Photo of Laura A. Mitchell

As co-leader of the firm’s ESG group, Laura Mitchell partners with her clients to evaluate, set, achieve and monitor their organizational culture and human capital goals. She focuses her practice on data analytics, including pay equity and other employee analytics, working side-by-side with employers to build programs that benefit employees and create a stable, high-functioning workplace. Understanding that an inclusive, values-based culture provides a crucial competitive advantage in the modern workplace, Laura enjoys counseling companies on the development of proactive and equitable pay and diversity practices.

In Laura’s version of the reimagined workplace, attention to human capital issues, especially DEI and pay equity, would be the rule rather than the exception nationwide and she works with companies across all industries—both new and well-established multi-national organizations of all sizes—to realize this vision for her clients’ ongoing success. She helps clients understand all issues across the spectrum of their journey, helping to establish regular analyses as well as counseling organizations on implementation and compliance obligations, where applicable. Committed to putting her clients’ organizational goals first and foremost, Laura views herself as an extension of her clients’ team, responsible for providing proactive guidance and engaging in transparent, ongoing communication.

Laura also represents companies in OFCCP matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations. She personally oversees the development of hundreds of Affirmative Action Plans for clients each year and is intimately involved in the defense of OFCCP audits. Her approach to compliance is one of facilitation and conciliation while simultaneously advocating in the best interests of her clients.

Ten former Department of Labor Officials, including former EEOC Commissioner and past OFCCP Director Jenny Yang, sent an open letter to federal contractors responding to President Trump’s issuance of Executive Order 14173 and newly appointed OFCCP Director Catherine Eschbach’s recent statements about OFCCP.

The letter is aimed to

“help federal contractors and other employers navigate

The Wall Street Journal is reporting newly appointed OFCCP Director Catherine Eschbach announced to OFCCP staff that the Agency will review federal contractor affirmative action plans previously submitted to the Agency for evidence of discriminatory employment practices. The report quotes Director Eschbach’s email to staffers in which she states

…most of what OFCCP had been

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that Catherine Eschbach will be the new Director of OFCCP, taking over for Acting Director Michael Schloss.

Director Eschbach comes from private practice as an Appellate attorney at Morgan Lewis, representing clients in complex matters.  Prior to private practice, Director Eschbach clerked for Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod of

President Trump has revoked President Biden’s EO that increased the minimum wage for federal contractor employees. This action is part of a broader effort by Trump to reverse several of Biden’s executive orders, marking a significant shift in federal policy. (Refer to EO “Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.”) Read more

OFCCP’s website reflects Michael Schloss has been appointed to the Deputy Director for Policy Role within the Agency. Michele Hodge, former Acting Director is listed as Deputy Director while the Director role remains vacant. The Deputy Director for Policy would traditionally act in an Acting Director role in this type of situation. As such, the

In response to President Trump revoking Executive Order 11246, Acting U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Vincent Micone issued an Order on January 24th, instructing DOL employees including OFCCP to stop all enforcement activity under the rescinded Executive Order 11246. Specifically, the order instructs OFCCP to

Cease and desist all investigative and

Late in the day on January 23, 2025, the Office of Federal Compliance Programs (OFCCP) sent out its first official agency communication since President Trump’s historic Executive Order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” revoked Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity).

In an email to stakeholders, OFCCP acknowledged the revocation of EO 11246, noting

President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (EO). Its stated purpose is to end illegal diversity, equity, and inclusion and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (together, DEI). The EO does not change existing law, but it signals the Administration’s focus on targeting organizations that violate

Bloomberg Law reported late Tuesday night that President Donald Trump has revoked Executive Order 11246 as part of a broader executive order addressing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government and for private employers generally.

This is a breaking news story. We will follow up as soon as the White House publishes the

In one of numerous Executive Orders signed on January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an order entitled, “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.” The Executive Order revokes a long list of Executive Orders and actions by his predecessor, President Joe Biden.

As expected, many Biden Executive Orders revoked by President Trump