Stacie Collier is a member of Nixon Peabody’s Labor & Employment group. She also serves as the firm’s Professional Personnel partner. She exclusively represents management in the resolution of employment-related disputes before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.

What do you focus on?

While I have experience performing all aspects of L&E work, today my practice has three primary focuses.

Preventative
My initial goal is to help my clients foster positive employee relations and keep them out of litigation in the first place. To that end, I have provided strategic advice and counsel work focusing on a preventative approach for well over 20 years, including fielding client questions, reviewing policies and drafting employment agreements. I also have provided thousands of hours of managerial and employee training nationally on myriad topics, including harassment prevention, diversity and inclusion, accommodation and managing leaves and supervisory skills.

Defense of Claims
When defending the inevitable claims, I partner with my clients to achieve the desired result with the appropriate blend of aggressiveness and strategy. I regularly assist clients to prevail on motions to dismiss and for summary judgment, and in dismissing claims before a number of administrative tribunals. I have a depth of experience in litigating claims of discrimination and harassment, with an emphasis on workplace harassment. I have successfully prosecuted and defended a number of non-compete and other restrictive covenant cases over the years.

Unique Experience
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, I have become a sought after speaker on how employers can most effectively and positively respond to the unique challenges presented. I have enjoyed melding this focused area of interest with my training work and preventative practice.

What do you see on the horizon?

The wide range of ages in the workforce provide areas of opportunity for ways in which my clients can best recruit, retain and maintain safe and legal working environments. I try to help employers “see around corners” on how their workforce approaches work and on how judges and legislators are addressing this major demographic shift.

Presentations

• “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)
• “HR and Employment Best Practices and Policies,” 2018 Million Dollar Round Table EDGE Meeting, Boston, MA, November 8, 2018 (co-presenter)

Ideas

• Rethinking the Post-COVID workforce
  Employment Alert | 02.24.21
• Let’s Talk! A conversation with Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint, Inc.
  Trending | 09.18.20
• Rhode Island’s Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act: what employers need to know now
  Employment Law Alert | 06.05.18

Press

• The Best Lawyers in America© names 14 Nixon Peabody attorneys as “Lawyers of the Year” for 2021
  08.20.20
• Nixon Peabody attorneys recognized as leaders in their field by Chambers USA
  04.23.20
• Nixon Peabody attorneys recognized by Chambers USA as leaders in their field
  04.28.19
• Sixteen Nixon Peabody attorneys named “Lawyers of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America© for 2019
  08.15.18
• Chambers USA recognizes Nixon Peabody practices and attorneys
  05.02.18

Media Clips

• Employment – FMLA – Retaliation
  Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly | February 16, 2021
  This article covers the First Circuit Court of Appeals’ affirmation of an earlier decision that jeweler Tiffany & Co. had not violated the Family and Medical Leave Act in eliminating a former employee’s position. The article mentions Labor & Employment partner Stacie Collier and associate Aaron Nadich, both of Providence, for successfully representing Tiffany.
• 4 Ways Firms Are Trying to ‘Move the Needle’ on Diversity
  Law360 | December 04, 2020
  This article covering a recent Move the Needle Fund town hall highlights NP’s “Mansfield Rule for workflow allocation“ and quotes Professional Personnel Partner and Providence Labor & Employment partner Stacie Collier on how our firm is building a more inclusive culture by equalizing access to work opportunities for all lawyers.
• Burnout signs have risen 33% percent in 2020; here are seven ways to reduce risks
  LinkedIn Workforce Insights | October 07, 2020
  This article, covering how organizations can reduce burnout risks among employees, cites NP for “bucking the trend” by focusing on advancement and promotion even during these challenging times, and quotes Professional Personnel Partner and Providence Labor & Employment partner Stacie Collier on plans for the firm’s 2021 partner class.
• Practice makes perfect for Collier at Nixon Peabody
  Providence Business News | June 19, 2020
  This article profiles Providence Labor & Employment partner and NP professional personnel partner Stacie Collier in connection with being honored as Providence Business Journal’s 2020 Professional Services Industry Leader among the publication’s Business Women Awards.
• PBN announces 2020 Business Women Awards honorees
  Providence Business News | April 24, 2020
  The publication has named Providence Labor and Employment partner Stacie Collier “Professional Services Industry Leader” as part of PBN’s 2020 Business Women Awards. The article includes a list of this year’s honorees.
• Pretext not shown in FMLA retaliation claim vs. jeweler
  Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly | April 23, 2020
  This article mentions Providence Labor and Employment partner Stacie Collier for successfully defending jeweler Tiffany & Co. against a former employee’s disability discrimination and FMLA retaliation claims. The judge in the case granted Tiffany’s motion for summary judgment.
• Diversity can be challenging for R.I. law firms
  Providence Business News | February 28, 2020
  This article quotes Providence Office Managing Partner Andrew Prescott and Labor and Employment partner Stacie Collier on the steps Nixon Peabody is taking to increase diversity among attorneys and the changes they have seen in the profession over time.
• Bye to Bad Habits: Lawyers share resolutions for 2020
  Law360 | January 24, 2020
  This article on 2020 New Year’s resolutions from attorneys features Providence Labor and Employment partner and Professional Personnel partner Stacie Collier and Litigation Department Chair Scott O’Connell sharing their goals for the new year.
• 5 tips for parental leave policies that minimize legal risk
  Law360 | May 10, 2018
  Providence labor and employment partner Stacie Collier is quoted in this article about how employers can ensure their parental leave policies are fair, equitable and lawful.

Talks

• 20th Annual Rhode Island’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Conference
  03.28.19 | Warwick, RI

Events

• Let’s Talk: A Conversation with Kara Goldin, Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc.
  09.16.20 | Webinar
• NP Annual Rhode Island CLE Seminar
  05.10.19 | Warwick, RI

Recognition

• Providence Business News Business Women Awards 2020 Industry Leader, Professional Services
• Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 in the fields of Employment Law—Management and Litigation—Labor and Employment; named the Best Lawyers® 2021 Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” in Providence; listed in Best Lawyers since 2010.
• Recognized for exceptional standing in the national legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2020 for Labor & Employment (Rhode Island); also recognized in Chambers in previous years
• Named a “Rhode Island Rising Star” in Thomson Reuters peer-review survey

Affiliations

Stacie serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Saint Mary’s Home for Children and the Louminati Youth Leadership Foundation. She previously served as chair of the Capital City Community Center’s Board of Directors.