EEOC v. Morgan Stanley
My Legal Practice
I’ve devoted my career to standing up for people who’ve been overlooked, underestimated, or misjudged— often because of systems or decisions tainted by unfair bias.
My clients are people whose employment and other opportunities have been unfairly limited by systems that misuse personal information — whether through background checks, criminal history records, credit reports, or data that is inaccurate, outdated, or irrelevant.
I represent individuals who have been denied jobs, housing, or loans because of criminal records or credit histories that are irrelevant to their abilities, that should have been expunged, that are based on mistakes in private databases, or biases built into modern hiring practices.
At its core, my work is about economic justice and dignity — ensuring that people are judged by their skills, abilities and potential, not by past mistakes or circumstances beyond their control. I frequently partner with groups of workers and community advocates to challenge systemic discrimination in employment, lending, and technology. Through litigation and advocacy, we’ve changed policies at major retailers, government agencies, and tech companies that power the gig economy.
My practice also includes impact litigation against financial institutions that exclude immigrants and non-citizens from equal access to credit. Several of these cases have led major banks to open lending opportunities — including mortgages, auto loans, and small business financing — to DACA recipients and other non-citizens. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that no one’s future is determined by unfair data, hidden algorithms, or a past they have already moved beyond.
Notable Cases
- Representing plaintiffs in class action litigation against Walmart, challenging the company’s practice of denying jobs to qualified workers with criminal histories.
- Representing plaintiffs in Mandala v. NTT, a class action challenging the company’s use of criminal records to deny jobs to qualified Black applicants.
- Secured $15 million for 450,000+ workers in Gonzalez v. Pritzker, a case that challenged the U.S. Census Bureau’s background check policy. This groundbreaking case, which won Public Justice’s Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, changed the way many people view criminal background checks.
- Secured $1.5 million for workers who were unfairly denied employment by a large sports and entertainment venue.
- Secured $3.35 million for more than 1,700 drivers in Aguilera v. Uber Eats, a lawsuit stemming from the company’s alleged violation of New York City’s Fair Chance Act, which makes it illegal to consider an applicant’s criminal history before making a job offer.
Credentials
- Admitted to practice law in New York and Washington, D.C.
- Admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; the District of Colorado; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits
- Co-chair, USERRA Subcommittee, ABA Labor and Employment Law Section
- Member, ABA Labor and Employment Law Section
- Member, National Employment Lawyers Association and New York affiliate
- Member, New York City Bar Association Committee on Civil Rights
- Public Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2017
- SuperLawyers, 2013-2025
“Equality is not just a moral ideal; it is a legal right. It’s my mission to break down the barriers that prevent people from reaching their full potential, and to hold accountable the systems that perpetuate inequality.”
Ossai Miazad
My Story
As an immigrant myself, I’ve seen how our circumstances can have a profound impact on who we become and the opportunities available to us. The environments in which we grow up, the challenges we face, and the barriers we encounter often determine the course of our lives.
I became a civil rights attorney to help ensure that no one is limited by circumstances beyond their control—whether those circumstances are rooted in race, immigration status, economic background, past mistakes, or any other factor that may unfairly be used to judge us.
Throughout my career, I’ve helped people who face life’s toughest challenges and often find themselves at the mercy of a system that is not built to support them. Through my work, I know that people can rise above those challenges—given the right opportunities and support. That’s why I am passionate about fighting for equal rights, and for those who have been marginalized.
Contact
Need legal advice?
Issues