Our people

Miriam joined Reed Smith in 2006 and is a member of the Labor and Employment Group. Her practice focuses on management-side representation in both employment litigation and traditional labor matters. Miriam works on employment discrimination matters, at both the administrative agency and court levels, and in representing employers in state and federal court on a wide variety of employment claims, including non-competition disputes, Whistleblower claims, wrongful discharge allegations, unfair competition claims, and actions under the Labor Management Relations Act. She also works on traditional labor matters on behalf of private employers under the National Labor Relations Act, as well as public employers under state and local laws, including the Policemen and Firemen Collective Bargaining Act (Act 111), the Police Pension Fund Act (Act 600), and the Public Employee Relations Act (Act 195). In addition to litigating matters under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights laws, Miriam provides prospective guidance, reference materials and counseling to clients relating to a broad spectrum of best employment practices, including anti-harassment policies, accommodations and access issues, workplace investigations, wage-and-hour compliance, and employee discipline to help clients minimize the risk of liability.

Miriam also volunteers a significant portion of her practice to various matters through the firm’s pro bono initiative. Miriam serves on the Philadelphia Leadership Council for Lambda Legal, and is currently co-counsel on a matter representing a transgendered minor against the City of Philadelphia for deprivation of city services and fair housing under the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance. Other representational pro bono matters have included providing employment advice for non-profit organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Support Center for Child Advocates and regional theatre groups.

Publications

• Co-author, "Win the Battle, Win the War: Discovery Tactics" (published in The Employment Law Institute, Vol. 1 at Chapter R), Pa. Bar Inst., (2010)
• Co-author, “PHRC’s Disparate Impact Presumption”, Employment Law360(http://www.law360.com/articles/148386 ), Feb. 9, 2010
• Co-author, “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Harassment” (published in Handling the Sexual Harassment Case at Chapter, Part II), Pa. Bar Inst., (2010)
• Co-author, “Issues Unique to Employment Investigations” (published in Conducting Internal Investigations after Enron & KPMG at Chapter 7), Pa. Bar Inst., (2008)

Speeches / Presentations

• Miriam is a frequent presenter and/or contributor of materials for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, including its annual Employment Law Institute, on topics such as discovery, Department of Labor investigations, hiring and firing, workplace investigations and discipline, conducting internal corporate investigations and social media.

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court - District of New Jersey
• U.S. Court of Appeals - Third Circuit
• U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania