Namita S. Brown

Negotiating collective bargaining agreements on behalf of school districts throughout California, Namita Brown uses both traditional and interest-based approaches to forge mutually beneficial agreements while delivering optimal outcomes to her clients. She combines proven negotiation skills with intelligent governance policies and communication strategies, enabling districts to move forward with cohesion and clarity.

In guiding governance boards and school associations through legal, community and public relations challenges, Namita helps these organizations set and maintain modern governance practices and look at their positions through both a microscopic and wide-angle lens. At all times, she positions them to deliver the best instruction possible while complying with state and federal law. Her goal always is to help them avoid legal and political pitfalls. Namita understands her clients’ strategic plans and directives in depth and stays current, which allows her to offer advice quickly at the hint of a sudden problem or crisis.

As an authority on the rapidly evolving area of law that addresses technology’s impact on school operations, Namita keeps the firm and its clients in front of the legal issues that arise. She is the founding co-chair of the firm’s eMatters practice group, which co-created the popular ACSA workshop “Logged On.” It provides California educators with the most current information on cyber behavior, social media and speech, and offers guidance on employee and student codes of conduct. Namita is also a sought-after speaker and puts her proven leadership skills into action as managing partner of the firm.

An experienced advocate, Namita represents clients in employment litigation including race, gender, gender identity, disability and national origin discrimination and in sexual harassment claims. She’s appeared before federal and state courts, the Public Employment Relations Board, Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Civil Rights Department (formerly DFEH), and U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Growing up in Asia with a Delhi University professor for a mother, Namita saw firsthand the issues and conflicts surrounding labor in academia. This background gave her a lasting appreciation for the value of teachers and how working in tandem with them can influence greater outcomes for the schools and their students.