Naomi R. Shatz

Massachusetts

Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP
2 Oliver St #200
Boston, MA 02109
United States

Tel: 617-742-6020

Email: nshatz@zalkindlaw.com
Web: www.zalkindlaw.com

Professional Biography

Naomi R. Shatz is a Partner with leading Boston boutique law firm Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein, where she protects the rights of students, faculty, and employees in administrative proceedings and litigation.

Naomi represents students at all levels of education—from elementary school through graduate programs—who have experienced discrimination, face restrictions on their rights to free speech, or are involved in disciplinary proceedings. In her employment practice, Naomi counsels and represents employees in negotiations, administrative proceedings, and litigation against their employers, with a particular focus on discrimination matters and issues arising in higher education.

Recognized nationally for her work in Title IX law, Naomi represents students, staff, and professors who are either accused of or have been victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment on campus. Her experience spanning both higher education and employment law uniquely positions her to assist clients whose situations may implicate both employment protections and education laws addressing discrimination.

Naomi combines creative legal thinking with a deep understanding of sexual harassment, anti-discrimination, and free speech law to advocate effectively for her clients. She counsels students who have experienced discrimination, harassment, and assault counseled students reporting sexual assault and guided them through their school’s complaint processes, and has litigated Title IX claims on behalf of students who faced hostile educational environments or were deprived of access to their education due to discrimination. She has also represented numerous students accused of misconduct, serving as their advisor in university disciplinary proceedings and successfully litigating against their schools when they have been deprived of fair processes.

  • Won a motion to dismiss criminal charges of civil rights violations for lack of probable cause in a high-profile case against two students arising out of an on-campus protest.
  • Won multiple preliminary injunctions requiring clients’ schools to readmit them after they had improperly expelled the clients for sexual misconduct and other alleged disciplinary issues.
  • Represented numerous victims of sexual misconduct in Title IX proceedings at their schools, winning their cases and ensuring that they were able to continue their education in a safe environment.
  • Negotiated a substantial settlement on behalf of a female graduate student at a major university shortly before a trial in a gender discrimination case.
  • Negotiated a substantial settlement on behalf of a university staff member who was sexually harassed by her boss.
  • Assisted numerous clients accused of sexual assault who were found not responsible by their schools, and helped my clients successfully defend those decisions on appeal.
  • Negotiated a substantial settlement on behalf of a graduate student at a local university in a race and national origin discrimination case.
  • Negotiated a settlement for a public high school student who was harassed and then assaulted at school by her ex-boyfriend.
  • Negotiated a settlement on behalf of middle school students who experienced race discrimination at their charter school.

Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP has long been recognized as a pioneer in student rights advocacy, representing students being disciplined or criminally charged for exercising their rights since the mass protest movement against the Vietnam War. Over time, student defense and advocacy has become one of the firm’s most active practice areas. The firm’s attorneys have extensive experience representing both complainants and respondents in campus disciplinary matters, including cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct, investigations of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, national origin, and religion, and  related criminal proceedings, and civil litigation against universities concerning their handling of internal discrimination and disciplinary investigations. In recent years the firm has returned to its roots by representing students facing arrest or disciplinary action for participating in protests or exercising their free speech rights on campus.

In the last fifteen years, Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP has represented hundreds of students, as well as faculty and staff, at more than 100 colleges and universities across the country in cases involving Title IX, sexual misconduct allegations, and other disciplinary violations. In addition to its higher education practice, the firm also represents elementary, middle, and high school students involved in discrimination and disciplinary matters—including sexual misconduct cases—at both public and private schools throughout New England.

The firm is known for acting quickly and pursuing a strategic, assertive approach in campus misconduct cases, working both within the school’s internal administrative framework and considering the legal options available to clients. Attorneys tailor their legal strategy to each client’s goals, considering the institution’s policies and procedures, the students’ relevant legal rights under state and federal laws, and the potential outcomes for the student involved. For complainants, this may include seeking protective accommodations, pursuing disciplinary action against a respondent, or obtaining orders of protection from a court. For respondents, the firm works to evaluate potential consequences both within the school and potentially within the criminal justice system, and pursue outcomes that will exonerate the student or minimize disruption to the student’s education.

Drawing on complementary experience in criminal and employment law, Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP brings a comprehensive understanding of the broader legal landscape surrounding sexual harassment and Title IX enforcement. Combined with the firm’s longstanding reputation and depth of experience in student rights matters, this multidisciplinary perspective enables its attorneys to advocate effectively for clients navigating complex campus investigation and disciplinary processes.

Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP is a boutique litigation and trial firm known for its work in complex civil rights, employment, student rights, criminal defense, and appellate matters. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the firm has developed a strong reputation for handling high-stakes and socially significant cases involving constitutional law, discrimination in the public and private sectors, and individual rights. The attorneys at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein are widely recognized for their courtroom advocacy and commitment to protecting civil liberties through strategic litigation and appeals.

The firm represents individuals in a range of complex legal matters before state and federal courts. Its practice focuses on education rights, employment rights, criminal defense, and appellate advocacy. Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein is particularly known for representing clients in cases involving free speech and discrimination issues on college campuses, employee rights, and complex criminal matters, , providing experienced and dedicated representation in matters that often carry significant legal and public importance.

“Peers regard Naomi as a leading voice in student rights and campus misconduct litigation. Clients commend her thoughtful counsel during emotionally charged Title IX matters, particularly where free speech, due process, and discrimination issues intersect within academic institutions.”
The Education Lawyers, 2026