Shamara is the Associate General Counsel at Humanity United. In this role, she supports the organization’s legal team, which provides legal counsel to the Board, executives, and staff; supports grantmaking and other activities; and ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Prior to joining Humanity United, Shamara was an Associate at Caplin & Drysdale in Washington, D.C., where she advised tax-exempt organizations on compliance, advocacy, board governance, and complex transactions. Earlier in her career, she practiced at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York, focusing on corporate restructuring.
Shamara holds a J.D. from Cornell Law School, where she served as Managing Editor for the Cornell International Law Journaland was President of the Black Law Students Association. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Washington, D.C.
Originally from Jamaica, Shamara’s dedication to equity and justice is rooted in her lived experience and fuels her commitment to supporting mission-driven organizations and the communities they serve. When not working, Shamara enjoys exploring new restaurants, painting, traveling, and spending time with family.