Keir S. Bickerstaffe is a seasoned employment and civil rights attorney with a career dedicated to protecting workers’ rights. With over two decades of experience in both private practice and public service, Keir has been at the forefront of efforts to combat workplace discrimination, enforce labor protections, and advance policies that promote equity and justice in the workplace.

 

Most recently, Keir served as Deputy Associate Solicitor in the Civil Rights and Labor-Management Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, where he led legal strategy and litigation efforts for multiple federal agencies, including the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Civil Rights Center (CRC). In this role, he provided high-level counsel on anti-discrimination laws, affirmative action policies, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives—working at the intersection of labor law, administrative law, and civil rights enforcement. His leadership was instrumental in advising on the application of Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the Rehabilitation Act, and other key employment laws.

 

Prior to his tenure at the Department of Labor, Keir spent over five years in private practice at a Washington, D.C. firm, where he represented employees in class action and individual employment discrimination cases under Title VII, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and state labor laws. His experience includes federal trial litigation, class certification motions, wage and hour disputes, and systemic discrimination cases—giving him deep insight into the complexities of employment law from both the government enforcement and employee advocacy perspectives.

 

Throughout his career, Keir has played a key role in shaping employment law policies and litigation strategies. He led the drafting and legal review of multiple federal regulations strengthening worker protections, helped secure multi-million-dollar settlements in systemic discrimination cases, and worked closely with federal agencies and the Department of Justice on cutting-edge legal issues, including LGBTQ+ workplace rights and the evolving landscape of affirmative action.

 

Passionate about fighting for economic and social justice, Keir believes in the power of strategic litigation to drive systemic change. His unique combination of regulatory expertise, policy acumen, and litigation experience makes him a formidable advocate for employees facing discrimination, wage theft, or retaliation.

 

Keir is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, where he completed full-time internships with the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the Human Rights Campaign, deepening his commitment to civil rights advocacy. He earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Guilford College, with dual majors in Sociology and Psychology.

 

Bar Admissions

 

• District of Columbia

Speaking Engagements

 

• We The Action, Training: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, April 23, 2025.

Awards and Recognitions

 

• Included in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Guide, 2025 and 2026