Ariel Grayson Sullivan

Ariel Sullivan is a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment and Higher Education groups, representing businesses and institutions of higher education in proceedings before state and federal courts, and administrative agencies, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”).

Ariel is committed to understanding her clients’ businesses, listening to their concerns, and providing guidance and solutions suited to fit their needs and growth.  She advises clients on all aspects of employment, including hiring, termination, wage and hour practices, personnel policies and handbooks, leaves of absence, non-competition agreements, internal investigations, union avoidance and unfair labor practices, employee discipline and diversity initiatives.  Ariel also assists clients with employment-based immigration matters, including work authorization (Form I-9), use of E-Verify, and temporary working visas (H-1B petitions).

Ariel counsels higher education clients on matters related to faculty and staff employment, student affairs and discipline, disability services, response to subpoenas, FERPA compliance, state authorization, research compliance, and student and faculty handbooks.  Over the last several years, Ariel has been working hand-in-hand with college and university clients and their Title IX coordinators to help them navigate the complexities of Title IX, and revise their policies and procedures in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidance.  She frequently assists colleges and universities in responding to allegations of sexual assault on campus, conducts investigations, and provides training to various constituencies on campus, including Title IX coordinators, investigators and adjudicators, campus police and students.

Prior to joining Bowditch & Dewey, Ariel was a trial attorney at a Washington, DC-based law firm, where she represented professionals, corporations, and institutions of higher education in medical malpractice, products liability and employment discrimination matters before the state and federal courts.