Expert Details
Labor and Employment (Human Resources) Law
ID: 739293
Michigan, USA
EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING SKILLS
• Performs workplace investigations and drafts reports and recommendations for business clients.
• Reviews collective bargaining agreements and memoranda of understanding agreements.
• Drafts restrictive covenants including covenants not to compete and non-solicitation agreements.
• Drafts employment agreements, severance agreements, employee handbooks, and workplace policies.
LITIGATION SKILLS
• Defends discrimination matters involving Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, EPA and FLSA claims.
• Drafts pleadings and motions such as answers, motions to dismiss, and motions for summary judgment.
• Manages discovery. Drafts interrogatories and argues discovery motions. Oversees document production and witness preparation. Takes and defends depositions of witnesses in preparation for trial.
• Participates in and represents clients in trial preparations and settlement negotiations, drafting jury instructions, motions in limine, position statements, mediation, arbitration, and settlement documents
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 2017 | Degree: JD | Subject: Law | Institution: Chicago-Kent College of Law |
Year: 2010 | Degree: MBA; MSc. | Subject: Business Administration; Human Resources | Institution: DePaul University |
Year: 2006 | Degree: MSW | Subject: Social Work | Institution: University of Michigan |
Year: 2005 | Degree: BA | Subject: Sociology and Creative Writing-Literature | Institution: University of Michigan |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 2020 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Independent Counsel/Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Performs contract services as outside labor and employment counsel for technology-based clients.• Drafts labor and employment related documents as independent labor and employment counsel. • Provides counsel on policy development (including COVID-19), employee relations, and layoff situations. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2020 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Adjunct Professor – Legal Writing | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Teaches labor and employment law legal writing courses, instructing students on drafting litigation and transactional documents such position statements, employee handbooks, and employment agreements. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2019 to 2020 | Employer: Seyfarth Shaw, LLP | Title: Labor and Employment Associate | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Defended Fortune 100 clients in Title VII discrimination matters arising out of allegations of race, sex, disability and age bias. Successfully settled and won summary judgment on those matters.• Reviewed clients’ employee handbooks and workplace policies, proposing and implementing improvements to comply with developing laws regarding sexual harassment and paid sick leave. • Drafted settlement and separation agreements aimed at limiting client’s liability. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2017 to 2019 | Employer: Vedder Price, P.C. | Title: Labor & Employment Associate | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Defended Fortune 500 clients in Title VII discrimination matters arising out of allegations of race, sex, disability and age bias. Successfully settled and won summary judgment on those matters.• Reviewed client’s compensation and bonus practices for sales professionals following Department of Labor audit, proposing and implementing improvements and adjusting compensation to comply with the FLSA. • Drafted restrictive covenants including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements for clients. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2016 to 2017 | Employer: Kopon Airdo, LLC | Title: Law Clerk | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Supported the firm’s employment counseling practice, drafting and reviewing employment documents such as employee handbooks, workplace policies, and reduction in force plans for the firm’s clients. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2016 to 2016 | Employer: StephanZouras, LLP | Title: Law Clerk | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Supported the firm’s plaintiff-side employment litigation practice, drafting motions such as petitions for class certification and petitions for attorneys’ fees on class action wage and hour matters. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2013 to 2015 | Employer: Scientel Solutions, LLC | Title: Human Resources Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Managed the entire human resources function (including talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation, and benefits) for networking and security company with a workforce of approximately fifty individuals consisting of exempt and non-exempt employees throughout the United States and Canada. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2011 to 2013 | Employer: Robert Bosch, LLC, | Title: Human Resources Business Partner | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Served as an intermediary to global business units, participating in the talent acquisition process and providing guidance on issues such as pay equity, diversity, employee relations, and training, specifically overseeing all human resources needs for a multinational engineering firm.• Trained managers on performance management and identifying employee relations issues and developed project management experience during M&A activities. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2007 to 2011 | Employer: Social Security Administration | Title: Presidential Management Fellow, Human Resources | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Recipient of 2011 Regional Commissioner Citation, highest regional honor for exceptional initiative and leadership, attributed to innovative labor relations solutions.• Completed Presidential Management Fellows Program, with rotations in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago, gaining cross functional experience, and developing in depth knowledge of operations. • Developed agency succession plan and human capital plan, resulting in increased hiring of disabled veterans. • Negotiated grievances and disputes between the union and management. |
Government Experience
Years | Agency | Role | Description |
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Years: 2015 to 2015 | Agency: United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | Role: Judicial Extern for The Honorable Ann Claire Williams (Ret.). | Description: |
Career Accomplishments
Licenses / Certifications |
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Bar Administrations: IL (2017); DC (2018); MI (2022) |