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Simone Francis effectively spearheads and collaborates with external and internal teams to identify and deliver solutions to clients. As a civil litigator with more than 20 years of experience, Simone has managed the defense of high-stakes lawsuits involving a range of federal, state, and territorial laws. She has argued numerous cases before federal and local trial and appeals courts, acted as lead counsel in several trials, and serves as a member of the Steering Committee of the firm’s Trial Practice Group. Simone also has served as an advocate before the American Arbitration Association and several administrative tribunals, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the Virgin Islands Public Employees Relations Board.
Simone provides proactive and practical advice before litigation arises. She has developed customized, interactive training programs to educate supervisory and management personnel about their responsibilities for ensuring compliance with employment laws. In addition, she routinely counsels businesses concerning a range of workplace issues, including managing internal investigations and disciplinary proceedings, evaluating and responding to requests for leave and other accommodations, developing personnel policies, and complying with developing laws and regulatory guidance concerning the use of technology in the workplace.
As co-chair of the firm’s Environmental, Social and Governance Practice Group, and as an active member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance Practice Group, Simone develops and provides guidance to employers in connection with human capital issues included in ESG initiatives, and she routinely advises companies with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including evaluating programs for hiring and promoting diverse talent, developing and analyzing internal and external communications about DEI programs, surveys and metrics, and assessing and responding to internal complaints and litigation concerning the effectiveness or legality of ESG and DEI initiatives. A member of the firm’s Technology Practice Group, Simone also routinely counsels employers concerning the complex landscape of legal considerations related to the use of automated decision tools and other technology in the workplace. Additionally, utilizing the experience and expertise she has developed as a member of the firm’s Workplace Investigations and Organizational Assessments practice group, Simone regularly leads sensitive, high-level investigations and provides guidance and training to employers concerning internal investigations of myriad workplace concerns.
Before joining Ogletree Deakins, Simone practiced with general litigation firms in Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands. Utilizing that experience, she continues to represent a diverse group of business clients in complex litigation involving premises liability and products liability claims.
Simone is a frequent speaker on employment law topics, and she has appeared at conferences throughout the United States. As a member of the American Law Institute, Simone has participated in the Members Consultative Group for the Restatement of Employment Law and in the Members Consultative Group for Principles of the Law, Student Sexual Misconduct: Procedural Frameworks for Colleges and Universities. In addition to her role as Office Managing Shareholder of the St. Thomas office, Simone previously served on the firm’s Professional Development Steering Committee and has actively participated as a member of the firmwide Management Committee.
In 2022, Simone was elected as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and she has been recognized by Lawdragon as one of the 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
