Debra L. Roth
Partner

Debra L. Roth is a partner at Shaw, Bransford & Roth, P.C. where she has practiced law since 1989. Ms. Roth's law practice concentrates on representing federal officials and employees in all aspects of federal personnel and employment discrimination law, with a focus on federal employees and law enforcement officers in IG, internal, and Congressional investigations. When those investigations result in personnel actions, she represents employees in disciplinary and performance-based proceedings at the agency level and then before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Additionally, Ms. Roth's practice includes representation of federal employees, applicants, and contractors in security clearance and suitability proceedings.

Ms. Roth has a Top Secret security clearance and represents federal employees in national security agencies in connection with internal and external investigations and security clearance and suitability matters.

Ms. Roth has been retained at the expense of the U.S. Department of Justice to act as private defense counsel to federal officials sued individually in Bivens and common law tort lawsuits in cases where the U.S. Department of Justice has determined a conflict exists with direct DOJ representation.

Ms. Roth has also provided legal advice and representation to several small agencies on a multitude of federal personnel law and employment discrimination matters. Along with her law partner Bill Bransford, Ms. Roth co-hosts FEDtalk, heard Fridays at 11am on Federal News Radio 1500AM. FEDtalk guests discuss matters of interest and importance to federal employees and retirees, including individuals from the Hill and from agency HR, EEO and program offices.

Prior to joining SB&R, Ms. Roth was a judicial law clerk for the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. She is a cum laude graduate of Boston University, and received her law degree from the American University in Washington, D.C., where she was a Note and Comment Editor for The Administrative Law Journal.

Ms. Roth is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and the District of Columbia. In addition to being admitted into the above jurisdictions, Ms. Roth is also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Areas of Practice

• Federal Employment Law
• Security Clearances
• Suitability Determinations
• Bivens Representation
• National Security Employment Law
• OIG, OPR, and OIA Investigations
• Administrative Investigations
• Federal Retirement
• Services for Federal Agencies
• EEO Discrimination
• Private Sector Employment Law

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia
• New Jersey
• U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Education

• B.A, Boston University
• J.D., American University

Associations & Memberships

• DC Bar
• New Jersey Bar Association
• Federal Circuit Bar Association (Board of Governors, 2004-2005, Chair, Merit Systems Protection Board Appeals Committee, 2002-2003)

Publications

• Consulting Attorney, the weekly E-report FEDAgent
• Regular Contributor, “The Legal Corner,” The Federal Manager (Federal Managers Association)
• Columnist, National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys Newsletter
• Regular Contributor, Legal Loop on The Federal Drive morning show, WFED 1500AM

« back to partners