Faith A. Alejandro
Shareholder
Experience
Practices
“Faith has helped our organization with urgent legal matters that were well beyond our ability to handle ourselves and responded promptly, providing us with the legal expertise needed to handle the situations as well as informing us of what we need to know and what to expect for the future!”
Client
About
Biography
Faith represents companies and local governments in a broad spectrum of management, operation, and planning issues. Throughout her complete legal support, she offers quick and efficient responses to daily HR management issues and diligently dives deep into regulations and case law. In every step, her goal is to craft successful defenses that help you and your business or locality succeed.
Further, Faith’s practice benefits from her prior work in the field of mediation and dispute resolution services. She can bring petitions for the appointment of guardians and conservators, including undue influence and a person’s legal and mental ability to make a valid will. She has also represented a social service department in cases involving child abuse and neglect, children in need of services, foster care, and adoption petitions.
As a collaborative partner, Faith can thoroughly guide, support, and train you regarding a variety of employment issues. From addressing disability accommodations and discrimination claims to unemployment benefits and more, she can serve as your complete legal guide. As she supports you, she pays close attention to your business’ unique legal needs and goals in order to help you build the outcomes you desire. Faith joined Sands Anderson in 2011.
Faith can advise and defend employers in:
- Wage and hour claims
- Wrongful termination claims and employee grievances
- Discrimination and harassment charges
- Unemployment insurance claims
- Contract disputes, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements
She offers counseling on compliance with:
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Faith was the National and Regional Champion of the American Bar Association Representation in Mediation Competition while in law school. She was Executive Editor of the University of Richmond Law Review, and won the 2010 Family Law Book Award and the CALI Excellence Award. While at University of Virginia, she was chosen as a member of the Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society and recipient of the Richard Heath Dabney Award.
In addition to being named among Virginia Business 2016 Legal Elite “Young Lawyers”, Faith was featured in a profile piece . Each year, the magazine profiles a representative from each of the 18 categories, selected from the top 10 vote getters in each group.
Faith enjoys supporting the firm’s literacy community efforts, and her favorite book is “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” by Zora Neale Hurston.
Recognition
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"Legal Elite," Virginia Business Magazine, Rising Star 2015-2017, Labor/Employment/Legal Services/Pro Bono 2018 - 2023
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Best Lawyers in America® in Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2024
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Virginia Lawyer's Weekly "Influential Women of the Law," 2022
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Leadership Metro Richmond, Class of 2020
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Virginia Lawyer's Weekly "Up and Coming in the Law," 2017
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Super Lawyer® Rising Star, 2016-2023 in Business Litigation: Defense and Employment Litigation: Defense
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Profiled by Virginia Business Magazine as part of selection for 2016 Legal Elite Young Lawyers
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Second Annual Hot List, Lawyers of Color, 2014
Favorite Book
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neale Hurston
Background
Education
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University of Virginia
B.A., 2005
American Politics and English, minor in History
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University of Richmond School of Law
J.D., magna cum laude, 2010
Admissions
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Virginia
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U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
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U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
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U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
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U. S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Involvement
Speaking Engagements
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Summer Workshop
VA Women Leading Government, August 2023 -
"Top 10 Recruiting Reminders"
VSCPA WOWbinar, February 2023 -
"DEI Done Right: A Conversation Continued"
VBA Winter Conference, January 2023 -
"Virginia Employment Law Update"
Richmond SHRM, March 2022 -
"DEI Initiatives for Public Employers"
LGA Employment Practice Group Meeting, March 2021
Professional Affiliations
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Law Firm Alliance DEI Forum
Co-Chair -
Virginia State Bar
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Virginia Bar Association
Law Practice Management Division Council -
Virginia Bar Association Labor and Employment Section
Council Member -
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia
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Virginia Joint Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
Former Communications Chair -
Metro Richmond Women's Bar Association
Former Mentorship Chair -
Richmond Bar Association
Community Service
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YWCA of Richmond
Board Member and Secretary -
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Member -
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government & International Studies
Volunteer -
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Elder -
Leadership Quest, Class of 2020, Leadership Metro Richmond
Publications
Publications by Faith A. Alejandro
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Top 10 DEI Tips from Two Asian-American Partners
VBA Journal, Fall 2022 -
Rocha v. Brown & Gould
eLPL Advisory, June 2015 -
Shevlin Smith v. McLaughlin
eLPL Advisory, May 2015 -
Va State Bar v. Mary Elizabeth White
eLPL Advisory, February 2015 -
Legal Ethics Opinion 1872
eLPL Advisory, May 2013 -
Zaug v. VSB, Northam v. VSB, Hunter v. VSB
eLPL Advisory, March 2013 -
US v. Arash
eLPL Advisory, February 2013 -
Dupont v. Kolon
eLPL Advisory, January 2013 -
Cornerstone v. Kocchar
eLPL Advisory, December 2012 -
Minnesota Lawyers Mutual v. Antonelli
eLPL Advisory, October 2012 -
Smith v. Commonwealth
eLPL Advisory, April 2012 -
In re Lewis
eLPL Advisory, February 2012
Faith A. Alejandro In The Media
- Retaining A Workforce Richmond-Times Dispatch, September 2023
- AI Shouldn't Replace the "Human" in Human Resources Daily Press, August 2023
- Faith Alejandro: May 12, 2023 Richmond's Morning News with John Reid, May 2023
News by Faith A. Alejandro
- DEI Takeaways from the 3rd Virginia State Bar Diversity Forum
- Sovereign Immunity Shields the Commonwealth from Virginia Human Rights Act Claims
- New Virginia Employment Laws Taking Effect Today
- Intentionality: An Essential Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Goal
- Much-Anticipated Nationwide Mandate for COVID-19 Vaccines Arrives
- Virginia Overtime Wage Act Amended to Help Public Employers and Various Private Industries During Special Session
- Virginia Wage Overtime Act: Ambiguities Astound Employers
- Remote Work: Reminders Beyond the Pandemic
- New Virginia Laws Focused on Pandemic-Essential Industries
- New Virginia Employment Laws Prohibiting Discrimination
- How Lawyers Can Help Employers Meet Their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Goals
- Proper Payroll Practices: More Important Than Ever as Virginia Adopts Pro-Employee Laws
- COVID-19: Employment Law Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways from Richmond SHRM’s 5th Annual Diversity and Inclusion Symposium
- Diversity and Inclusion: Not Just an Ideal, But a Client Demand
- Policing Social Media Policies
- Employment Law Alert: New Overtime Rules Won’t Take Effect on December 1
News About Faith A. Alejandro
- Twenty-Seven Sands Anderson Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America®
- 17 Sands Anderson Attorneys Named to 2023 Virginia Super Lawyers®
- Forty-Four Sands Anderson Lawyers Named to 2022 Virginia Business Legal Elite
- Faith A. Alejandro Selected for Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s 2022 Class of Influential Women of Law
- Twenty-One Sands Anderson Attorneys Named to 2022 Virginia Super Lawyers®
- Forty-Two Sands Anderson Lawyers Named to 2021 Virginia Business Legal Elite
- Nineteen Sands Anderson Attorneys Named to 2021 Virginia Super Lawyers®
- Forty Sands Anderson Lawyers Named to 2020 Virginia Business Legal Elite
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Audit Defense Team
- Practical Steps to Reopen Your Virginia Workplace Following COVID-19