Donna Williams Rucker

With more than two decades of experience litigating a vast range of high stakes federal employment law matters, Donna is a vital component of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s nationally recognized federal labor and employment law practice group. Prior to joining the firm, Donna was Principal of her own labor and employment firm in Washington, D.C., and has held top positions at a number of prestigious firms throughout her extensive career. As past President and executive board member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), Donna has routinely interfaced with dynamic issues and information pertaining to employment law and enjoys the respect of the top federal labor and employment attorneys in the country.

As a Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Donna represents federal employees who require assistance with discrimination, harassment, disability retirement, retaliation, disciplinary and adverse action matters, among a range of others. She also represents state and private sector employees regarding an array of similar issues. Donna continues to grow Tully Rinckey PLLC’s extensive litigation and trial practice before the federal courts, District of Columbia Court, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Office of Human Rights in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. She also has significant appellant court litigation experience.

Donna takes a focused and custom approach to her work with the firm’s employment law clients. She is highly cognizant of the fact that no two employment law cases are the same, and therefore no two client case strategies should be the same. She dedicates the time necessary to develop the legal pathway most likely to lead to a client’s desired outcome given the circumstances at play. She invests personally in each client’s legal matter, is highly passionate about securing legal victory for those discriminated, harassed, or otherwise wronged by their employer, and is a tenacious litigator – she will not yield an inch to opposing counsel. She stands ready to fight for you.

In addition to her passion and commitment to employment discrimination and civil rights litigation, Donna has represented debtors and creditors in Chapters 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcy proceedings, firefighters, police officers in adverse action hearings, and she has served as corporate counsel and successfully litigated personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Donna was principal of Rucker & Associates, P.C.; a boutique law firm in the heart of Washington, D.C. Before starting her own firm in 2012, she spent 21 years progressing in senior attorney and partner positions at several employment and multi-practice area law firms in the Maryland region. She also has experience as a magistrate judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit.

Donna received her juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. She received her bachelor’s degree from City College of New York (CCNY) where she double-majored in pre-law and public speaking and debate.

In addition to being past President and an executive board member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, Donna is also a member of the National Association of Women’s Judges, the National Employment Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and she serves on the Board of several non-profit organizations.