Djuna E. Perkins

Ms. Perkins investigates sexual misconduct and other discrimination at schools and workplaces using skills and judgment developed in over twenty-five years as a prosecutor and civil litigator focused on matters involving sexual abuse and harassment.  Since 2012, Ms. Perkins has conducted over one hundred thorough and impartial investigations of sexual misconduct and other discrimination for colleges, universities, independent schools and businesses throughout New England since 2012, earning a stellar reputation for her investigative skills, her compassion, and her ability to assist institutions in maintaining healthy climates.  Matters include allegations between students, between staff, and by students against staff viewed through the lens of Title IX, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and internal institutional policies.  Ms. Perkins strongly believes that the institutions that engender the most trust and goodwill are those that respond to alleged sexual misconduct promptly and fairly in a process in which all parties feel heard and respected.  Ms. Perkins strives to create such an environment for witnesses in all her investigations while also providing clear, evidence-based conclusions for clients.

Ms. Perkins, an alumna of Boston University School of Law and Smith College, is also a graduate of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Sexual Harassment Investigation and Train-the-Trainer courses.  In addition to investigations, she also conducts trainings for staff on identifying, preventing and responding to sexual misconduct, conducts policy reviews, and acts as an expert witness on the subject of sexual misconduct investigations.  A nationally recognized thought leader in the area of Title IX investigations, her work has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and in the Chronicle of Higher Education.  She is a founder of ASDI, the Association of Sexual Misconduct and Discrimination Investigators of New England, and has published scholarly articles on the subject of sexual misconduct investigations and the use of the “first complaint” rule in sexual assault prosecutions. 

As an assistant attorney general and assistant district attorney for nearly ten years, Ms. Perkins tried dozens of jury cases in the district and superior courts of Massachusetts and supervised the prosecution of thousands of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault cases in Boston.  In private practice for nine years, Ms. Perkins represented dozens of crime victims in litigation against third parties, as well as employers sued for discrimination and those accused of sexual misconduct in criminal and civil matters.