Danielle Jurema Lederman

Overview

As a partner in the firm’s Employment & Labor Practice Area, Danielle Jurema Lederman represents employers in all stages of mediation, arbitration, and litigation at the administrative, state, and federal levels. She is an experienced trial attorney and has successfully litigated multiple employment matters through to summary judgment and trial. She also defends clients in investigations brought by state and federal agencies such as the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Labor and the Department of Unemployment Assistance.

Danielle counsels employers in a wide array of employment and labor matters including hiring, employee classification, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, reasonable accommodations, leave laws, and pay transparency, helping clients to navigate the nuances of employment and labor law. Clients appreciate her counsel and advice when faced with issues regarding wage and hour laws and reductions in force/layoffs. Danielle prepares and reviews clients’ employee handbooks and regularly advises businesses on federal, state, and local guidance.

Within her practice, Danielle enjoys working with clients from a broad range of industries, including craft brewers, government contractors, healthcare organizations, start-ups, nonprofits, manufacturers, and banking institutions.

At Bowditch, Danielle leads the Women’s Initiative, which provides an internal network of support to encourage growth and achievement. Members actively promote women inside and outside the firm, creating a strong sense of team and supporting business development efforts.

Before Bowditch

Prior to joining the firm, Danielle gained extensive litigation experience representing employers and employees. She was also the director of legal services at a local non-profit, where she provided in-house counseling and legal services relating to workplace claims.

Besides Work

Danielle is an avid soccer fan – especially when it comes time for the World Cup. She attended five of the 2022 games in Qatar and has traveled to each World Cup since 2006. Danielle is anxiously awaiting the 2026 tournament, which won’t require such a lengthy journey.

Affiliations

Future Leaders program / Women’s Network Advisory Board, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Member, Paid Family & Medical Leave Working Group, Massachusetts Bar Association
Member, Women’s Bar Association
Member, Boston Bar Association
Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys

Honors

Boston Future Leaders Class of 2022, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Best Lawyers in America, selected by her peers for inclusion in the field of Litigation – Labor and Employment (2023 and 2024)
Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2019
Recognized as a COVID-19 Response Leader by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston

Articles + Talks

Articles

“Changes to MA PFML – ‘Topping Off’ and New 2024 Benefit Rates,” Bowditch, 2023
“Legal details can make or break cannabis startups,” Worcester Business Journal, 2023
“East Penn Verdict Is An FLSA Cautionary Tale For Employers,” Law360, 2023
“Largest Ever FLSA Verdict Underscores Importance of Employer Compliance with Wage and Hour Laws,” Bowditch, 2023
“Concrete Steps Employers Should Consider When Drafting Severance Agreements in the Wake of McLaren Macomb,” Bowditch, 2023
“Updated Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act Regulations Issued,” Bowditch, 2023
“The First Circuit Takes a Deeper Look into Employee Exemption Decisions,” Bowditch, 2023
“Wage Act Updates: Massachusetts’ Highest Court Finds Limited FLSA Preemption of Wage Act Remedies and Employers Should Prepare for Potential Wage-Related Changes to Come,” Bowditch, 2022
“OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard Mandating Vaccination or Testing for Private Employers with 100 or More Employees,” Bowditch, 2021
“A Busy Week – Massachusetts Extends Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Makes Changes to Paid Family and Medical Leave Contribution Rates and Benefits,” Bowditch, 2021
“Massachusetts Begins Phase 3; Gatherings and Other Restrictions Loosened,” SmallBiz Daily, 2020
“Mass. Court Reminds Employers of FMLA Due Diligence,” Law360, 2019
“States Double Down on Employee Perks,” Independent Joe Magazine, 2019 (pages 12-13)

Talks

Navigating Operational Challenges, The Business of Cannabis, Worcester Business Journal, 2023
Women’s Coffee Chat, Association of Corporate Counsel-Northeast, 2023
Navigating a Reduction in Force, Bowditch, 2023
Build A Foundation or Dig Yourself A Hole: Employment Law Fundamentals for Field Staff and HR Professionals, Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, 2023
Considerations for Settling Employment Cases, Massachusetts Bar Association, 2022 (Moderator)
Tightening the Belt: Where to Focus Your Limited Legal Resources, Association of Corporate Counsel-Northeast, 2022
Candid Conversations, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Leadership Program, 2022
Building Business through Narrative, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Women’s Seminar, 2022
Legal Issues in Arts Administration: Employment and Labor Law, Boston University, 2022
OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard: What Employers Must Know, Bowditch, 2021
Legal Issues in Arts Administration: Employment and Labor Law, Boston University, 2021
Employment Law Basics, Lenny Zakim Fund, 2021
Legal Issues in Arts Administration, Boston University’s Metropolitan College (Guest Lecturer), 2021
Legal Considerations of Having a Remote Workforce, Massachusetts Cultural Council, 2021
Back to ‘Normal’ Workplace Guidance Re: COVID-19 Vaccines, Reopening & More, Massachusetts Restaurant Association, 2021
Recover, Rebuild, Renew: Employment law Basics, Massachusetts Cultural Council, 2021

Media Mentions

“How employers can tweak their severance agreements after the NLRB’s crackdown” (Boston Business Journal)

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts
Connecticut
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Education

Certified Harassment Train-the-Trainer, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
J.D., Northeastern University School of Law
B.S., University of Florida, cum laude, Chemistry

Experience

Prepared detailed position statements and responses to requests for information for nonprofit client in relation to employment and housing charges filed at the state and federal discrimination administrative agencies
Successfully defended a craft brewing client in a wage and hour investigation by the Department of Labor
Provided regular advice and counsel in a variety of complex employment law matters to in-house counsel and key company stakeholders
Achieved partial summary judgment for a healthcare client in a sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation claim
Prepared motion to dismiss which resulted in employee’s voluntary dismissal of all claims identified in complaint
Conducted internal sexual harassment investigation and prepared report of findings for manufacturing company
Conducted internal investigation into allegations of former employee against a manager at a nonprofit healthcare company