Sadina Montani

Sadina serves as a trusted adviser for employers tackling complex compliance issues—particularly across multiple jurisdictions as the workforce becomes increasingly geographically dispersed. She conducts and guides clients through internal investigations and has led investigations into—and helped clients manage—sensitive and high-level allegations of sexual harassment.

When litigation is necessary, Sadina represents employers in state and federal courts and before various administrative agencies, defending claims of race, sex, disability, and age discrimination; wrongful termination; wage and hour violations (including class actions); and wage payment claims. She has first-chair and second-chair trial experience and has successfully argued summary judgment and other substantive and procedural motions.

Sadina also advises higher education clients, supporting colleges and universities in navigating faculty and student matters, to ensure adherence to federal and state laws and in support of fostering inclusive and equitable academic environments. Sadina has led numerous proactive and reactive internal investigations, addressing both faculty and student concerns with a meticulous and empathetic approach. Her work has been instrumental in identifying and mitigating risks, ensuring compliance, and promoting best practices within academic settings. She is distinguished for her ability to navigate sensitive issues with discretion and integrity, fostering trust and collaboration among administrators, faculty, and students. She helps universities navigate investigations by and negotiate resolution agreements with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and is particularly experienced in Title VI investigations and compliance.

Sadina is president-elect of the D.C. Bar, serving on the board of governors for the D.C. Bar and the board of directors for the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. She also is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, serving during the 2020–2021 bar year. In her role as WBADC immediate past president, she led the association’s work on an amicus brief submitted in the Dobbs case jointly by the WBADC, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and Women Lawyers on Guard. The amicus brief was supported by approximately 30 other organizations dedicated to supporting women lawyers and law students. Sadina also has served as a firm-wide co-chair for Crowell’s Women’s Leadership Initiative.

Sadina serves as pro bono counsel for several nonprofit organizations that focus on education, the environment, and various social services. In 2019, she was awarded the Tom Nees Award for Exceptional Service by Community of Hope, a nonprofit organization pursuing a mission to aid low-income families experiencing homelessness and struggling with health care needs, in recognition of her long-standing, deeply impactful service to the women, men, and children who turn to Community of Hope for help. Additionally, Sadina has been recognized by the D.C. Bar Association for her commitment to pro bono work.

An experienced nonprofit board member, Sadina previously served as director and chief governance officer of Ayuda (a legal, social, and language service provider); as treasurer, director, and president of the WBADC board; and as director, governance chair, and board chair of the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank.

Sadina is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities. Membership is limited to 1% of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Members are nominated by their peers and elected by the ABF Board.

Prior to entering private practice, Sadina was a freelance musician and performed with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, among others. She studied at Meadowmount School of Music and the Interlochen Arts Camp.