Mikaela Shaw Masoudpour provides strategic employment counseling on complex issues including statutory compliance, leaves of absence, antidiscrimination practices, pay equity, and best practices for avoiding litigation and developing positive employee relations. Mikaela conducts internal investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct, advises on responses and remediation measures in connection with alleged misconduct, and defends companies in employment litigation and other workplace crises.
Mikaela represents employers in a wide variety of employment-related matters arising under numerous federal and local laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and federal labor laws. She is known for achieving results that make good business sense for her clients with minimal disruption to their internal business clients.
Mikaela is recognized as a practical resource for time-sensitive and common-sense advice for in-house counsel, HR, and business leaders. She advises clients on creating safe, respectful, diverse, and inclusive workplaces and day-to-day employment issues such as personnel policies and procedures, executive employment agreements, severance agreements, restrictive covenants, and hiring, discipline, and discharge. She also conducts training seminars on a variety of employment topics.
Mikaela was elected to the 2022 and 2023 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list, recognizing attorneys excelling in the legal profession with a tenure of five to nine years. A strong pro bono proponent, Mikaela serves as a member of Morgan Lewis’s Chicago office Pro Bono Committee, as well as the Hiring Committee. The National Immigrant Justice Center named her a “Rising Star” in 2018 for her successful family representation in a complex defensive immigration hearing.
Mikaela previously served as a law clerk to Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
“Ones to Watch,” Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Chicago, The Best Lawyers in America (2022, 2023)
“Ones to Watch,” Labor and Employment Law - Management, Chicago, The Best Lawyers in America (2022, 2023)
“Rising Star,” National Immigrant Justice Center, 19th Annual Human Rights Awards (2018)
Member, Indiana University Chicago Women’s Network Steering Committee Board (2016-2021)
Member, Labor and Employment Section, Federal Bar Association (2015–present)
Member, Young Professionals Board, Ascend Justice (formerly Domestic Violence Legal Clinic) (2015-2018)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017, 2019)
Recipient, Herman B. Wells Senior Recognition Award, Indiana University (2012)
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