Nakimuli's practice focuses on employment law and commercial litigation.
A large part of Nakimuli's practice involves partnering with clients to create respectful workplaces that comply with federal, state, and local laws. Nakimuli regularly counsels and advises clients on workplace issues; reviews, revises, and creates employee handbooks and policies that align with the client's overall mission and goals; creates and conducts training programs for executive leaders and management- and supervisory-level employees; and assesses and evaluates measures that will reduce legal risks associated with employment-related decisions. Clients also call upon Nakimuli to conduct internal investigations and for advice on leave and accommodation issues, termination decisions, pay, and other employment decisions, including guiding employers through reorganizations, reductions in force, restructuring, voluntary buy-out programs, and internal audits of position classification to ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
A unique aspect of Nakimuli's employment practice includes collaborating with clients on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. More specifically, Nakimuli works with clients on various issues ranging from creating and evaluating cultural audits and employee surveys to use to create DEI initiatives and goals, social media policies, D&I policies, and communication strategies surrounding issues relating to DEI. Nakimuli frequently partners with clients to create ongoing training programs that raise awareness of, identify tools and strategies for, and reinforce best practices to create sustainable inclusive workplaces. These measures are critical to increasing employee engagement and reducing legal risk, particularly the risk of harassment and discrimination claims.
In addition to the advice and counsel aspect of her employment practice, Nakimuli also represents clients in litigation and administrative actions, including proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Unemployment Commission, and the Department of Labor. She defends employers in single and multi-plaintiff litigation filed pursuant to various state and federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 1981, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Rehabilitation Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Section 1983, the Equal Pay Act (EPA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Nakimuli has extensive experience representing manufacturers as well as higher education institutions on various employment-related issues. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Nakimuli has counseled and advised employers across numerous industries, including manufacturing, education, banking, health care, and hospitality, on novel issues relating to leaves and accommodations, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), reductions-in-force, furloughs, COVID-19 exposures and diagnosis, hiring, terminations, return-to-work protocols, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance, vaccination mandates, and COVID-19 testing issues and concerns.
Nakimuli's commercial litigation practice involves representing companies on breach of contract, fraud, personal injury, premises liability, intentional torts, and related issues. She has experience representing insurance carriers on breach of insurance policy claims and bad faith claims and in representing the carriers' corporate insureds in litigation ranging from premises liability, breach of contract, breach of duties of good faith and fair dealing, bad faith, employment, and negligence claims. Nakimuli also has experience reviewing and evaluating insurance policies to assist insurers with making coverage decisions and representing insurers in declaratory judgment actions. Most recently, Nakimuli has gained significant experience litigating federal condemnation actions.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Nakimuli was a law clerk to the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. As a law clerk, she analyzed complex litigation issues, including the issues she handles. Nakimuli currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Mississippi College School of Law, teaching Employment Law. She is licensed in Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.