Natacha Thomas Email and Phone Number

I provide expert and strategic legal advice to senior management on all legal based matters related to state employee benefits law. Likewise, I represent, or engage outside counsel as required, on litigation and appeals before Massachusetts courts. In matters related to investments, I oversee outside counsel in class action securities litigation. My role aslo requires I keep abreast of legislative changes and proactively make recommendations for policy changes required for the Board to adhere to its fiduciary duty to the system.

I provided the Boston Retirement Board guidance regarding state employee benefit laws, ensure legal compliance with the Board's benefit program, draft pleadings, prepare and try cases dealing with the denial of benefits, and pursue pension forfeiture for city officials convicted of a felony criminal offense involving violation of the laws applicable to a his or her office or position. I also responded to public record requests and subpoenas.

Utilize creative teaching mythologies to develop online course on wage and benefit laws such as: unemployment law, worker's compensation, and ERISA.

I represented the City of Boston in arbitration litigation and advised management in labor disputes and contract interpretation. I also conducted employee investigations into violations of the City’s Anti-Discrimination and Harassment policy, advised department heads on discipline, trained management, and served as chief negotiator in collective bargaining.

I was the founder of the Law Office of Natacha Thomas. The bulk of my practice was advocating on the behalf of low to moderate-income workers. Specifically, I represented and counseled clients in employment discrimination, unemployment claims, wage and hour, and the Family Medical Leave Act. I also counseled clients on non-litigation matters such as employment agreements and negotiating severance.In addition, I engaged in community lawyering and executive lobbying on behalf low to moderate-income workers. Similarly, I conducted numerous Immigrant Workers’ Rights workshops to empower social justice within immigrant communities.

While at Alkermes, I handled issues dealing with employment law and healthcare compliance. Specifically, I (1) assisted with case development and strategy for cases dealing with race discrimination, (2) drafted employment, vendor and clinical studies agreements; (3) monitored and ensured employee compliance with federal healthcare compliance and business ethics policies and guidelines;(4) and negotiated vendor contracts.

Engaged in employment law litigation with emphasis on employer counseling on wage and hour compliance, personnel policies, and reductions in force.Similarly, I defended client against discrimination claims dealing with national origin, race, disability, sex and Equal Pay before various state agencies. I served as the company’s senior legal advisor whenever the General Counsel was absent or unavailable

Created and implemented three-part project to increase access to legal assistance in the Haitian community through legal representation and community outreach, supervised student interns performing legal research, conducting client interviews and providing legal representation before various administrative agencies.