Anu Susan Thomas

Anu Susan Thomas is an associate in the Litigation Department and a member of the firm's Labor and Employment Group.

Her practice focuses on counseling employers on a wide range of labor and employment issues. Anu has experience assisting employers drafting and reviewing workplace policies and agreements, including cutting-edge workplace anti-harassment and social media policies, as well as conducting holistic revamping of employee handbooks. She has counseled clients on issues relating to employee classifications and exemptions, state and federal anti-discrimination laws, enforcement of restrictive covenants and forms and documents for Fair Credit Reporting Act compliance.

Anu has successfully represented clients in labor negotiations and labor arbitrations, and also worked to negotiate employment decisions before the National and State Labor Boards. Anu has also successfully represented clients before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. Anu also counsels clients with respect to their internal and external diversity and inclusion policies and practices, focusing on implementing diversity & inclusion gap assessments and partnering with employers of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies, on the design and execution of D&I programs.

Pro Bono Experience

Anu maintains an active pro bono practice, particularly working with clients seeking asylum and other immigration-related matters.

Judicial Internship

Hon. Chief Judge Petrese B. Tucker, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, September 2016-May 2017

Professional Activities:

American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Chapter/Philadelphia Chapter Member

American Bar Association Member

Associated Alumni of Central High School Board Member

Recognitions & Accomplishments

Contributor, Ballard Spahr's receipt of Human Rights First's 2019 Marvin E. Frankel Award, for outstanding pro bono services to refugees and asylum seekers.

Recipient, Ballard Spahr's 2019 Alan J. Davis Award, for pro bono work as a member of the SIFI team representing detainees in Georgia who are seeking asylum and other forms of immigration relief

Publications

Co-author, "FDIC Requests Submission of 2019 D&I Self-Assessments through a New and Improved Application," Consumer Finance Monitor blog, March 25, 2020

Co-author, "'Dear Working Parent, We Support You. Warmly, Your Employer,"' Law.com, March 19, 2020

Co-author, "NJ Supreme Court: Employees Can Challenge Termination Decisions Based on Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use," Ballard Spahr alert, March 17, 2020

Co-author, "Paid Sick Leave is Coming to Pittsburgh," Ballard Spahr alert, December 20, 2019

Co-author, "NLRB Trend of Employer-Friendly Decisions Continues: Investigative Confidentiality Rules and Use of Employer Emails," Ballard Spahr alert, December 19, 2019

Co-author, "NLRB: Employers Can Revamp Arbitration Agreements in Response to Collective or Class Action Suits," Ballard Spahr briefing, August 22, 2019

Chapter co-author, "Impact of Other Employment Laws on ERISA," ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide, Fifth Edition, (2020)

Co-author, "NLRB Shows Its Hand: Shift Toward Employer-Friendly Standards to Continue," Ballard Spahr alert, May 28, 2019

Co-author, "Updates to New York State Guidance to Employers on Sexual Harassment Policies and Trainings," Ballard Spahr alert, October 8, 2018

Co-author, "Workplace Equity: The State of the Law on Protections Against Sex-Based Discrimination," Ballard Spahr article, August 30, 2018

Co-author "NY State Issues Guidance to Employers On Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Requirements", Ballard Spahr alert, August 27, 2018

Co-author, "Supreme Court Axes Mandatory Agency Fees for Public Sector Employees," Ballard Spahr alert, June 27, 2018

Co-author, "NLRB Guides Employers on Handbook Rules Post-Boeing," Ballard Spahr alert, June 12, 2018

Co-author, "State Legislatures Tackle Sexual Harassment in the Workplace," Ballard Spahr alert, April 10, 2018

Co-author, "Fate Of Public Union Agency Fees In Hands Of High Court," Law360, March 6, 2018

Co-author, "NLRB Restores Precedent on What Triggers Bargaining Obligations with Unions," Ballard Spahr alert, December 18, 2017

Co-author, "The DOL Proposes to Cut Tip-Pooling Restrictions," Ballard Spahr alert, December 6, 2017

Co-author, "Congress Tackles Federal Paid Leave with Flexible Work Standards Bill," Ballard Spahr alert, November 10, 2017

Author, "A Reimagined Federal Corrupt Practices Act: From Deterrence to Restoration and Beyond," Temple International and Comparative Law Journal, Fall 2016

Author, "Embracing Culture Competence to Enhance Diversity," Legal Intelligencer, September 2015

Speaking Engagements

Co-presenter, "Workplace Equity: State and Federal Trends in 2020," Ballard Spahr webinar, February 11, 2020

Co-presenter, "Background Checks: The Ever-Changing Landscape," Ballard Spahr webinar, October 10, 2019

Co-presenter, "New NLRB Guidance for Workplace Rules Post-Boeing," PBI Webinar, July 13, 2018

Co-presenter, "FCRA Compliance: What Employers Need to Know About Background Checks," Ballard Spahr webinar, July 26, 2018

Temple University Beasley School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2017)
Editor-in-Chief, Temple International and Comparative Law Journal
Beasley Scholar
Recipient, Barristers Award for Best Overall Performance Integrated Trial Advocacy Program
Recipient, Henry J. Richardson, III Award for Best Paper in the Field of International Human Rights
Recipient, Lena L. Hale Award for Outstanding Extracurricular Activities
Captain, International Criminal Court Moot Court Team

Villanova University (B.A. magna cum laude with distinction, 2013)

Languages

Malayalam

Spanish

Modern Standard Arabic and Jordanian Arabic

Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania