Bio

Emma was born in Gainesville, FL but grew up in Peoria, IL and Poquoson, VA. However, her love of the labor movement is rooted in Chicago, where her grandfather was a steward for the Teamsters among other family members who are or were proud members of labor unions. Emma began her legal career at City University of New York Law School in New York City, where she studied labor law with the late Professor John Cicero. She spent the first several years of her career as an attorney representing working class people who fell victim to predatory debt collection and finance through The Law Office of Ahmad Keshavarz, taking on some of the most powerful corporations in the world to fight for her clients’ rights. Emma is proud to have won groundbreaking decisions in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York that future advocates will be able to use to stop corporations from exploiting people.

Emma knows that working people built this country and wants their voices to be heard and their rights respected. She believes that the law can be an important tool for helping everyday people, whether it is at grievance arbitrations, the bargaining table, or in court. Emma’s approach is to mix fierce advocacy with a level-headed temperament – she is always happy to listen, but will not bend to unreasonable demands.

Emma is a music fanatic, collecting vinyl records in every genre from jazz to country to heavy metal. She enjoys cheering loudly for her favorite WNBA teams (the New York Liberty and of course the Chicago Sky). She is a lifelong vegetarian and will happily share her tofu scramble recipe if you’re interested.

Education

• B.A., College of William & Mary, 2012

• J.D., City University of New York Law School, 2018

Admissions

• State of New York

• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York