Watson, Linda J.

Joanne Waters is a special counsel in the Labor and Employment Practice Group. She joined the firm in 2002.

Practice

Ms. Waters represents management clients in wage and hour, employment discrimination and breach of contract claims and enforcement of restrictive covenant agreements in state and federal court proceedings and mediations, and before administrative agencies such as the DC Office of Human Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Prince George’s Human Relations Commission.

Ms. Waters negotiates and drafts employment agreements, severance agreements and retention agreements. She also drafts performance plans, severance plans, compensation plans, commission agreements, employee handbooks and employment policies. She counsels clients on a daily basis on a full spectrum of employment related issues, including compliance with state and federal discrimination laws, wage and hour compliance, disciplinary actions and reductions in force.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Waters worked as a contracting officer/negotiator for the United States Navy Space Technology Support Detachment and the National Reconnaissance Office.

Ms. Waters received her JD, magna cum laude , from George Mason University. Ms. Waters received a BS in marketing management from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Ms. Waters is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Publications

• Kilgore, R. Scott, Laura E. Schneider, and Joanne E. Waters, "Massachusetts: Entering a Market with Independent Contractors - the Perils of Misclassification" in WorldWatch: U.S. Labour and Employment Law, Financier Worldwide (Sept. 2009) at 90.

Speaking Engagements

• WMACCA Employment & Labor Forum in conjunction with the Labor and Employment Law Section of the D.C. Bar: Now that the Recession is Fading -- RIFs, Layoffs, Restructuring and Next Steps – July 2010