Biography
A skilled trial attorney and leader of the Employment and Labor practice area, Ida Shafaie counsels clients and litigates across industry sectors on high-stakes workplace matters, including complex civil rights claims and related state and local anti-discrimination laws, wage and hour compliance, and restrictive covenant matters. She has extensive experience conducting sensitive and in-depth investigations on behalf of clients, including Fortune 100 companies, educational institutions, and government entities.
In addition to litigation and investigations, Ida partners closely with employers to develop and implement compliant workplace policies and procedures, including handbooks. She regularly advises on employment agreements, noncompete, trade secret, and other restrictive covenant matters, helping clients protect critical business interests.
A trusted source on workplace compliance, Ida performs training seminars and has authored articles on best practices to help employers make informed decisions. She is co-editor of the Missouri Employment Law Letter, a monthly newsletter for HR professionals.
In addition to her employment practice, Ida’s practice extends to the education sector, where she counsels primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions on a range of legal matters. Her experience also includes advising on public record laws, handling claims under Title IX, and conducting Title IX training for university faculty and staff.
Education
- University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 2013)
- Order of the Barristers
- Academic Scholarship
- Dean's List
- Phi Delta Phi
- Journal of Dispute Resolution (Associate)
- University of Missouri (B.A., magna cum laude, 2010)
- Philosophy and Classical Humanities
- Dean's List
- Sigma Rho Sigma
- Judicial Peer Advisory Council
- Kappa Alpha Theta
Admissions
- , 2013
- , 2020
Professional Activities
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) (Pathfinder Program, Mentor)
- Women’s Lawyer’s Association Foundation Board
- Women Lawyers' Association of Greater St. Louis (Former Board Member, Vice President, Secretary)
- Theodore McMillian American Inn of Court (Former Associate Member)
- Missouri Employment Law Newsletter (Co-Editor)
Charitable and Civic Involvement
- Clayton Chamber of Commerce (Former Board Member)
- Motion for Kids (Volunteer)
- St. Louis Regional Business Council (Former Mentor)
- Kappa Alpha Theta Facility Corporation Board (Former Board Member)
- Armstrong Teasdale Michael C. Tramble Memorial Scholarship Fund Campaign Committee (Deputy Chair, Co-Chair )
Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law - Management (2022-present)
- St. Louis Regional Business Council (Leadership 100, 2020-2021)
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly Women's Justice Awards, Litigation category honoree (2020)
- Completed the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers 2018 Trial Academy
- Roscoe Jenkins Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy (2012, 2013)
- Earned first place in the Attorney General’s Cup Mock Trial Competition (2011)
- Earned first place in the ABA Regional Arbitration Competition (2011)
- Earned second place in the ABA National Arbitration Competition (2012)
Languages
- Farsi
Background
Prior to joining the firm, Ida was an associate at another St. Louis area law firm where she worked with municipal clients on a variety of matters, including the application of governmental immunities under state and federal law. She also has extensive experience in criminal law as a former assistant prosecuting attorney for the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office in Springfield, Missouri, where she managed hundreds of criminal cases.
During law school, Ida clerked for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and prosecuted cases on behalf of the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office as a participant in the University of Missouri’s Prosecution Clinic.
