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment statutes.

Racquel maintains an active pro bono practice, focusing on employment issues impacting non-profit organizations, racial justice, immigration, and reform of the criminal legal system.

Employment Litigation

• Represent customer relationship management software company in state action alleging gender discrimination and harassment, retaliation, and violation of CFRA, among other claims.
• Represent start-up in breach of contract and wrongful termination action.
• Represent major airlines in wage and hour class actions and PAGA actions brought by ground employees, including fleet service clerks and customer service representatives.
• Assisted in mediating and settling multiple wage and hour class actions and PAGA actions against multinational investment bank and financial services company.
• Assisted in mediating and settling multi-plaintiff wage and hour action against brought by airline mechanics against major American airline.
• Assisted in mediating and settling racial and gender discrimination and retaliation claims brought by in-house counsel against global mobility service provider.
• Assisted in settling claims of wrongful termination and retaliation against subsidiary of multi-national pharmaceutical corporation.
• Secured voluntary dismissal of federal wage and hour claims in putative class action against global investment bank.
• Assisted in settling claims of sex/gender and race discrimination against online ride-hailing service.
• Awarded summary judgment in full in disability discrimination (failure to accommodate) and workers’ compensation retaliation case involving assembly line worker previously employed by personnel supplier client to the automotive industry.
• Obtained dismissal of sex discrimination and retaliation case alleging violations of Title VII and Kentucky Civil Rights Act by federal government contractor with employees abroad. 
• Obtained dismissal of case alleging defamation, sex/gender discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, hostile work environment, and negligent hiring and/or retention.
• Awarded summary judgment in full in FMLA and workers’ compensation retaliation case involving drug testing on behalf of hospital.
• Awarded summary judgment in full in FLSA collective action and retaliation case involving three dozen paramedics and EMTs on behalf of hospital and ambulance service.

Investigations

• Investigate allegations of executive misconduct and hostile work environment at telecommunications corporation.
• Investigated allegations of racial discrimination at film production company.
• Investigated allegations of race and/or gender discrimination or implicit bias at online vacation rental marketplace.
• Investigated allegations of sexual harassment and hostile work environment at social change organization.
• Evaluated internal investigation and response of online vacation rental marketplace to sexual assault complaint by employee.
• Investigated allegations of sexual assault at privately owned company.
• Investigated allegations of harassment and hostile work environment at professional development organization.
• Assisted in investigating allegations of sex/gender and race discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment at media outlet.
• Represented national tank truck transporter and logistics provider in investigation of alleged safety policies and practices by local district attorney’s office.

Employment Training & Counseling

• Drafted COVID-19 worksite-specific prevention plan for manufacturer.
• Conducted anti-harassment and ADA compliance training for employers.

Pro Bono

• Represent parents and children forcibly separated at the U.S.-Mexico border in federal torts action against the U.S. government and in filing humanitarian parole application to reunite with their families in the U.S.
• Assisted in drafting amicus brief on behalf of Brady, Team ENOUGH, and American Association of University Professors supporting enactment of Article X of University of Michigan’s Regents’ Ordinance, which prohibited possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons on University’s property.
• Drafted expert witness declarations and assisted in drafting motion for preliminary injunction to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from separating minor asylum seekers from their father during appeal of Immigration Court’s decision to deny minors’ motion to reopen orders of removal.
• Assisted in drafting amicus brief on behalf of NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and Law for Black Lives supporting repeal of New York State Civil Rights Laws Section 50-a and release of police misconduct records.
• Assisted in settling breach of contract dispute that allowed client, a notable Mexican-American artist, to reclaim over $500,000 worth of artwork.