

Joshua D. Xavier
Joshua has litigation experience representing employees in cases involving wage and hour claims, claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, misclassification, joint employment, and for unemployment benefits. Joshua also holds experience practicing general business litigation and civil rights litigation. He has served as a judicial law clerk in the Rhode Island Supreme Court Law Clerk Department, drafting numerous judicial decisions involving various areas of law, including employment discrimination and unemployment benefits.
While attending law school, Joshua served as both a Judicial Intern for the Honorable John J. McConnell, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island as well as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Joshua served as a legal intern with the Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and as a legal intern with the Post-Foreclosure Eviction Defense/Housing Law Clinic of the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. Joshua was elected President of the Multi-Cultural Law Students Association and was awarded a scholarship as one of only two Public Interest Scholars in his class at Roger Williams University School of Law.
Education
- Roger Williams University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Moot Court Team
- New York University, B.S.
Bar Memberships & Admissions
- Rhode Island
- US District Court, Rhode Island
- US Circuit Court, Rhode Island
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Practice Areas
Professional Affiliations
- Rhode Island Bar Association
- The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
- Merit Selection Panel (2020)
Boards
- Montessori Community School of Rhode Island
- Board Member
- Rhode Island Center for Justice
- Board Member
- Roger Williams University School of Law
- Pro Bono Collaborative, ACI Medium Security Civil Legal Clinic
- Pro Bono Collaborative, Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) Project (2019 - Present)
Honors
- Named a Super Lawyers Rising Star 2020 for Employment Litigation
Representative Cases
- Litigation experience involving a collective action brought by seventy-two employees arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act alleging unpaid overtime compensation.
- Litigation experience involving claims made by independent contractors alleging joint employment and misclassification.
- Litigation experience in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit with respect to cases involving the enforceability of an employer’s arbitration agreement alleged to be unenforceable for lack of consideration.
Representative Publications
- The End of Mandatory COVID-19 Related Leave (For Now)
January 20, 2021 - Rhode Island Minimum Wage Increases to $11.50 Per Hour
September 30, 2020 - New FFCRA Rule Published September 16, 2020
September 16, 2020 - Solving Staffing Nightmares Created By State Travel Restrictions
August 25, 2020 - FFCRA Update - One Federal Court Strikes Down Portions of the DOL's Final Rule Implementing The FFCRA
August 11, 2020 - Defining Sex - The U.S. Supreme Court Finds That Sexual Orientation and Transgender Status Are Protected Under Title VII
June 25, 2020 - Restrictive Covenant Agreements
June 11, 2020 - Engaging Independent Contractors in the Gig Economy: 3 Things for Employers to Know
February 19, 2020 - Here We Go Again - For The Second Time - DOL Unveils Final Overtime Rule
September 27, 2019 - One Epic Year Later: Have You Implemented A Mandatory Arbitration Agreement Yet?
May 17, 2019 - Update: Massachusetts Paid Family And Medical Leave - New Deadlines And Tax Implications
May 2, 2019 - Update: Massachusetts Paid Family And Medical Leave - New Notice Requirement Deadline Of May 31
Partridge Snow & Hahn Client Alert, April 18, 2019 - New Massachusetts Paid Leave of Absence Law
Partridge Snow & Hahn Client Alert, April 11, 2019 - Biometric Information Privacy Protection Act
Partridge Snow & Hahn Client Alert, April 8, 2019 - Here We Go Again - DOL Unveils "New" Overtime Rule
Partridge Snow & Hahn Client Alert, March 18, 2019 - Bias Claims Subject to Arbitration
Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, May 2018
Representative Speaking Engagements
- Rhode Island Bar Association COVID-19 Employment Law CLE
December 10, 2020
Recognitions
- Partridge Snow & Hahn Attorneys Named 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 2020 - Partridge Snow & Hahn Attorneys Recognized in Professional Excellence Law Issue In Rhode Island Monthly
June 2020 - Joshua D. Xavier Appointed to Panel Assessing U.S. Magistrate Judges
As seen in the Providence Journal, January 10, 2020 - Partridge Snow & Hahn Starts Year with New Attorneys and New Client Focused Website
March 21, 2019 - Partridge Snow & Hahn Welcomes Joshua D. Xavier
March 5, 2019