Rauchell A. Beckford-Anderson

A member of the firm's Employment and Labor Practice Group, Rauchell A. Beckford-Anderson collaborates with employers on mission-critical and routine employment matters. She defends public and private sector employers in employment-related litigation including wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, harassment and wage claims, breach of contract, due process, wage and hour issues, and accommodation requests.

Frequently providing counsel to clients on matters concerning the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Rauchell is adept at defending employers facing claims under these federal statutes. Her representation extends to employers before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), the Connecticut Department of Labor (CT DOL), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), as well as in Connecticut Superior Court, and federal district courts. In addition, Rauchell has experience litigating cases in jurisdictions beyond Connecticut on a pro hac vice basis, including a number of recent cases in Tennessee and Indiana.

Offering clients proactive, preventative counsel and litigation-avoidance strategies, Rauchell excels in defense-first counseling. She collaborates closely with clients to develop custom personnel policies, employee handbooks, and leave policies. Regularly advising clients on claims related to FLSA, wage and hour, accommodation, and Connecticut Paid Family Leave, she also drafts severance and settlement agreements, non-compete clauses, and termination documents. Her expertise extends to numerous areas of employment law, making her a valued asset to clients.

Rauchell is a certified workplace investigator by the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI). She regularly conducts workplace and school investigations regarding claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, fraud, workplace misconduct, and Title IX violations on behalf of clients including public and private schools, colleges and universities, and healthcare entities.

Also a member of Shipman’s School Law Practice Group, Rauchell advises universities, colleges, public school districts, independent schools, and other public and private sector clients on education and employment matters. She is often called upon by public and private schools, college, and university clients to investigate sensitive personnel and student-related issues.

After earning her law degree from Western New England University School of Law, Rauchell served as a judicial law clerk for several Connecticut Superior Court judges. She also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Robert G. Fields at the Western Housing Court in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Outside the office, Rauchell is active in her community. Serving on the board of several organizations including Operation Fuel and Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity. She also volunteers as a Luminary Events Committee member for Aurora Women and Girls Foundation.