Associate
Rhea Fernandes draws on her extensive experience in the White House and the US Department of Labor to help clients navigate matters related to civil rights, anti-discrimination, and workplace culture.
Rhea has experience advising universities and companies on compliance with civil rights statutes, conducting workplace culture reviews, and investigating allegations of harassment and discrimination.
Prior to joining Latham, Rhea served in the Biden-Harris administration as special assistant to the president for gender policy and as an associate counsel in the Office of the White House Counsel. At the White House, Rhea provided strategic and legal advice regarding litigation and policy actions on a range of issues, including workforce development, equity initiatives, executive clemency, and reproductive rights. Rhea also assisted with the nomination and confirmation process for President Biden’s federal judicial nominees. Rhea previously served as Counsel to the Solicitor at the US Department of Labor, focusing on agency actions related to civil rights, labor standards, and federal contracting. Rhea previously held roles in the White House in the Office of the Staff Secretary and the Biden-Harris transition.
Rhea served as a law clerk for Judge Diana Gribbon Motz on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Rhea earned her JD at Yale Law School. She also holds a master’s in public policy from the University of Oxford and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.