Kimberly Y. Jones
Kimberly Jones counsels and represents employers, senior executives and human resource professionals in labor and employment matters. She works with her clients to prevent, identify and resolve discrimination claims and sexual harassment complaints and to conduct effective workplace investigations. Much of her work involves creating proactive solutions to employment problems through, for example, discrimination and harassment prevention training and the preparation of personnel policies, employment handbooks, and other employer-generated documents that are compliant with federal and state laws and promote a positive working environment. Kimberly also negotiates and prepares employment, non-competition, and severance agreements.
When employment disputes arise, Kimberly represents and defends corporate clients and employers in state and federal court, before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings, including arbitrations and mediations. She counsels employers on litigation avoidance by emphasizing proper procedures for interviewing and hiring and addressing employee misconduct, leave-of-absence requests under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employe computer abuse, discipline and discharge decisions and related personnel matters. Reflecting this emphasis, Kimberly is a MCAD Certified Trainer in Discrimination Prevention and Harassment Prevention in the Workplace. Kimberly has also lectured on various topics in her field, including programs conducted by the Boston Bar Association and various industry organizations.
In recent years, Kimberly has developed an additional practice focus representing and advising religious institutions in matters involving church autonomy, discipline and canon law.
Bars and Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
professional / civic involvement
- Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Advisory Board, Member
- Boston Bar Association Council, Member
- Massachusetts Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section Council, Chair
- Boston Bar Journal, Board of Editors
- Boston Bar Association Labor and Employment Steering Committee, Member, Open House/Judicial Panel Committee and former Liaison to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
- Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, former Vice President
- Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Employment and Labor Law Curriculum Advisory Committee, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- National Bar Association, Member
- New England Human Resources Association (NEHRA), Member
- Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), Member
SPEECHES AND CONFERENCES
- Co-Chair, "Wrongful Termination and Exceptions to Employment At-Will," Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), July 2008
- Moderator, "Strategies for Success for Lawyers of Color," Boston Bar Association, July 2008
- Chair and Moderator, "Internal Investigations: How Conducting an Effective Investigation May Protect Your Organization," American Bar Association, March 2008
- Moderator, “Practicing Law in Boston - Strategies for Success For Lawyers of Color,” Boston Bar Association, July 2007
- Co-Chair, “Wrongful Termination and Exceptions to Employment At-Will,” Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), June 2007
- Speaker, “Solutions to Growing Workplace Violence Concerns: Impact on the Workplace and Methods to Prevent and Respond to Situations That Could Threaten Your Organization,” Council on Education in Management, January 2007
- Moderator, “Success Strategies for Attorneys of Color,” Boston Bar Association, July 2006
- Speaker, “Avoiding Misclassifications and Improper Salary Deductions for Exempt Employees Under the Revised FLSA White-Collar Exemption Regulations,” Council on Education in Management, June 2006
- Speaker, “Recruiting, Interviewing and Hiring: Navigating the High Seas of the Pre-Employment Process,” The Human Resources Consortium, June 2006
- Panelist, “Human Resources and the Law: Preserving the At-Will Employment Doctrine,” The Human Resources Organization, March 2006
- Panelist, “Where c. 151B, Workers’ Compensation and Federal Laws Clash: The Bermuda Triangle of Employment Law,” MCLE, February 2006
- Panelist, “Mistakes New Lawyers Make,” Boston Bar Association, December 2005
- Panelist, “Success Strategies for Lawyers of Color,” Boston Bar Association, July 2005
- Panelist, “Wrongful Termination: Exceptions to the Employment At Will Doctrine,” MCLE, May 2005
- Panelist, “Creating and Maintaining a Positive Work Environment,” Lorman seminar, May 2004
publications
- Internal Investigations: How Conducting an Effective Investigation May Protect Your Organization, American Bar Association (March 2008)
- Order 478 - Commonwealth reaffirms commitment to equal opportunity, COLOR MAGAZINE (January 28, 2008)
- Wrongful Termination and Exceptions to Employment At-Will, “Preserving the At-Will Employment Doctrine: Strategies for Massachusetts Employers,” Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) (June 2007)
- Contributing author, Chapter Ten, The Family and Medical Leave Act: Interference, Discrimination and Retaliation Claims, American Bar Association Labor and Employment Section, Employee Benefits Law (November 2006)