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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.
OFCCP Makes First Public Statement Following Revocation of Executive Order 11246
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…
Revocation of EO 11246 and Prohibition of Certain DEI Practices by the Trump Administration
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…
BREAKING NEWS: President Trump Reportedly Revokes Executive Order 11246
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…
BREAKING NEWS: President Trump Revokes a Long List of Biden Executive Orders
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…
FAR Council Withdraws Proposed Federal Contractor Pay Transparency Rule
Citing limited time in the remaining administration and desire to focus on “other priorities”, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council announced its withdrawal of the pending proposed rule requiring federal contractors disclose pay information in job postings and prohibiting federal contractors from seeking and considering information about job applicants’ compensation history.
The Pay Equity and Transparency…
OFCCP Requiring Construction Companies to Submit Monthly Data Reports starting April 2025
OFCCP announced it is reinstating a monthly reporting requirement (CC-257 Report) for federal construction contractors, nearly 30 years after discontinuing it. Beginning April 15, 2025, covered construction contractors must submit a report to OFCCP by the 15th of each month, with detailed data on its number of employees and work hours by race/ethnicity and…
BREAKING NEWS: OFCCP Releases New Audit List
The contractor community has been anticipating the release of OFCCP’s next list of contractors selected for audit. Its here.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has published the latest Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (CSAL) for supply & service contractors. The list is composed of 2,000 federal contractors and subcontractors. As a reminder, the CSAL…
OFCCP publishes a NEW notice providing contractors an opportunity to object to the release of their 2021 EEO-1 Reports
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has published a notice in the Federal Register notifying federal contractors of two new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for the disclosure of contractors’ EEO-1 Type 2 Reports for the year 2021. The requests also ask for the 2022 Reports but OFCCP currently has access to…
Key Takeaways for Federal Contractors as Minimum Wage Rises to $17.75 in January
Despite a number of pending lawsuits challenging the Biden Administration’s authority to impose the minimum wage increase for federal contractors, the new rate of $17.75 is expected to take effect January 1, 2025. Our colleagues share what the approximately 500,000 impacted employers need to know. Read more.