As a partner in the Labor and Employment Service Line, Kate works closely with clients to better understand their businesses so that she can more effectively advise them on labor and employment issues. Kate represents employers in a broad range of state and federal employment matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation litigation and administrative agency investigations. Having represented employees in national wage and hour claims for three years prior to joining Shumaker, Kate also has extensive experience litigating complex wage and hour actions and now uses her unique perspective to defend and counsel employers in state and federal wage and hour disputes.
In addition to defending employers in litigation matters, Kate’s labor and employment practice involves proactively assisting clients in their state and federal employment law compliance efforts, handling personnel issues, and navigating complex wage and hour issues, including exemption designations, independent contractor classifications, permissible salary deductions, and tipped employee concerns. She also partners with clients to draft policies, procedures, and processes that are tailored to their business and workforce needs.
On the litigation and disputes side of her practice, Kate represents clients in a wide range of litigation and appellate matters, including ERISA, employee benefits, business torts, breach of contract, foreclosures, landlord/tenant disputes, and administrative appeals. Kate’s ERISA and employee benefits litigation practice consists of collection of delinquent contributions for multiemployer benefit plans, subrogation, employer withdrawal liability collection and arbitration, claims and appeals disputes, and breach of fiduciary duty litigation. Kate is a key member of the Firm’s ERISA and multiemployer litigation practice.
Besides spending time with her husband, two sons, and their three unruly dogs, Kate enjoys cycling, giving back to the Toledo community, and doing New York Times crossword puzzles.
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