Lisa J. Banks

Lisa J. Banks
EducationTrinity College (BA)
University of Denver Sturm College of Law (JD)
OccupationAttorney
Known forFounding partner of Katz Banks Kumin (formerly Katz, Marshall & Banks)
Websitewww.katzbanks.com

Lisa J. Banks is an American civil rights and employment lawyer, and a founding partner of Katz Banks Kumin LLP (formerly Katz, Marshall & Banks LLP) in Washington, D.C. She has represented alleged victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault, employees in high-profile workplace rights cases, and whistleblower clients, including Christine Blasey Ford, Dr. Rick Bright, and more than 40 former employees of the Washington Commanders who alleged widespread sexual harassment and financial fraud under the team's owner, Daniel Snyder. The allegations and subsequent investigations contributed to the eventual sale of the team in April 2023.

Banks has been profiled in media coverage of the #MeToo movement for her representation of individuals alleging sexual misconduct against prominent figures such as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, film producer Harvey Weinstein, Washington Commanders owner, Daniel Snyder, and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

During President Trump's second term, Banks represented high-profile government officials who were fired by the administration, including the former chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Charlotte Burrows.

Banks has spoken publicly about the broader societal impact of such cases and contributed to increased willingness among women to report sexual assault and workplace misconduct.

Banks is a co-author of the book Whistleblower Law: A Practitioner's Guide, a comprehensive legal resource on federal and state whistleblower law.

Forbes named Banks to the 2025 America's Top Lawyers list in Labor and Employment. Washingtonian Magazine included her on their list of the "Most Powerful Women in Washington – Legal Powers" in 2023. In 2019, Ms. Magazine honored Banks' role in advocating for survivors of sexual assault, harassment and Title IX discrimination. She has also been recognized from the National Women's Law Center for her work in gender justice.

Early life and education

Banks was raised in Canton, Massachusetts.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 1990, and a J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 1995, where she was an editor for the Denver Law Review.

Trinity College recognized the impact of Banks' career in public interest law in their 2020 "50 for the next 50" list.

Career

Early career

After law school, Banks clerked for Judge Daniel M. Taubman of the Colorado Court of Appeals from 1995 to 1996, and for Judge Gregory K. Scott of the Colorado Supreme Court from 1996 to 1997.

From 1997 to 2000, Banks served as an appellate attorney with the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 1999, she served as an attorney advisor in the Office of Counsel to the President.

Private practice

Banks and law partner Debra Katz founded Katz Banks Kumin LLP (then Katz Marshall & Banks LLP) in 2006. The firm, under Banks and Katz's leadership, is known for handling high-profile cases involving workplace misconduct, retaliation, and sexual harassment.

Notable cases

Former Washington Commanders employees

Banks and Katz represented more than 40 former employees of the Washington Commanders, who accused the organization of fostering a toxic and abusive work environment, in which women were frequently subjected to sexual harassment. Following these allegations, the team hired an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation, which was later taken over by the National Football League. The team was fined $10 million after the investigation was completed, but the findings in the investigation were not made public. These allegations, and the subsequent investigation, ultimately led to the sale of the team in April 2023. Banks discussed her representation of former Washington Football Team employees in a 2021 interview with podcaster Andrew Brandt.

Christine Blasey Ford

Banks and Katz represented Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, in proceedings before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2018. Ford alleged that then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s when they were teenagers. Kavanaugh was later confirmed to the Supreme Court. Banks' representation of Ford was the subject of a 2018 interview with ABC News.

Dr. Rick Bright

Banks and Katz represented Dr. Rick Bright, a vaccine expert who alleged that he was removed from his position at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in retaliation for warning administration officials to increase their pandemic preparedness in the run-up to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also objected to providing additional federal funding to Ridgeback Biotherapeutics to develop molnupiravir into a treatment for COVID-19.

Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour

Banks represented whistleblower Sam Salehpour in an FAA complaint against Boeing. Salehpour alleged that the company repeatedly dismissed serious safety and quality control concerns in the construction of the 787 and 777 aircraft. He testified before Congress in April 2024 regarding his claims and alleged retaliation.

Charlotte Burrows

Banks and Katz represented Charlotte Burrows, a Democratic member and former chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), after she was fired by President Donald Trump in January 2025. Burrows hired the firm to explore potential legal options challenging her removal, an unprecedented action against an EEOC commissioner.

Public service

Banks is the chair of the Avalon Theater in Washington, D.C.

References

  1. ↑ "Lisa Banks - Katz Banks Kumin". Forbes. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Lawyer For Christine Blasey Ford Talks Impact Of Her Client's Testimony". NPR. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Virus Whistle-Blower Says Trump Administration Steered Contracts to Cronies". The New York Times. May 5, 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Lawyers Urge NFL to Release WFT Investigation Findings in Wake of Gruden Scandal". Sports Illustrated. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Lawrence, Andrew (15 April 2023). "The Witch is Dead: disgraced Daniel Snyder finally exits the stage". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Noveck, Jocelyn (11 July 2021). "For top #MeToo legal duo, a pandemic year brings no pause". AP News. The Associated Press. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  7. 1 2 Thomas, David. "EEOC commissioner fired by Trump hires Kavanaugh accuser's lawyers". Reuters. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Whistleblower Law: A Practitioner's Guide. Law.com Scholar Online Library. March 30, 2016. ISBN 978-1-58852-398-3. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "2025 America's Top Lawyers". Forbes. Forbes Media LLC. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Byck, Daniella (2 October 2023). "Most Powerful Women in Washington - Washingtonian". Washingtonian. Washingtonian Media Inc. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Meet the Honorees". Ms. Magazine. Ms. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Past Gala Highlights". National Women's Law Center. National Women's Law Center. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  13. 1 2 "40 Lawyers under 40 - Washingtonian". Washingtonian Media Inc. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Denver Law Review". Digital Commons. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  15. ↑ Cooper, Molly. "50 for the Next 50 – Trinity Reporter Spring 2020". Trinity Reporter. Trinity College. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "A field guide to the legal teams at Kavanaugh's hearing". Yahoo News. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "Splitsville: Bernabei & Katz Closes". Law.com. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  18. 1 2 Monnay, Tatyana. "Fired EEOC Commissioner Burrows Taps #MeToo Superstar Lawyers". Bloomberg Law. Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "Lewd cheerleader videos, sexist rules: Ex-employees decry Washington's NFL team workplace". Washington Post. August 26, 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  20. ↑ Keim, John; Thompson, Tisha (13 December 2022). "Attorneys demand removal of ex-Washington cheerleader images". ESPN.com. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  21. ↑ "NFL takes over investigation of Washington Football Team". AP News. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "NFL fines Washington Football Team $10M following investigation into team culture". NFL.com. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "The dizzying events that led Daniel Snyder to consider selling Commanders". The Washington Post. November 2, 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  24. ↑ Brandt, Andrew (2021-10-26). "Lisa Banks: Attorney Representing Former WFT Employees". The Business of Sports. Draftking Network. Event occurs at 3:20. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  25. ↑ "Congressional Record – Senate" (PDF). United States Senate. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  26. ↑ "Congressional Record – Senate" (PDF). Congressional Record - Senate. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  27. ↑ "FBI investigation into Kavanaugh was a 'sham,' say Ford's lawyers". ABC News. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "Emails offer look into whistleblower charges of cronyism behind potential COVID-19 drug". www.science.org. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  29. ↑ "Part 1: Entire CNN coronavirus town hall (May 14)". CNN. 2020-05-14. 5:20 minutes in. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  30. ↑ "Boeing whistleblower says company should stop production of 787 Dreamliner due to safety issue". NBC News. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  31. ↑ Koenig, David (17 April 2024). "WATCH: Boeing whistleblower testifies before Senate Homeland Security committee". PBS News. NewsHour Productions LLC. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  32. ↑ "About the Theatre". The Avalon Theatre Project, Inc. Retrieved 19 January 2026.