D’Ontae is an experienced employment law attorney with more than a decade-long career in the federal government, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Department of Navy, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. D’Ontae has litigated complex employment matters that include sexual harassment, discrimination, federal whistleblower, and Bivens claims. He has handled matters arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Contract Disputes Act (CDA), and the Whistleblower Protection Act. He has represented clients before federal courts and administrative tribunals such as the EEOC and the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Before becoming an attorney, D’Ontae was a federal investigator for the EEOC, where he was responsible for investigating charges of discrimination and making recommendations to the commission about the disposition of such investigations. After his government experience, D’Ontae worked for two law firms, focusing on advice and counsel and employer-side litigation. D’Ontae leverages these experiences to advise and counsel employers on a wide range of employment-related matters and defend claims before administrative agencies and state and federal courts.
D’Ontae frequently conducts training in harassment, sexual harassment, a respectful workplace, and other aspects of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. He also frequently conducts internal investigations relating to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and other alleged misconduct.
D’Ontae graduated cum laude from the University Of New Mexico School Of Law, where he was the moot court champion on the National Mock Trial Team and co-editor in chief of the law review. D’Ontae received his Masters of Public Administration, magna cum laude, from Old Dominion University with a concentration in conflict resolution. He also received his Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Old Dominion University, in Criminal Justice.
