Civil Rights Lawyer, Military Veteran Maia Goodell Named Partner, Establishes Disability Rights and Justice Practice at Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C.

Maia Goodell

New York, NY — Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C., the preeminent employment law firm based in Manhattan, today announced Maia Goodell has rejoined its team as a partner. In addition to supporting the firm’s legacy of protecting and advancing workers’ rights, Maia will lead and grow a disability rights and justice practice, centered on the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related civil rights laws.

“We are thrilled to have Maia return and commit to the expansion of our firm. She exemplifies our values and commitment to client success and is obviously a natural fit,” says Anne L. Clark, the firm’s president and managing partner. “We are proud of her public service and impressed with the disability rights and justice practice she has built which perfectly complements the range of services we offer.”

A graduate of Yale and the University of Michigan law schools, Goodell originally joined the firm as an associate in 2006 and served as a partner before leaving in 2012 to pursue experience in public service. She supported nonprofits and disability-led advocacy groups, such as Mobilization for Justice and Disability Rights Advocates, advancing workers’ rights as well as racial and disability equity. Maia also headed groundbreaking class actions against major institutions, including New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) for the physical inaccessibility of its subway system, and Stanford University for its leave of absence policy violating the rights of students with mental health disabilities.

“My development as a lawyer was greatly influenced by my early tenure at Vladeck,” says Goodell. “I have always carried what I learned from the leadership. Now, after a decade in public service, I look forward to applying another layer of knowledge and insight to my work at the firm and contributing to the firm’s tradition of excellence.”

In addition to a civil rights lawyer, Goodell is a U.S. military veteran. She was one of the first female Navy officers aboard combatant ships in the 1990s, a transformative time in the military’s history marked by sexual scandals and debates about whether men and women could serve together. That experience before law school helped Goodell develop her commitment to promoting equality to change systems and outcomes.

“As a military veteran, Maia brings that kind of discipline, focus and grit to everything she does,” says Susan J. Walsh, a partner at the firm. “Her leadership style fosters collaboration and teamwork, which is invaluable to us as we continue to push for the rights of the individual, for the development of law and as we cultivate new lawyers who join the firm.”

About Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C.

Since 1949, Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C. has been nationally recognized as the preeminent employment law firm dedicated to protecting and advancing workers’ rights. Founded by Stephen and Judith Vladeck, the firm continues to build upon its legacy of professional excellence, creative lawyering and client success inside and outside the courtroom. Its lawyers’ commitment to protecting civil rights also extends to disabled people and the rights of the criminally accused.

For more information, visit www.vladeck.com.

Tags: Disability rights, employment law, Employment-Lawyer, disability justice, disability rights lawyer