Shafeeqa Watkins Giarratani

Practice Areas

Employment Law, Pay Equity, Wage and Hour, Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance, Ethics Compliance and Whistleblower Response, Litigation, Class Action, Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets, Diversity and Inclusion, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Healthcare, Trucking and Logistics

Career

Shafeeqa Giarratani is a shareholder in the firm’s Austin office and a member of the firm’s governing Board of Directors. Shafeeqa is a strong advocate for her clients. She represents employers in federal and state court and before administrative agencies and regulatory agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Shafeeqa has been recognized both locally and nationally as a skilled advocate. Shafeeqa was named by Law360 as a 2016 Rising Star, one of only seven employment lawyers in the country to receive such a distinction. Shafeeqa has also been named repeatedly as a Super Lawyer–Texas Rising Star and was featured in Bloomberg BNA for her commitment to her clients.

She regularly handles litigation matters at both the trial and appellate level, in alternative dispute resolution and before governmental agencies. Shafeeqa has represented management in civil rights, wrongful discharge, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, employment tort, defamation, breach of contract, tortious interference and other employment-related charges and litigation.

Shafeeqa specializes in advising clients on whistleblower employment issues, in particular retaliation cases under the False Claims Act, and performing investigations. She advises clients on appropriate handling of whistleblowers, regularly handles litigation in this area, and performs in-depth investigations of all types.

Shafeeqa regularly advises clients that are federal contractors on affirmative action, legislative and regulatory changes affecting employment matters for federal contractors and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) compliance issues, from developing affirmative action plans to representing companies during the audit process.

Shafeeqa co-founded Ogletree’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practice group and assists clients in climate investigations, statistical analysis surrounding diversity metrics and creating and executing strategic diversity plans. Shafeeqa is skilled at providing training on a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion topics.

Shafeeqa also performs supervisory training seminars, prepares and reviews personnel handbooks and policies and advises clients regarding employee retention and termination.

Professional Memberships

Any Baby Can – Board Member

United Way of Greater Austin – Board Member

National ILG – former Board Member

Austin Industry Liaison Group (AILG) – Co-Founder

Austin Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, former Chair

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

Education