Atoyia Harris is Senior Counsel in Proskauer’s Labor and Employment Law Department, Co-Chair of the Black Lawyer Affinity Group, and a member of the Women’s Alliance Steering Committee. She represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including litigation, counseling, compliance, and workplace investigations.
With over a decade of experience, Atoyia provides strategic guidance to help clients manage workplace crises and achieve favorable outcomes in complex, high-stakes disputes. She has successfully defended employers in cases across jurisdictions and forums at both the trial and appellate levels. Atoyia is recognized by Chambers USA as “Up and Coming” and by The Legal 500 for her work, reflecting her leadership and expertise in employment law.
Leveraging her litigation background, she also advises clients on risk mitigation, helping to prevent issues before they escalate. Atoyia regularly conducts investigations and trainings on discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other employment-related matters, and counsels employers on employment and separation agreements, reductions-in-force, WARN Act compliance, workplace policies, and DEI initiatives.
An active leader in the legal community, Atoyia serves as Chair of the Employment Law Committee for the International Association of Defense Counsel, Chair of the Young Lawyers Board for the Federal Bar Association’s New Orleans Chapter, and Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the Defense Research Institute (DRI). She has also served as President of the Vernon Crawford Bay Area Bar Association and on the Executive Board of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society.
Atoyia earned her J.D. with an International Law Certification from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she served on the Moot Court Board and the Loyola Law and Technology Journal. She also clerked for the Honorable Jay C. Zainey of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Honorable Robin Giarrusso of the Orleans Parish Civil District Court. She was a member of the award-winning Robert F. Wagner Labor and Employment Moot Court Team.
Before law school, Atoyia received her Bachelor of Music in Industry Studies (classical piano emphasis) from Loyola University New Orleans, where she was also a member of the women’s basketball team.
Education
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Loyola University New Orleans, J.D.
Member, Loyola Law and Technology Journal
Moot Court Selection Chair
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Loyola University New Orleans, B.A.
magna cum laude
Admissions & Qualifications
- Louisiana
- Alabama
Clerkships
- Orleans Parish Civil District Court - Hon. Robin M. Giarrusso
- U.S. Eastern District of Louisiana - Hon. Jay C. Zainey
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Alabama, Middle District
- U.S. District Court, Alabama, Southern District
- U.S. District Court, Louisiana, Eastern District
- U.S. District Court, Louisiana, Middle District
- U.S. District Court, Louisiana, Western District
Memberships
Defense Research Institute – The Voice of the Defense Bar
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
The Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society
New Orleans Bar Association
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Saint Thomas More Inns of Court
A.P. Tureaud Inns of Court
Awards & Recognition
MCCA Rising Star 2025
Chambers USA: Louisiana: Labor & Employment: Up & Coming 2025
The Legal 500 United States: Labor & Employment: Workplace and Employment Counseling 2025
Lawyers of Color Hot List 2020 Honoree
Best Lawyers in America: One's to Watch 2021-2025
The Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, June 2019 Member of the Month
The National Black Lawyers Association, Top 40 Under 40