Emily A. Shandruk

About Ms. Shandruk

Ms. Shandruk represents and has successfully defended federal employees faced with a variety of disciplinary and adverse actions. Ms. Shandruk works diligently with clients to ensure they understand their rights, the procedure for responding to proposed discipline, and the strongest factual and legal defenses to allegations of wrongdoing. Ms. Shandruk assists clients in contesting personnel actions through administrative grievances and before administrative forums, like the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. Ms. Shandruk also maintains a federal court practice involving disputes arising out of the workplace and defense against Bivens, Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and other constitutional claims.

Ms. Shandruk also counsels employees subject to federal investigations, including investigations conducted by Inspectors General, the Office of Special Counsel, state medical boards, and administrative entities within an employee’s own agency.

In addition to her work on behalf of individual employees, Ms. Shandruk defends federal agencies and other employers against EEO complaints and provides strategic advice on complex personnel issues. Ms. Shandruk also conducts investigations of workplace harassment and allegations of discrimination on behalf of employers.

Ms. Shandruk obtained EEO Investigator certification pursuant to the EEOC’s training requirements, and is qualified to conduct investigations for federal agencies and to prepare reports of investigation regarding allegations of discrimination, harassment/hostile work environment, and retaliation for federal agency review. With that certification, Ms. Shandruk is also qualified to draft Final Agency Decisions for EEO complaints

Ms. Shandruk also authors a regular column for the firm’s FEDmanager newsletter summarizing recent federal court opinions for a non-legal audience, on issues affecting the federal workforce.

Ms. Shandruk joined Shaw Bransford & Roth in January 2024, bringing years of state and federal litigation experience. Before joining the firm, Ms. Shandruk worked as a general litigation associate at Miles & Stockbridge P.C. where she practiced in a wide variety of legal areas, including products liability, class actions, environmental law, commercial disputes, and international family law. Ms. Shandruk began her career at Squire Patton Boggs LLP as a restructuring and insolvency associate attorney with her practice focused on litigation and corporate restructuring under the United States Bankruptcy Code

Ms. Shandruk attended The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law on an academic scholarship, where she graduated magna cum laude and was admitted to the Order of the Coif. While in law school, Ms. Shandruk interned for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Civil Enforcement Division and assisted with agency briefings in connection with ALJ hearings. Additionally, Ms. Shandruk participated in the Ohio State Mediation Clinic and served as a student mediator at the Franklin County Municipal Court. In connection with her work as a student mediator, Ms. Shandruk also presented to the Supreme Court of Ohio on the benefits of implementing a virtual meditation framework to serve rural communities. Ms. Shandruk was also a managing editor on The Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law.

Ms. Shandruk graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park and earned a B.A. in Government and Politics and a minor in Rhetoric. While in undergrad, Ms. Shandruk interned for the Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing (COPS) office.