Massachusetts Enacts CROWN Act, Prohibiting Discrimination Against Protective Hairstyles

Samia M. Kirmani is a principal in the Boston, Massachusetts, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and co-leader of the firm's Workplace Training group. She is also a member of the firm's Corporate Diversity Counseling practice group, the Corporate Governance and Internal Investigations practice group, and the pay equity and sexual harassment resource groups. She concentrates her practice in employment counseling, investigations, training, and policy development on behalf of management. Samia regularly conducts interactive and engaging training programs for boards, executive leadership teams, managers, employees, individuals, in-house counsel, and human resource professionals on various workplace topics, such as discrimination and harassment prevention; diversity, equity, inclusion, and bias; conducting workplace investigations, and the range of workplace law topics. She provides practical legal advice to clients on various employment law issues, including with respect to internal investigations; harassment and discrimination; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; pay equity; health and leave management; reductions in force; retaliation and whistleblower matters; individual separations; and employee relations issues. Samia also conducts and advises clients with respect to investigations, including those involving leadership, boards, managers, employees, and third parties. Samia serves as a firm resource on drafting and implementing national arbitration agreements. She defends employers in employment-related administrative proceedings at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Samia is a frequent speaker, commentator, and author for various audiences and publications on workplace law topics, such as harassment, investigations, diversity and inclusion, discrimination, pay equity, arbitration agreements and class action waivers, and related matters. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Samia served as in-house counsel at a technology company, focusing on employment and dispute management. Before that, she practiced employment law and litigation at a general practice firm and served as a law clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. While attending law school, she was a solicitations editor for the Boston College International and Comparative Law Review. Honors and Recognitions The Best Lawyers in America©, "Litigation - Labor and Employment" (2019-present) Legal 500 USA, "Recommended Attorney" (2020) Massachusetts Super Lawyers®, "Rising Stars" (2008-2010) and "Super Lawyers" (2011-present) Professional Associations and Activities South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston, Advisory Committee Member (2009-present) and former President (2007-2009) South Asian Bar Association of North America, Labor and Employment Section Board Member and Former Co-Chair Boston Bar Association Women’s Bar Association, Women’s Leadership Institute Mentor (2020-present) ​Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Employment & Labor Law Curriculum Advisory Committee, former member Massachusetts Bar Association, House of Delegates, former member

Sarah B. Herlihy is a principal and the office litigation manager in the Boston, Massachusetts, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She practices employment litigation, with a particular emphasis on disputes involving the theft of trade secrets, enforcement of restrictive covenants and breaches of fiduciary duty.

Matthew C. Chambers is an associate in the Boston, Massachusetts, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. His practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counseling.

Jeanette M. Martinez Figueroa is an associate in the Boston, Massachusetts, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. where she represents employers in employment litigation matters, such as employment discrimination and unpaid wages claims, and labor law issues. A native Spanish-speaker with translation experience, she has a global perspective. Jeanette was born in Florida and moved to Puerto Rico as a child. On the island, she often witnessed the struggle between the local government, employers, and employees over labor and employment reforms. Her personal experience sparked her interest in labor and employment law. During law school, she was a member of Northeastern’s Latin American Law Student Association’s moot court team for two years and competed in the Hispanic National Bar Association’s Annual Uvaldo Herrera National Moot Court Competition. As a law student, she counseled detained migrant women and children seeking asylum and represented indigent clients at Northeastern's Immigrant Justice Clinic. After graduating from law school, Jeanette clerked for the Massachusetts Appeals Court from 2020-2021.

Laura Terrasi is an associate in the Boston, Massachusetts, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counseling. Laura joined Jackson Lewis with prior experience defending employers in matters involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. She has experience litigating matters in administrative proceedings, as well as state and federal courts. Laura understands the intricacies and unique aspects of employment disputes and strives to work with employers to identify the quickest and most efficient results. After graduating from law school, Laura clerked for the justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court, and then for the Honorable James R. Lemire of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. As a law student, Laura interned for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she successfully helped brief and argue an appeal before the Massachusetts Appeals Court. She was a recipient of the dean’s scholarship and New England Scholar Award.