Quick Hit: On March 26, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors” (the “Order”) which mandates the inclusion of a new clause (the “Clause”) in all covered federal contracts and contract-like instruments prohibiting federal contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities.” The Order directs agencies
Mallory Knudsen
Mallory E. Knudsen is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Employment Litigation & Employment Counseling, Training, and Pay Equity groups.
Mallory attended Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and earned the distinction of Crowe Scholar. While in law school, Mallory served as Candidate Development and Symposium Editor for the Loyola Law Review. She competed as an oralist and later served as team coach for the National Moot Court Team. Mallory also served as Social Chair and Vice President of the Student Bar Association. During law school, Mallory also served as an extern to the Honorable Jay C. Zainey at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Upon graduation, Mallory was selected for the Order of Barristers.
During her final year of law school, Mallory worked as a Rule XX Student Practitioner in the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice-Children’s Rights Clinic, where she submitted an amicus brief to the Louisiana State Supreme Court.
Mallory currently serves as a junior member of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
Attorney General Pam Bondi Issues DEI Guidance to Recipients of Federal Funds
On July 29, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (the “Memorandum”), responding to the federal government’s recent practice, as Attorney General Bondi puts it, of “turn[ing] a blind eye toward, or even encourag[ing], various discriminatory practices, seemingly because of their purportedly…
It’s Election Time: Time Off to Vote, Political Activities, and Political Speech in the Workplace
With Election Day quickly approaching, it is the right time for employers to refresh themselves on the various protections that may exist for their employees when it comes to voting and other political activities. Below is an overview of employees’ rights related to voting and other political activities leave, as well as protections for political…
Connecticut Significantly Expands Paid Sick Leave
On May 21, 2024, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law HB 5005, which significantly expands the state’s existing paid sick leave law as described below.
Covered Employers and Employees
While Connecticut was the first state to require private employers to provide paid sick leave, its current statute is limited in coverage, as it…