Introduction
Jessica Schachter Jewell is a member of the Labor & Employment practice group. She provides counseling and litigation defense to local and national employers in a broad spectrum of industries, including restaurant/food service, healthcare, technology and nonprofit organizations.
My focus
I focus my practice on labor and employment litigation in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. Specifically, I help employers located in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington DC. I regularly defend against employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation and whistleblower claims and routinely obtain “no probable cause” determinations and summary judgment in my clients’ favor.
I also assist clients with a variety of employment-related matters, including properly handling investigations into employment discrimination and harassment claims, wage-hour issues, employee termination and various labor issues.
I ensure that I am up to date on the current laws as well as recent trends so that my clients know what to expect today, tomorrow and in the future.
Looking ahead
I’ve been following developments in labor and employment including recent changes to laws affecting interviewing and hiring practices, wage-hour issues and leave entitlement.
- “State and Federal Court Update,” University of Rhode Island's 36th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Providence, RI, April 5, 2024
- “The Intersection of Legislation and Diversity in the Workplace,” 20th Annual Rhode Island's Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Conference, Warwick, RI, March 28, 2019 (break-out session facilitator)
In the news
- Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
Lawyers see some ambiguities in federal arbitration measure
Providence Labor & Employment counsel Jessica Schachter Jewell is quoted throughout this article covering the potential impact of H.R. 4445, pending federal legislation that would prohibit employers from mandating arbitration for sexual harassment and sexual assault claims.Feb 25, 2022 - Providence Business News
Under R.I. equity measure, firms may need wage audit
This article on Rhode Island’s new pay equity law quotes Providence Labor & Employment counsel Jessica Schachter Jewell extensively on what employers can expect under the law and how they can prepare before the law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023.Aug 20, 2021 - Modern Restaurant Management
MRM research roundup: Mid-August 2021 edition
This state-of-the-restaurant-industry and outlook article includes NP’s Q3 Food & Beverage Crystal Ball, covering trends around labor shortages, ransomware attacks, wildfires, and brewery distribution agreements. The insights were provided by Intellectual Property co-leader and Cybersecurity & Privacy team leader Jason Kravitz and Corporate associate Anthony Bova, both in Boston; Providence Labor & Employment counsel Jessica Schachter Jewell; and San Francisco counsel Ian T. O’Banion, and Albany associate Dana P. Stanton, both of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate groupAug 16, 2021 - Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
Employer-side lawyers parse pay equity law
Providence Labor & Employment counsel Jessica Schachter Jewell is quoted throughout this article on what employers can expect under Rhode Island’s new pay equity law, including the importance of looking across all protected classes, potential complicating factors related to the “ comparable work” concept, and wage history prohibition and transparency.July 23, 2021 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Hospital ‘offer letter’ found not to be binding contract
This article covers a recent Massachusetts Superior Court decision in favor of client Lowell General Hospital, finding that a prospective employee could not establish either a breach of contract claim or a promissory estoppel claim. Providence counsel Jessica Jewell and associate Aaron Nadich, both of the Labor & Employment group, are quoted in the article.March 18, 2021 - Bloomberg Law
Wake Up Call
This roundup of notable legal industry news and people moves includes Nixon Peabody’s promotion of 12 attorneys to counsel.Feb 17, 2021 - Providence Business News
PBN announces 2020 40 Under Forty winners
This article highlights the publication’s 16th annual “40 Under Forty” award winners, a list that includes Providence Labor and Employment associate Jessica Jewell among the honorees.June 12, 2020 - Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
No individual liability under FEPA Supreme Court rules
Providence labor and employment associate Jessica Jewell is quoted in this article discussing individual liability under Fair Employment Practice Agencies and the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act, in light of the decision in Mancini vs. City of Providence.March 23, 2017 - Law360
5 employer lessons from NLRB's Chipotle decision
Providence office managing partner and Labor & Employment partner Andrew B. Prescott, and Labor & Employment associate Jessica Jewell, guest authored this column about important guidance for employers in light of the National Labor Relation Board’s recent decision regarding several Chipotle employment policies.Oct 19, 2016 - Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
FOIA Decision Analyzes Public v. Privacy Interests
This story notes a federal judge’s order in the Freedom of Information Act case requiring the government to release redacted medical records entered as evidence at a doctor’s trial—a win for Rhode Island journalist Philip Eil. Providence Labor & Employment partner Neal McNamara and associate Jessica Jewell are quoted in the piece as Eil’s pro bono counsel on behalf of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.Oct 4, 2016 - Rhode Island Public Radio
Q&A: Phil Eil on His Battle to Get Evidence from a 2011 Drug Trial
Providence office managing partner Neal McNamara and Providence Labor & Employment associate Jessica Jewell are mentioned in this radio show Q&A for their pro bono work in filing a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit for the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island on behalf of a local journalist.March 14, 2016 - Providence Business News
Guest Column: Creative Vacation Plans
Providence Labor & Employment associate Jessica Jewell authored this article on creative approaches to traditional vacation policies that employers should consider in an effort to hire and retain top-notch employees.July 20, 2015 - The Legal Intelligencer
The Pendulum Swings in Two Massachusetts Franchise Cases
New York City partner and leader of the firm’s Franchise & Distribution practice Craig Tractenberg and Providence Labor & Employment associate Jessica Jewell coauthored this article on two Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decisions which provide valuable lessons for franchise systems with respect to tipping policies.April 24, 2015 - Portsmouth Daily Times
ACLU Sues for Volkman Trial Info
Providence office managing partner Neal McNamara and Providence Labor & Employment associate Jessica Jewell are noted as the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island's counsel in filing a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit on behalf of a local journalist.March 19, 2015
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
District of Columbia
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
Education
Roger Williams University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
Teachers College, Columbia University, M.A., Social-Organizational Psychology
Tulane University, B.A.
Professional activities
Rhode Island Bar Association
Recognition
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 in the field of Employment Law - Management
- Recognized for exceptional standing in the legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2024 for Labor & Employment (Rhode Island); recognized since 2021.
- 2020 Providence Business News 40 Under Forty Winner
- Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly Excellence in the Law 2020—Up & Coming Lawyers
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllJeffrey B. Gilbreth
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Labor & Employment- Boston
- Office:+1 617.345.1371
- jgilbreth@nixonpeabody.com
-
Stacie B. Collier
Partner / Chief Talent Officer- Providence
- Office:+1 401.454.1018
- sbcollier@nixonpeabody.com
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Eric Paley
Partner / Team Leader, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation- Rochester
- Office:+1 585.263.1012
- epaley@nixonpeabody.com
-