Elizabeth K. Levine
Director
Boston
elevine@goulstonstorrs.com+1 617 574 6549Elizabeth K. Levine
Director, Boston
elevine@goulstonstorrs.com+1 617 574 6549Related Expertise
Management teams at companies across a variety of industries turn to Elizabeth Levine’s experienced counsel for employment and operational matters as well as defense in employment-based litigation.
Counseling employers on a day-to-day basis, Elizabeth handles all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. She advises on workplace matters such as hiring, discipline, leave, wage and hour law, accommodations, terminations, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. She likewise advises on employee-related issues in connection with emerging businesses, consultant classification issues, target acquisitions, sales, mass layoffs, and the cessation of business (WARN Act and state law counterparts).
She regularly prepares employee handbooks and personnel policies and also drafts agreements documenting all aspects of the employment lifecycle. She provides practical, clear advice to company management on their contractual obligations regarding offer letters, employment agreements (including incentive and executive compensation), and restrictive covenants, including non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.
A Proactive Trainer
Elizabeth is a certified trainer through the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Using this knowledge, she regularly educates employers and employees about harassment and discrimination prevention, diversity practices, and disability accommodations.
Defending Employers
Elizabeth advocates for employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies in many workplace matters, including investigations, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims based on protected class membership, wrongful termination, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements and purported violations of federal and state wage and hour laws. She also has extensive experience representing clients in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and agency conciliations.
Related Representative Matters
Multiple pharmaceutical companies in connection with a range of daily employment issues. Recent work includes exemption classifications and documenting all aspects of employment relationships including separation and restrictive covenants agreements.
Outside employment and human resources counsel to the largest privately owned group of automobile dealerships in Massachusetts, for nearly two decades. Our work has included day-to-day advice, conducting annual trainings, and defending the dealerships in connection with harassment and discrimination claims, as well as class actions alleging violations of the wage and hour laws.
Regularly handle the employment work for companies entering the US from Canada, the UK and Europe, ranging from retailers to consulting firms to pharmaceutical companies. Help clients to craft new employment policies, draft employment agreements and offer letters as well as create the employee manuals for all the companies’ U.S. employees. Still provide ongoing employment advice following U.S. launch.
Multiple nonprofit organizations in connection with a range of daily employment counsel needs. Day-to-day advice and strategy related to the classification, hiring, discipline and firing of employees, including related rights & responsibilities, employee leave including those related to medical conditions, employee handbooks, internal investigations and day-to-day operational issues. Represent organizations before regulatory agencies including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Division of Unemployment and Division of Industrial Affairs. Education and strategy related to all new employment laws.
Outside counsel to a publicly-traded asset management company that owns and operates multiple boutiques across the United States. For more than a decade, we have served as go-to outside counsel, working closely with General Counsel and its affiliates on talent acquisition and retention strategies, employee transitions and the drafting and revision of employment agreements throughout all phases of employment.
Represent management teams and otherwise navigate employment issues that typically arise during strategic transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, across industries on both the buy and sell side.
Full-service commercial real estate service companies in New England and beyond, advising such clients with respect to multi-state employment issues, including workplace trainings, employee offer letters, employee handbooks, employee medical leaves, discipline and separations. Defense of wage and hour and discrimination based litigation.
A Boston-based private equity company in connection with advising on its multi-state employment needs, including annual workplace trainings, multi-state employee handbook review/revisions, advice in connection with workplace investigations and employee separations. Defense of the company in connection with wage-based contract litigation arising out of the sale of a portfolio company.
A portfolio company in litigation arising out of a breach of restrictive covenants by a former partner/employee. Routinely advise the client in connection with employee diligence and employee transition issues related to various acquisitions and dispositions.
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Accolades
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2023 Go To Employment Lawyer
- Lawdragon 500: Top U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers 2022-2023, 2025
- Boston Magazine Top Lawyers, Labor and Employment, 2021-2024
- National Law Journal, Employment Law Trailblazer, 2020
- The American Lawyer, New England Trailblazer, 2019
- Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, Massachusetts, 2019 (Recognized Practitioner)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2009 - 2017
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Up and Coming Lawyer, August 2008
Affiliations
- American Employment Law Council (AELC), Member
- MCLE, Faculty Presenter
- Boston Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Admissions
- Massachusetts
Education
Suffolk University Law School ( J.D. , magna cum laude , 2003 )
College of the Holy Cross ( B.A. , magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa , 1999 )