Laura Brown is an employment lawyer and mother of two.

She has been working directly with workers for over two decades, as a founder of First Shift Justice Project; Legal Director of the Workers’ Rights Clinic of the Employment Justice Center (now affiliated with the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs); an associate at the law firm of Woodley & McGillivary (now McGillivary, Steele, Elkin); and as a Staff Attorney/Business Agent with UNITE HERE Local 25, the hotel and restaurant employees’ union in D.C.

Laura is a graduate of the Santa Clara University School of Law and a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and California (inactive).

In 2022, Laura was honored to receive the Lawyer of the Year award from the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association.

Rosalind Herendeen is a Senior Attorney at First Shift. As a Senior Attorney, Rosalind advocates and provides client services on behalf of individuals who have been subjected to pregnancy or caregiver responsibilities discrimination in the workplace, or who have been denied or prevented from taking leave to which they are lawfully entitled. Prior to joining First Shift, Rosalind, committed to ensuring that employees are treated equitably at work, co-founded Wilkenfeld, Herendeen & Atkinson (now The Atkinson Law Group), a civil rights law firm specializing in the representation of employees in cases of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Rosalind received her J.D. from The American University Washington College of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

Stefanny Montufar is the Bilingual Paralegal at First Shift Justice Project, fluent in English and Spanish. As a Bilingual Paralegal, she helps clients with inquiries, manages intakes, and assists clients in applying for the DC Paid Leave benefits. Moreover, Stefanny supports First Shift attorneys to serve Spanish-speaking clients and works with First Shift’s Community Engagement Manager to coordinate and deliver Know Your Rights presentations in Spanish.

Stefanny earned her Law Degree from San Francisco de Quito University in Quito, Ecuador. She has experience working with non-profit organizations helping vulnerable communities exercise their legal rights. She is passionate about social justice and Human Rights.

Allison Tallering is a Staff Attorney at First Shift, focusing specifically on our Virginia practice. She joined First Shift in 2021 as a Georgetown Justice Fellow, crafting a project around the expansion of First Shift's services into Northern Virginia. During law school, she worked as a two-term law clerk for First Shift, helping with advocacy and client services related to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the DC Paid Family Leave program rollout, and as a law clerk in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender- Felony Trial Division. Prior to law school, Allison worked in Democratic politics and the reproductive justice space. However, her passion for worker's rights was sparked through years of working retail. She earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from Duke University. Allison is licensed to practice law in D.C. and Virginia.

Brian is the Operations Manager at First Shift Justice Project. He previously handled operations at a local non profit early education center. Initially from Massachusetts, Brian came to DC to earn his undergraduate degree at George Washington University studying political science, with the hopes of working with nonprofits to make a positive impact. Brian built a desktop computer by hand in 5th grade and First Shift is happy to provide him with an outlet for his technological capabilities. Brian is passionate about caregiver rights and eager to learn more.

In May 2024, Poe joined the First Shift team as the Database & Grants Coordinator. Poe attended New York University, where she created an individualized study plan involving social unrest and its relationship to dystopian literature and poetry. Poe has supported non-profits and legal aid organizations through philanthropy for nearly a decade, including writing and reporting on grants, overseeing grant compliance, interacting with funders and managing various development databases. Poe believes deeply in the power of youth, community, and resistance in the form of joy.

C. Nickel is the Community Health Outreach Manager at First Shift Justice Project. As the Community Health Outreach Manager, C. works with medical professionals to help them support patient health through pregnancy accommodations, family medical leave, and D.C. paid leave benefits. C. earned a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MPH from the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, and is passionate about improving health outcomes for all through health professional education.

Jennie Saldana is the D.C. Outreach Coordinator at First Shift Justice Project, focusing on creating new connections with local organizations and continuing to cultivate existing partnerships. Jennie provides “Know Your Rights” presentations in both English and Spanish to pregnant people, caregivers, and parents on pregnancy accommodations and medical leave. Prior to working at First Shift, Jennie worked for a local non profit as a program coordinator and youth trainer, teaching high schoolers about sexual and mental health. Jennie is passionate about educating the surrounding community, giving them the tools to feel empowered and confident in advocating for themselves. In addition, Jennie is particularly passionate about assisting migrant populations and is guided by anti-racism principles. Jennie graduated from American University with a B.A. in International Studies and a Spanish minor.

Ann West is the Virginia Outreach Coordinator for First Shift Justice Project. Her passion for advocating for social justice and gender equality has guided her career,  seeking to empower individuals and create equitable workplaces for all.

She attended Goucher College, where she majored in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, along with Anthropology. Her education has provided her with a strong foundation in understanding the complexities of gender issues and the cultural contexts that influence them. This knowledge fuels her commitment to work at First Shift, and desire to raise awareness, educate the community, and provide resources for those affected by discrimination.