Brigid A. Harrington

Policy Drafting 

Brigid has drafted policies and procedures addressing sexual and gender-based harassment to comply with the 2020 Title IX regulations, and the 2021 Massachusetts Campus Sexual Violence Act. She has also drafted employee and student conduct policies, including “ethical relationships” policies governing romantic or sexual interactions between university employees, or between employees and students, and policies regarding use of service and emotional support animals on campus. 

Investigations 

Brigid has conducted numerous civil rights investigations, including Title IX matters, matters involving non-Title IX sexual misconduct, and matters involving harassment or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, and/or disability. Brigid has also conducted investigations into employee issues and student misconduct. Brigid’s investigations have included claims against students, staff, and faculty members at educational institutions as well as stakeholders in other organizations. She conducts her investigations in a thorough and prompt manner, and has handled many sensitive issues, including matters that received national media attention.  

Accommodations and Supportive Measures 

Brigid has worked to coordinate individualized supportive measures in Title IX and sexual misconduct cases, and has drafted and overseen procedures for religious and/or disability-based accommodations in the workplace. She oversaw the implementation of a process for determining whether exemptions to an employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement were warranted as religious accommodations and has supported employers in addressing requests for accommodation post-COVID. 

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Process 

Brigid has used her expertise and in-depth understanding of the 2020 Title IX regulations and requirements of the Massachusetts Campus Sexual Violence Act to guide institutional compliance in case management, training, agreements with outside service providers or law enforcement agencies, and reporting to state and federal agencies. She is also familiar with the NCAA, NSF, NASA, and other organizations’ requirements for sexual harassment training, policy dissemination, and reporting requirements for investigations of student athletes. 

MCAD/EEOC Representation 

Brigid has represented employers in claims for discrimination, harassment, or retaliation filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

Training 

Brigid has provided Title IX, VAWA, and Massachusetts -compliant training on harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and retaliation; reporting obligations of employees; NCAA and NSF-complaint training; training for confidential resource providers; and bystander intervention training. 

Other experience

• Conducts investigations for Ivy + institutions and private employers involving sensitive matters, including allegations of misconduct that occurred over a period of years, matters with multiple parties and allegations, matters involving high profile faculty and executives and athletics employees, and matters involving allegations of criminal conduct  
  • Completed investigation of allegations of race-based misconduct by the head coach of a Division I sports team 
  • Completed investigation of numerous allegations of sexual harassment and professional misconduct made by employees against a university department head 
  • Completed investigation of allegations of decades old criminal conduct by a nonprofit executive 
• Serves as hearing officer or individual decision maker for institutions of higher education throughout the Northeast, including multiparty hearings with complex evidence 
• Serves as a resource to appeals panels and Title IX coordinators regarding institutional policies and decision making 
• Served as interim Title IX coordinator for three higher education institutions for time periods ranging from six weeks to more than one year 
• Provides guidance and support to Title IX coordinators and other administrators as outside General Counsel to several colleges and universities