Lauren L. Tafaro

Lauren Tafaro draws upon her diverse background in both labor and employment law and education law to represent many top businesses and charter schools across Louisiana.

Lauren has been recognized throughout her more than 20-year legal career for her professional accomplishments in her legal practice.

Lauren is ranked by clients and peers among “Litigation Stars” (Benchmark Litigation) and among the nation’s top attorneys in Employment Law – Management and Commercial Litigation (Best Lawyers). Lauren has received several accolades from New Orleans CityBusiness recognizing her contributions to both the legal practice and her civic service, including “Women of the Year” and “Leadership in Law”.

Labor and Employment

Lauren’s labor and employment practice spans the representation of small to medium-sized businesses and large publicly traded and private corporations across every industry.

Lauren trains employers to be proactive and steer clear of potential problems with their labor and employment policies, but also defends them in situations of litigation, or in administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies.

Lauren’s labor and employment practice focuses on both insured and uninsured employment claims. She defends employers in lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, employee discipline, and wrongful termination pursuant to federal and state statutes.  She also trains employees on a variety of employment issues.

Lauren also provides guidance to employers, advising them on matters, including: 

• Abiding by state wage penalty statutes.
• Drafting and enforcement of agreements of any kind, including arbitration, employment, restrictive covenants, severance, and noncompetition agreements.
• Properly classifying exempt and nonexempt employees.
• Understanding how to comply with all federal acts, including the American with Disabilities Act as amended (ADAAA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), among others.

Lauren is a frequent speaker for seminars and events held by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She also visits her clients’ businesses to train human resources departments, administrators, and employees on the latest state and federal regulations.

Education and Charter Schools

Working with K-12 charter owners, operators, and their administrators, Lauren advises and represents charter schools in all their operational needs and legal issues, including labor and employment matters (i.e. benefits/compensation, discipline, discrimination, employer/employee disputes,  harassment, overtime, social media, special education, student/teacher disputes, etc.); drafting, reviewing, and updating handbooks and administrative policies; and Title IX and gender equity investigations.

Lauren frequently speaks at educational symposiums for the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools and provides training for employees at elementary, middle, and high schools across the state.