Employers are facing increasingly complex compliance, cultural, and litigation matters— and Sadina Montani is a trusted adviser in each of these areas. Privately held and publicly traded corporations, think tanks, foundations, retailers, and nonprofits rely on her to help navigate the full range of employment-related issues.
Sadina serves as a trusted adviser for employers tackling complex compliance issues—particularly across multiple jurisdictions as the workforce becomes increasingly geographically dispersed. She conducts and guides clients through internal investigations and has developed particular knowledge regarding investigating and managing allegations of sexual harassment.
When litigation is necessary, Sadina represents employers in state and federal courts and before various administrative agencies, defending claims of race, sex, disability, and age discrimination; wrongful termination; wage and hour violations (including class actions); and wage payment claims. She has first-chair and second-chair trial experience and has successfully argued summary judgment and other substantive and procedural motions.
Sadina is part of the team leading Crowell’s cross-disciplinary effort to advise employers in the wake of the Dobbs decision; employers and think tanks have sought her advice in this new and developing area.
Sadina is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, serving during the 2020–2021 bar year. In her role as WBADC immediate past president, she led the association’s work on an amicus brief submitted in the Dobbs case jointly by the WBADC, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and Women Lawyers on Guard. The amicus brief was supported by approximately 30 other organizations dedicated to supporting women lawyers and law students.
Sadina serves as pro bono counsel for a number of nonprofit organizations that focus on education, the environment, and various social services. In 2019, she was awarded the Tom Nees Award for Exceptional Service by Community of Hope, a nonprofit organization pursuing a mission to aid low-income families experiencing homelessness and struggling with health care needs, in recognition of her long-standing, deeply impactful service to the women, men, and children who turn to Community of Hope for help. Additionally, Sadina has been recognized by the D.C. Bar Association for her commitment to pro bono work.
An experienced nonprofit board member, Sadina served as treasurer, director, and president of the WBADC board from 2015 to 2022, and currently serves as director and board president of the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank (2017 to present) and director and chief governance officer of Ayuda (2021 to present). She also serves on the advisory board of Bear Analytics.
Prior to entering private practice, Sadina was a freelance musician and performed with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia
- President, 2020-2021
- President-Elect, 2019-2020
- Treasurer, 2016 to 2017
- Board Member, 2015 to present
- Membership Committee, Co-Chair, 2011 to 2015
- Greater D.C. Diaper Bank, President, Board of Directors
- Washington Women’s Leadership Initiative, Member
- Greater Washington Area Chapter (GWAC), Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association, Member
- Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, Professionals' Council, 2016 to present
- District of Columbia Bar
- Labor and Employment Section, Member
- John Payton Leadership Academy, Inaugural Class, 2013
- Screening Committee, 2015 to 2016
- Nominations Committee, Chair, 2015
- Leadership Development Committee, 2017 to present
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Member
Representative Matters
- Defended an international commercial real estate company against claims of federal and state wage and hour violations in three related putative class actions in federal court in California, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.
- Successfully defended large government contractor against employee nonsolicitation and tortious interference claims; obtained complete defense award, including assessment of significant attorneys' fees, costs, and arbitrator fees against claimant.
- Won a jury trial in federal court in Miami, Florida on behalf of a global corporation in which a former employee claimed age discrimination.
- Achieved dismissal of a lawsuit in state court in Tampa, Florida on behalf of a global technology company where a former employee claimed race discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
- Won summary judgment in Maryland state court on behalf of a global corporation defending against a claim related to the miscalculation of commission payments.
- Won summary judgment in federal court in Montgomery County, Maryland on behalf of a government contractor in which a former employee claimed gender discrimination and retaliation.
- Represent federal contractors in connection with defense of Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower and False Claims Act claims.
- Defended large radiology group and individual physicians against claims by former employed physician of discrimination, defamation, and tortious interference with a future employment opportunity; obtained complete defense award in favor of all respondents on all counts, including assessment of all arbitrator fees and costs against claimant.
Speeches & Presentations
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"Crowell Compass: 50-State Workforce Compliance // Navigating State-by-State Compliance For Geographically Diverse Teams," Crowell & Moring Webinar, 2023.
(March 22, 2023).
Speakers: Sadina Montani and Jessica S. Nam.
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"The Right Route to Remote - Mitigating Risk When Hiring Out-Of-State Workers," Crowell & Moring Webinar, 2022.
(July 14, 2022).
Speakers: Sadina Montani and Rachel Lesser.
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"Labor, Employment, and COVID-related Investigations," Investigations: Readiness and Response Webinar Series
(April 27, 2021).
Presenters: Trina Fairley Barlow, Sadina Montani, Katie Erno, and Jackson C. Pai.
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"From Competition to Collaboration: Shifting the Paradigm," Virtual Summit: Women in Law & Leadership
(April 21, 2021).
Panelist: Sadina Montani.
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"What lessons can be learned from major categories of COVID-related litigation filed in 2020 and how can companies reduce risk in 2021?" Crowell & Moring Webinar
(December 8, 2020).
Presenters: Sadina Montani, Scott L. Winkelman, Daniel W. Wolff, Clifford J. Zatz, and Allyson McKinstry
Publications
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"U.S. Department Of Labor Issues Proposed Rule On Independent Contractors," Employee Benefit Plan Review
(January 23, 2023).
Authors: Andrew W. Bagley, Thomas P. Gies, Sadina Montani, Jessica S. Nam, and Christopher J. Banks.
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"Zero-Tolerance Harassment Policies and the #MeToo Era," Law360
(February 1, 2019).
Author: Sadina Montani.
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"When it Comes to #MeToo in the Workplace, the Work Is Never Over," Bloomberg Law
(November 19, 2018).
Author: Sadina Montani.
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"Addressing Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era: The Same Old Workplace Training Won’t Cut It," Corporate Compliance Insights
(June 21, 2018).
Co-Author: Sadina Montani.
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"Addressing Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era: The Superstar Harasser – Is Anyone Really Too Big to Lose?" Corporate Compliance Insights
(May 4, 2018).
Co-Author: Sadina Montani.
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"Addressing Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era: The Rights of the Alleged Harasser," Corporate Compliance Insights
(March 28, 2018).
Co-Author: Sadina Montani.
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"Addressing Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era: Best Practices for Investigating Allegations," Corporate Compliance Insights
(February 8, 2018).
Co-Author: Sadina Montani.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"New York State Amends Pay Transparency Law,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(March 23, 2023).
Contacts: Kris D. Meade, Eric Su, Sadina Montani, Ira M. Saxe, Rebecca L. Springer, Jessica S. Nam
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"New York Enacts Statewide Pay Transparency Law,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(January 26, 2023).
Contacts: Kris D. Meade, Rebecca L. Springer, Eric Su, Sadina Montani, Olamide Fadahunsi, Ira M. Saxe
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"New York City’s Pay Transparency Law Goes Into Effect,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(November 11, 2022).
Contacts: Kris D. Meade, Rebecca L. Springer, Ira M. Saxe, Eric Su, Sadina Montani, Suzanne E. Rode
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"U.S. Department of Labor Issues Proposed Rule On Independent Contractors,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(October 20, 2022).
Contacts: Thomas P. Gies, Eric Su, Sadina Montani, Christopher J. Banks, Andrew W. Bagley, Jessica S. Nam
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"Colorado Enacts Amendment to Non-Compete Law with More Restrictions and Stricter Penalties,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(August 19, 2022).
Contacts: Sadina Montani, Jillian Ambrose, Rachel Lesser
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"Long-Awaited Amendment to D.C.’s Ban on Non-Compete Agreements Addresses Employer Concerns,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(July 22, 2022).
Contacts: Kris D. Meade, Trina Fairley Barlow, Sadina Montani, Rachel Lesser
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"Chicago Expands Sexual Harassment Prevention Obligations for Employers,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(June 28, 2022).
Contacts: Trina Fairley Barlow, Sadina Montani, Preston L. Pugh, Rebecca L. Springer, Jessica S. Nam
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"Effective Date of the New York City Pay Transparency Law Extended to November 1, 2022,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(May 17, 2022).
Contacts: Ira M. Saxe, Eric Su, Sadina Montani, Cori Schreider
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"Pre-dispute Agreements to Arbitrate Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Claims Will Be Voidable Pursuant to Federal Legislation,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(March 2, 2022).
Contacts: Ellen Moran Dwyer, Thomas P. Gies, Sadina Montani, Rebecca L. Springer, Eric Su, Kimberley Johnson
Press Coverage
Firm News & Announcements