Rachel Kushel counsels clients on all employment law and workplace human resource issues. She defends management in state and federal court litigation matters and administrative agency claims. She is a member of the firm’s Labor, Employment, Benefits + Immigration Group.

Employment Litigation and Administrative Advocacy

Rachel has extensive experience defending management clients in discrimination, leave, and harassment matters. She litigates matters from inception to trial and through appeal in federal and state courts. She has argued successfully on behalf of clients before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the District Court of Connecticut, and Connecticut state trial and appellate courts.

Rachel also represents clients in administrative agency matters before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. She also represents clients at private and public arbitration hearings, and in alternative dispute resolution and mediation sessions with federal, state, and private mediators.

In addition to assisting clients in obtaining favorable resolutions to matters, Rachel has also achieved successes for clients at various stages of the litigation proceedings. She works with clients in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to, healthcare, financial services, government, and higher education.

Counseling, Compliance, and Training

Rachel counsels companies and human resource professionals in all areas of employment law, including discharge and discrimination issues, employee discipline, wage and hour issues, disability and reasonable accommodation, family and medical leave, unemployment, employment and independent contractor agreements, severance and separation agreements, individual terminations and reductions in force, and workplace health and safety issues. Rachel also negotiates and drafts employment and separation agreements, in addition to reviewing and revising employee handbooks and personnel policies. She also conducts training sessions related to a myriad of employment issues, including topics such as sexual harassment, workplace civility, and avoiding discrimination claims.