Academic Background
Baylor University School of Law, JD Law. Activities and Societies: Minority Law Student Association, Order of Barristers.
The University of Texas at Arlington Bachelor of Arts, History Activities and Societies: Phi Alpha Theta
Bar and Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- Texas (inactive)
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- District of Massachusetts
- Northern District of Texas (inactive)
- Eastern District of Texas (inactive)
Professional/Community
- Former Board Member and Treasurer of the Worcester Country Food Bank
Shehzad Rajwani is an employment attorney representing both management and employees. On the management side, Mr. Rajwani believes in the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Therefore, he gets to know his clients’ businesses in order to assist them in compliance with laws regarding proper classification of workers and payment of wages, including compliance with the Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law and the Fair Labor Standards Act. In addition, Mr. Rajwani has completed discrimination and harassment prevention training with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and encourages proper training of a company’s management and staff to comply with its policies and the law.
On the employee side, Mr. Rajwani is an ardent advocate for individuals who have been denied their wages, whether it is overtime, vacation pay or commissions, as well as employees who have been mischaracterized as independent contractors by their employers. In addition, Mr. Rajwani represents individuals who have been discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, military status and other protected categories under Massachusetts or federal law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Mr. Rajwani also represents clients who have been subjected to sexual harassment or harassment on the basis of another protected category. Further, Mr. Rajwani represents individuals who have been retaliated against for making a complaint regarding discrimination and harassment.
Mr. Rajwani’s practice also includes business and civil litigation, and he has represented clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings involving partnership disputes, breaches of contract and tortious interference with contract claims and other business torts, and claims brought under Chapter 93A, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Statute. In addition, he has represented businesses and individuals in cases involving claims for violations of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements. His client representation has encompassed pre-litigation counseling through trial and appeal.
Mr. Rajwani graduated from Baylor Law School, where he served as President of the Baylor University Minority Law Student Association and was admitted into the Order of Barristers at the Law School. He is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He is also admitted to practice in Texas (currently inactive).
Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreements
- Represented clients in enforcing non-competition and non-solicitation agreements through litigation proceedings seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages against former employees
- Assisted large staffing organization in drafting and enforcing non-competition agreements, including enforcing rights through cease and desist letters and pre-litigation negotiations, as well as in litigation proceedings
- Successfully represented employees in litigation proceedings related to breach of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements claims, as well as claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information, where the former employer sought injunctive relief and monetary damages
Overtime and Wage and Hour Disputes
- Advised employers regarding proper classification of employees as hourly or salaried, (exempt versus non-exempt) and defended employers against claims for unpaid wages/commissions
- Represented employees in various occupations who were misclassified under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Massachusetts wage and hour laws and denied their wages, including overtime pay and commissions
Discrimination and Harassment Claims
- Represented employers in obtaining lack of probable cause findings at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination related to disability and gender discrimination claims
- Represented numerous employers and employees in mediation proceedings and negotiating settlements related to claims of discrimination and harassment
- Represented employees in cases involving sexual harassment/gender discrimination, religious discrimination, disability/handicap discrimination, race/color, national origin/ethnicity and age discrimination claims in front of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Misclassification Claims under the Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law
- Advised employers on proper classification of individuals as employees versus independent contractors under Massachusetts and federal law and assisted in drafting independent contractor and consulting agreements
- Represented various employees misclassified as independent contractors under the Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law and negotiated settlements on their behalf without necessity of filing lawsuits
Business/Civil Litigation
- Successfully represented companies in litigation proceedings, including through summary judgment and trial, in defending against various tort claims, including defamation claims and claims brought under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act (Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 93A)
- Successfully represented individual bringing claims for breach of partnership agreement and breach of fiduciary duties in arbitration proceedings in front of the American Arbitration Association, leading to rescission of partnership agreement and return of client’s investment
- Successfully represented individual bringing claims for breach of LLC membership agreement and obtained favorable settlement without necessity of filing lawsuit
- Successfully represented individuals in pursuing various claims in civil litigation, including invasion of privacy claims and claims brought under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act (Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 93A)
The Independent Contractor Law in Massachusetts and the Risks of MisclassificationContact Shehzad Directly
