ELIZABETH RODGERS E-mail: Erodgers@theemploymentlawyers.com ELIZABETH A. RODGERS, a partner of Rodgers, Powers & Schwartz LLP, has specialized in representing individuals in negotiation, litigation or trial of employment disputes for over 25 years. Rodgers has been recognized for excellence.  In 2011 she has been named to the Inaugural Edition of Preeminent Women Attorneys by the national rating service, Martindale Hubble, exclusively for women with the highest possible rating in both Legal ability and Ethical Standards. (AV rating). Named a Super Lawyer every year from 2004-2010, an honor restricted to only 5% of MA lawyers,  she was also one of two MA lawyers elected a member of the national College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, in 2008.   She made her reputation on zealous litigation:

“I particularly love depositions, where one can get at the truth with the witnesses directly across the table, and the plaintiff at your side. We can’t make up the kind of drama, deception or conflicts which are revealed in these cases.”

Rodgers also brings creativity to each new dispute:

I love to bring a fresh eye to employment cases from other disciplines, such torts, graphic arts, medical developments or persuasion theory, and to bring new forms of discovery, from facebook or social media, to both uncover and dramatize the harm people suffer from employment trauma.”

Rodgers also often serves as counselor, certified mediator, neutral and professor. In 2000, Rodgers became trained as a mediator and has resolved multi-million dollar disputes.  Rodgers also trains clients in having challenging conversations to obtain successful resolution of employment disputes without intervention of a lawyer.

“With over  twenty years of experience with the highs and lows of trials, my own experience and that of my  firm has repeatedly demonstrated that juries are not reluctant to give six and seven figure verdicts when the facts are egregious. I vigorously uncover the facts preparing for trial, sometimes with over ten depositions and thousands of documents, yet always approach opposing counsel to attempt to reach a sound negotiated settlement which reflects the best equities and minimizes uncertainties for both parties. Experienced counsel know that rolling the dice on an all or nothing win or loss is highly unusual in our profession. Further, many clients seek a prompt mediated resolution without burning the bridges behind them. My challenge is to balance the zealous advocate role, with seasoned judgment of when and how to bring the dispute to completion.

The full range of employment disputes reflects her variety and depth of experience. The type of unlawful conduct involves the full range of disputes from the ever present risk and cost of retaliation, to  underlying claims of age discrimination, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, national origin, same sex, religious and disability discrimination.   She has obtained successful outcomes for whistleblowers, and victims of retaliation and discrimination of every type.

Rodgers has resolved employment disputes involving academic, financial, biotech, legal, medical and municipal and communications industries and professions, as well as in sales, insurance, and construction industries.  Rodgers has represented clients in complex medical and medical employment issues in courts, at the Board of Medicine, and negotiating disciplinary matters under Hospital bylaws and procedures. She has represented whistleblowers in bio-tech, construction and financial sectors. She has represented the gamut of employees from  Deans and CEO’s, to night cleaners and environmental professionals.

The heart of employment law is often disputes over compensation. Rodgers has published and represented clients in Wage and Hour disputes or Compensation disputes. Since 2003, Rodgers  co- authored and updated a seminal chapter on non-payment of wages for the treatise published by Massachusetts Continuning Legal Education, (first with Linda Evans, of Rodgers Powers & Schwartz, and more recently with Philip Gordon). She represents clients in wage and hour work contesting unpaid wages, bonuses, overtime, severance payments, as well as executives seeking compensation such as stock options and restricted stock and individuals negotiating non-compete agreements or severance packages, as well as employees claiming retaliation for claiming such unpaid wages.

She is the former President of the Mass. Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association, focusing the chapter on a successful two year campaign to restore treble damages in wage claims, and growing the Chapter by 18%.   Rodgers regularly speaks and publishes on employment law for legal professional groups, including Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Massachusetts Bar Association, National Employment Lawyers Association and the Boston Bar Association.  Most recently, she has presented on Retaliation (NELA 2008, 2009), Tort law lessons, (MBA, 2010), Strategic Depositions (MELA, upcoming May, 2011, NELA 2009), Successful Mediation strategies (BBA, upcoming, June, 2011, MBA, 2010), and Update on What You Might Have Missed in 2011 (MBA, upcoming June 2011).

Rodgers is a graduate of Northeastern School of Law (J.D., 1976), London School of Economics (M.Sc., 1971), and Wellesley College  (B.A. Econ. Wellesley College, 1969).

Not alone:  Rodgers appreciates the wisdom of her partners and associates at Rodgers, Powers, & Schwartz, LLP who also specialize in employment law,  and have been recognized, awarded and honored as leaders of the employment bar.  She also thanks the staff, associates and interns and assistants who have made RPS thrive , or who have moved on to excellent careers of their own.