Navigating Title VII and the California CROWN Act

Kathiana Aurelien is counsel in Willkie’s Labor and Employment Group in Los Angeles. She focuses her practice on California employment issues, representing industry-leading clients on a wide range of labor and employment matters.  She regularly advises on the employment implications of corporate transactions, and has extensive experience working with clients on workplace investigations, evaluating worker classification issues, and implementing reductions-in-force.  Kathiana has experience defending state and federal discrimination and retaliation claims; drafting and negotiating employment, severance, and general release agreements; complying with wage payment and sick leave obligations; and drafting effective personnel policies.  

A thought leader in the industry, Kathiana writes and speaks extensively on employment-related topics ranging from cannabis in the workplace to the impact of Dodd-Frank on employers.  Kathiana currently serves on the board of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. as an Officer and Committee Co-Chair and is the Co-Chair of the Pro Bono and Community Outreach Committee for the Labor and Employment Section of the American Bar Association.  

Tracy Sanders Rucker, Esq. (Sanders Rucker) is an accomplished attorney, author, and speaker based in Los Angeles, California. Sanders Rucker established Natural Hair and the Law, an organization formed to provide publications addressing legal issues related to hair texture in the workplace and schools. Natural Hair and the Law is a content partner of West Legal Ed Center (CeriFi Legal Edge).

Additionally, Sanders Rucker is the author of The CROWN Act Handbook, Natural Hair Affirmations, and Natural Hair in the Workplace: What Are Your Rights? Which has been featured in Essence, Los Angeles Sentinel, and Black Caucus of the American Library Association. 

Sanders Rucker attained several prestigious accolades and awards. She has been honored with the U.S. House of Representatives/California Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager Sister Circle Award and Certificate of Special Recognition from Mayor of Los Angeles/U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass for her outstanding community service. Sanders Rucker received the Netflix Business Award and Comerica Bank Los Angeles Lakers Women’s Business Award. She has been a featured speaker at Yale University, Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Loyola Law School, University of the Pacific, Sam Houston State University, Claflin University, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Leadership Seminar.

Sanders Rucker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of South Carolina, Master of Public Administration degree at the University of South Carolina, Juris Doctorate degree at Syracuse University College of Law, and Women’s Entrepreneurship certificate at Cornell University. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, and Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation.  Sanders Rucker is strongly committed to helping youths achieve their education and career goals. Sanders Rucker made appearances on TV networks such as ABC, Fox, MSNBC, TLC, and WE. She is founder of the Attorney Tracy Sanders Foundation, a public charity, with the mission to promote liberty, empowerment, and justice.