Education

  • Western Michigan University, B.M. (2002) cum laude
  • The George Washington University, M.A. (2005) cum laude
  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D. (2008)

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Sadina Montani

Partner
smontani@crowell.com
+1.202.508.8875

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



Publications



Client Alerts & Newsletters



Press Coverage



Firm News & Announcements

October 12, 2022 Sadina Montani Participates in Coqual’s Annual Summit
October 16, 2020 Partners Sadina Montani and Ellen Dwyer Participate in Women’s Bar Association of D.C. Leadership Symposium
September 30, 2020 Labor & Employment Lawyer Sadina Montani Joins Crowell & Moring