Overview
Deepa Desai is an associate in the firm’s Boston office and focuses her practice defending employers against claims of harassment, discrimination and retaliation, as well as wage and hour violations and contract disputes. Deepa also counsels clients on day-to-day workplace matters, including the preparation of employee handbooks, hiring, terminations, discipline, leaves of absence and accommodations. Deepa additionally advises and represents clients in traditional labor matters, including union elections and unfair labor practices. Her clients span multiple industries, including institutions of higher education, retail companies, restaurants, staffing agencies, and human services agencies.
Deepa has spoken extensively on labor and employment topics, including the effective drafting of employee handbooks, strategies to achieve compliance with wage-and-hour laws, and employer obligations under federal and state leave laws. Deepa understands both sides of the legal equation, both as a firm attorney and as in-house counsel, where she previously worked as a director of employment law for a nationwide government contractor, planning, executing, and implementing training for corporate, benefits, and employment compliance activities, among other duties.
She is heavily involved in the legal and business community as former Co-President of the South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston (was recently named Board Member of the Year) and a Board member of the Northeastern University School of Law Alumni Association, in which capacity she recently presented at the 29th Annual Denise Carty Bennia Memorial Bar Awards (May 2022-2024). Deepa is also a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA), the American Bar Association, USA 500 Clubs and of BNI, Beacon Hill Ascend chapter.