Profile
Mikaela Shaw Masoudpour is a trusted advisor to employers from startups to Fortune 500 in a wide range of employment matters, from outcome-oriented counseling and sensitive internal investigations to proactive audits and compensation analyses to litigation defense. She provides strategic and practical strategies to address pressing workplace needs from the pre-employment stage through separation of employment, including the implementation of AI tools in the workplace, leaves and accommodations, performance management, remote work, restrictive covenants, wage and hour, workplace policies, and labor relations. Mikaela’s counseling practice also focuses on pay equity matters, such as advising clients on pay equity and salary disclosure laws and conducting pay equity analyses, including comprehensive internal statistical and policy audits.
When litigation does occur, Mikaela regularly represents clients in courts and before administrative agencies in individual and class claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act, federal labor laws, and other employment statutes. She leverages her deep courtroom experience to assist employers with litigation prevention and crisis management.
Concentrations
- Pay equity and employment law audits
- HR compliance & workplace counseling
- Employment agreements
- Workplace investigations
- Deal employment due diligence
- Executive and workplace training
- Employment litigation defense
Capabilities
Experience
- Partnered with employers to design and implement improved, preventative human resources systems, including drafting of new employee-facing policies and HR/supervisor manuals, reworking of hiring and compensation practices, performance review systems and disciplinary procedures, and associated manager trainings.°
- Led, on a privileged basis, multiple cohort analyses to assess and evaluate pay practices and recommend systemic and recordkeeping improvements to rectify and avoid ongoing pay equity issues.°
- Conducted workplace harassment and retaliation investigations, including of executives and a university dean, prepared or counseled employers on the preparation of investigation reports, and counseled on both specific and systemic measures to minimize the risk of lawsuits or liability.°
- Counseled companies of all sizes and across industries on workplace compliance matters (including employment agreements, hiring, restrictive covenants, leaves and accommodations, pay practices, positive employee relations, and terminations).°
- Designed and conducted dynamic workplace training seminars for executive and leadership level to rank and file employees of clients ranging from Fortune 200 retailer to financial firms to numerous small employers operating at a single site. Topics have included respectful workplace, interviewing, performance management, bystander intervention, workplace investigations, leave and accommodation, wage and hour, and employment law 101.°
- Negotiated contentious departure of executive from financial services company on favorable terms to business.°
- Conducted cultural assessment of leading international bank, using qualitative and quantitative tools, and helped the client devise and implement strategic plan to address leadership, accountability, policies, procedures, and training.°
- Advised wide range of employers in retail, insurance, healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing on workplace safety and response to COVID-19.°
- Won complete summary judgment for transportation provider in action brought by former internal investigator alleging 7-counts of discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and state laws. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit appeal dismissed.°
- Engaged part-way through Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) audit investigating allegedly discriminatory hiring and pay practices of energy provider. Secured OFCCP investigation closure with a no-violations finding.°
- Obtained emergency workplace order of protection for nationwide manufacturer following evidentiary hearing in light of gun violence threats made by former employee.°
- Achieved partial motion to dismiss cutting nearly 30 years off the EEOC’s claimed liability for claims of alleged sex discrimination in hiring, laying the groundwork for early favorable resolution.°
- Won dismissal at the motion to dismiss phase of putative multi-state wage and hour class action against Fortune 500 manufacturer. Employees elected to dismiss appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.°
- Opposed NLRB’s 10(j) petition in federal court, leading to favorable resolution in advance of labor arbitration impacting a core labor practice of the manufacturer.°
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Masoudpour prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Judicial Extern, Hon. Andrea Wood, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2015
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America
- “Ones to Watch,” Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2022-2025
- “Ones to Watch,” Labor and Employment Law – Management, 2022-2025
- Selected, National Immigrant Justice Center, “Rising Stars,” 2018
- Recipient, Herman B Wells Senior Recognition Award, Indiana University, 2012
- Development Committee Member, Denver Public Library Friends Foundation, 2024-Present
- Member, Colorado Bar Association, 2024-Present
- Member, Colorado Women’s Bar Association, 2024-Present
- Member, Indiana University Chicago Women’s Network Steering Committee Board, 2016-2021
- Mentor, University of Chicago Law School Women’s Mentoring Program, 2017-2023
- Member, Young Professionals Board, Ascend Justice (formerly Domestic Violence Legal Clinic), 2015-2018
- Young Lawyers Committee, Seventh Circuit Bar Association, 2021-2023
- Member, Seventh Circuit Bar Association, 2018-2024
- Member, Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, 2016-2024
Credentials
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J.D., University of Chicago Law School
- Executive Comments Editor, The University of Chicago Legal Forum
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B.A., High Distinction, Indiana University
- Phi Beta Kappa
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2018-2019
- Colorado
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado