Débora Avelino

Débora Avelino is an associate in the Denver, Colorado, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She advises employers on affirmative action and EEO compliance, workforce analytics, workplace investigations, agency charges, and preventive employment strategies. Her practice focuses on helping employers use workforce data to identify risk, navigate compliance obligations, and make defensible employment decisions.

As a member of the firm’s Government Contracts and Compliance group, Débora advises federal contractors on affirmative action planning under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA. She counsels employers on state affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations, including evolving requirements for workforce data collection and reporting.

Débora brings the same analytical approach to broader workforce decisions. She reviews hiring, promotion, termination, and compensation data to identify potential disparities and assess risk. Her preventive counseling includes pay transparency compliance and assessment of diversity programs, policies, training, and recruitment practices under federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

When workplace concerns arise, Débora conducts and supports internal investigations. She develops investigation strategy, interviews witnesses, evaluates evidence, and prepares findings. She represents employers responding to charges before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state civil rights agencies.

Débora has particular experience advising colleges, universities, research institutions and academic medical centers, drawing on her own background in higher education. Before joining Jackson Lewis, she served as Director of the Equal Opportunity Office, ADA Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator at a public university, overseeing civil rights compliance and advising senior leadership on sensitive workplace and campus matters. Her experience managing compliance from within an organization brings a practical perspective to her work with employers across industries.