Christy’s practice encompasses employment litigation, EEOC charges, diversity & inclusion initiatives, #MeToo investigations, pay equity analyses, advice, training, affirmative action, and audit defense before the OFCCP.

Christy’s work focuses on civil rights, pay equity, affirmative action, and audit defense before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. She has substantial experience advising on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, conducting internal investigations, litigating in federal and state courts, and practicing before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She advises business management, HR, and in-house counsel on a full range of employment law issues. Christy enjoys conducting management and supervisor training on a wide array of legal and practical topics. She is a contributing author to the Hunton Employment & Labor Perspectives blog.

Christy is admitted to practice before the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Relevant Experience

• Has extensive nationwide experience defending audits by the Department of Labor-Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
• Advises on a wide range of regulatory requirements and developments related to affirmative action and the OFCCP.
• Prepares annual Affirmative Action Plans and helps first-time federal contractors implement comprehensive compliance schemes.
• Conducts privileged pay equity analyses for employers. Provides strategic start-to-finish guidance, from the creation of pay analysis groups to the identification of pay factors, through multiple regression and cohort analyses, to action steps and messaging equity adjustments.
• Has substantial experience representing employers in connection with discrimination, harassment, denial-of-benefits, defamation, wrongful discharge and other claims in state and federal courts, including appeals.
• Has litigated cases under all major federal employment statutes, including: Title VII, Section 1981, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, USERRA and ERISA.

• Representative Decisions: Ruff v. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 2:16-cv-525 (E.D.Va. Dec. 29, 2016) (obtained pre-discovery Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal with prejudice of claims of race discrimination, religious discrimination and failure-to-accommodate, and retaliation); Hickey v. Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Record No. 15072 (Va. Oct. 29, 2015) (obtained denial of plaintiff/appellant’s petition for appeal and petition for rehearing); Va. Cir. CL13-3603, (Chesterfield Feb. 13, 2015) (obtained dismissal of state law military discrimination claim on demurrer); Va. Cir. CL14-1794 (Chesterfield) (Feb. 13, 2015) (obtained dismissal of declaratory judgment action via plea in bar); Fletcher v. Philip Morris USA, Inc. et al., No. 3:09cv284, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63094 (E.D.Va. July 14, 2009) (obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of all claims prior to discovery, including race and gender discrimination and retaliation); Alarie v. Alcoa Inc. and Broadspire Services, Inc., No. 06-4111 (D. S.D. Oct. 24, 2007) (obtained summary judgment dismissal of ERISA denial-of-benefits action); Elamon v. Red Robin International, Inc., No. 2:06cv202, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74375 (E.D. Va. Sept. 29, 2006) (obtained dismissal of all claims by terminated employee, including tortious discharge, defamation, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, and abuse of process); Guglietta v. Meredith Corp., 301 F. Supp. 2d 209 (D. Conn. 2004) (obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of claims of age, pregnancy and gender / family responsibility discrimination); Union of Needles Trades, Industrial and Textile Employees v. Jones, 603 S.E.2d 920, 268 Va. 512 (2004) (obtained reversal of a $300,000 jury award in a state-law defamation action and secured final judgment for the employer).
• Defends charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and comparable state agencies.
• Advises employers on a wide range of legal and practical employment issues.
• Assists companies and executives in drafting, negotiating and analyzing employment contracts, severance contracts, and noncompete agreements.
• Member of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Electronic Discovery Team, which provides advice to clients on e-discovery issues.
• Pro Bono: Women's Advocacy Project. Represents victims of domestic violence in connection with protective orders, child custody and visitation, and child and spousal support.
• Pro Bono: Central Virginia Legal Aid Hotline. Advises low-income clients regarding employment, housing, creditors rights and domestic violence issues.
• Pro Bono: Church Hill Pro Bono Office. Assists low-income clients with divorce, annulment, name change, and adoption proceedings.
• Pro Bono: Federal Defender’s Office. Prepared Motion for Compassionate Release on behalf of federal inmate at risk for Covid.
• Pro Bono: National Legal Veterans Service Project. Petitioned the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and obtained benefits (back pay and future award) for Army veteran who experienced a military sexual trauma (MST).
• Member of Hunton & Williams’ Pro Bono Committee, Richmond office.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, Duke University School of Law, 2002BA, English and Psychology, The College of William & Mary, 1998