Emily McDonough Souza

Emily McDonough Souza is an associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group and Litigation Practice Group.

Her experience includes investigating, evaluating and litigating employment-related disputes in state and federal courts, as well as appearing before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Connecticut Department of Labor. Emily represents clients across a broad spectrum of industries including health care, education, technology, retail, financial services, transportation services and manufacturing. 

Her practice involves defending employers in claims concerning discrimination and retaliation, contractual disputes and wage and hour violations. She also regularly counsels clients on matters that include discrimination avoidance, disability and pregnancy accommodation, FMLA and restrictive covenants, and presents and provides training to managers and human resources professionals on issues such as sexual harassment prevention. 

Emily has been recognized by the Connecticut Law Tribune as a “New Leader in the Law” and by Best Lawyers as “One to Watch.” She volunteers as a pro bono attorney for the organization Lawyers for Children America, representing children who are the subject of abuse and neglect petitions. Emily is also very active in her community, serving on the Milford Board of Education as well as the Board of Directors for the Beth-El Center, Inc.

Prior to joining Murtha Cullina, Emily clerked for the Honorable Eliot D. Prescott of the Connecticut Appellate Court. She received her J.D. magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law, where she served as the Executive Managing Editor of the Quinnipiac Law Review. Emily earned her B.S. magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut, where she was a member of the Honors Program.

• Appellate Practice
• Business Litigation
• Education
• Insurance Recovery
• Labor and Employment
• Litigation

• Connecticut Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Executive Committee, Insurance Law Co-Chair
• New Haven County Bar Association
• New Haven Inn of Court 

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® as "One to Watch" (2020-2022)
• 2021 New Leader in the Law, Connecticut Law Tribune

• Law Clerk, Honorable Eliot D. Prescott at the Connecticut Appellate Court, 2016-2017
• Law Clerk, Connecticut Judicial Branch, Legal Research Office, 2014-2016
• Legal Intern, United States Attorney's Office, 2013
• Legal Intern, Office of the Corporation Counsel, City of New Haven, 2013
• Legal Intern, State’s Attorney’s Office, Milford-Ansonia Judicial District, 2012

• City of Milford, Board of Education
• Beth-El Center, Inc., Board of Directors
• Lawyers for Children America, Volunteer Attorney

• Free Speech in the Workplace: Connecticut’s “Captive Audience” Law, Murtha Cullina Annual Labor and Employment Update, December 2022
• HR Do’s & Don’ts, Connecticut Medical Group Management Association’s Best Practices Symposium, December 2022
• Recreational Marijuana, Murtha Cullina Annual Labor and Employment Update, September 2021
• Construction Coverage for Owners and Contractors, Connecticut Bar Association CLE, February 2021
• Return to Work Challenges and Covid-Related Accommodations, Murtha Cullina Annual Labor and Employment Update, December 2020
• Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, November 2020

• November 5, 2021 - Three Murtha Cullina LLP Attorneys Win Municipal Elections
• August 19, 2021 - 40 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
• May 13, 2021 - Murtha Cullina LLP Attorneys Recognized as New Leaders in the Law by Connecticut Law Tribune
• August 20, 2020 - 48 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
• February 15, 2019 - Emily McDonough Souza Joins Murtha Cullina LLP Litigation Department

• Labor & Employment Group to Present Annual Labor & Employment Update Webinar
• Emily McDonough Souza to Speak at the Connecticut Medical Group Management Association's Best Practices Symposium
• April 1, 2022 - Workplace Harassment Prevention Training Webinar
• October 22, 2021 - Workplace Harassment Prevention Training Webinar
• April 9, 2021 - Workplace Harassment Prevention Training Webinar
• February 9, 2021 - CBA CLE: Construction Coverage for Owners and Contractors
• November 18, 2020 - Workplace Harassment Prevention Training Webinar
• POSTPONED - April 24, 2020 - Workplace Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors- Webinar

• Tricia Reilly & Emily McDonough Souza New Blog Post: Connecticut Governor Signs Law Prohibiting Employer-Employee “Captive Audience” Communications
• January 13, 2022 - Labor & Employment Group News: Supreme Court Blocks Enforcement of OSHA Vaccine-or-Testing Mandate
• July 13, 2021 - Labor & Employment Group News: Connecticut Minimum Wage to Increase to $13/hour on August 1, 2021
• June 16, 2021 - Labor & Employment Group News: OSHA Announces COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Industry
• March 17, 2021 - Labor & Employment Group News: New York Requires Paid Time-Off for COVID-19 Vaccinations
• May 12, 2020 - Education Group News: Department of Education Publishes New Title IX Regulations
• December 18, 2019 - Insurance Recovery Group News: Bad Faith Claims Against Insurers: Can They Be “SLAPP”ed?

• September 22, 2021 - 2021 Labor and Employment Update Webinar Recording
• December 4, 2020 - Annual Labor & Employment Update Webinar Recording: Session 1

• Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

• Quinnipiac University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2014)
• University of Connecticut (B.S., magna cum laude, 2010)