As a member of the Littler CaseSmart – Charges™ team and based in Maryland, Sydney Peterson Fortmann is responsible for handling charges from investigation to conclusion. She works on client-dedicated service teams, focusing on handling administrative agency charges. She investigates charge allegations, reviews pertinent documents, interviews key witnesses, and provides clients an assessment of the risks associated with the charge. In partnership with the client, she defends the charge by drafting persuasive position statements and responses to the agency’s requests for information.
Prior to joining Littler, Sydney practiced employment and education law at a mid-sized regional firm. She represented a variety of employers ranging from for-profit companies to nonprofit organizations, including charities, colleges, high schools, and a parochial school system. Sydney counseled clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, from hiring through termination, including assisting clients with contract review, policy and handbook review and development, fundraising and advancement issues, internal investigations, employee misconduct, overtime and wage payment issues, reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, progressive discipline, and FMLA and other leave issues. Sydney routinely handled discrimination, harassment, and retaliation charges before local, state, and federal agencies, including reviewing initial charge filings, maintaining client contact, conducting document review, interviewing fact witnesses, researching relevant legal doctrine and case law, drafting position statements, facilitating settlement discussion, participating in formal mediations, and drafting settlement agreements.
After law school, Sydney served as a judicial clerk for the Hon. J. Mark Coulson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.