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Overview
Katie helps employers make day-to-day decisions that are legally sound and that reduce the potential of future liability.
Katie represented employees in disputes with their employers for the first 15 years of her legal career. With that background, Katie brings a unique perspective to our clients. She understands what makes employees feel like they are valued and have been treated fairly, and what kinds of policies and practices can get employers in trouble, and how employers can maintain a productive workforce while at the same time following the law. Katie’s practice involves not only defending clients who get sued by current or former employees, but also providing daily advice to clients to help them make sure they are making employment decisions that are consistent with the law and minimize the risk of a lawsuit. If her clients do find themselves on the receiving end of a lawsuit, Katie provides a thorough yet efficient defense and works towards a swift resolution. Because of her extensive experience as a plaintiff’s attorney, Katie can accurately anticipate her adversary’s next move and get ahead of issues that might otherwise be problematic for her clients.
Education & Admissions
Drake University Law School (J.D., 2006),
- High Honors
- Junior Staff, Drake Law Review (student note published)
University of Iowa (B.A., Communication Studies and Political Science, 2003), Dean’s list
Admissions
- Iowa
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern & Southern Districts of Iowa
Languages
- English
Clerkships
- Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C., 2004-2006
Experience
Representative Experience
In her former practice representing plaintiff employees, Katie has a full spectrum of litigation experience, including drafting administrative complaints, participating in unemployment hearings and appeals, drafting lawsuits, drafting and responding to discovery requests, taking and preparing clients for and defending depositions, writing responses to motions for summary judgment and arguing those responses to the court, drafting trial documents and presenting those to trial judges, examining witnesses at trial, creating appellate briefs and appearing before the Iowa Supreme Court. She also has extensive experience in settlement negotiations, including through both private and court-sponsored mediation.
News & Resources
Articles
September 06, 2023
August 21, 2023
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December 05, 2022
September 27, 2022
September 27, 2022
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August 25, 2022
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January 17, 2022
December 20, 2021
November 29, 2021
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November 09, 2021
November 8, 2021
Iowa Passes New Law Related to COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates by Employers and Unemployment Insurance
November 1, 2021
News & Press Mentions
August 17, 2023
November 22, 2021
Events & Speaking Engagements
September 14, 2023
August 3, 2023
January 9, 2023
August 18, 2022
November 11, 2021
September 14, 2021
Select Presentations
- Drafting Employee handbooks and Policies to Avoid Litigation, July Heartland of Iowa SHRM Meeting, July 12, 2023
- Employment Law for the Non-Employment Lawyer, Iowa State Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 22, 2023
- Performance Management and Employee Terminations, TRIHRA Presentation, June 8, 2023
- Dorsey’s Fargo Employment Law and Benefits Seminar, May 23, 2023
- Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Issues Facing Healthcare Employers, May 18, 2023
- Iowa Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration Spring Conference, Human Resources Legal Update, April 19, 2023
- How to Not Get Burned: Avoiding Missteps When Contracting With Employment Agencies, Iowa Hospital Association Critical Access and Rural Hospital Forum, March 9, 2023
- Drafting Employee Handbooks and Policies to Avoid Litigation, Iowa SHRM State Conference, October 7, 2022
- Employee Leave Rights and Workplace Accommodations, Iowa Hospital Association Employment Law Series, August 16, 2022
- Deep Dive on Dobbs: Key Issues for Employers, Minnesota CLE, August 3, 2022
- Employee Terminations: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid, Iowa Hospital Association Employment Law Series, July 19, 2022
- New Updates to Iowa Staffing Agency Contract Laws, Leading Age Iowa member call, May 27, 2022
- Employment Law 101: Back to Basics, Iowa Hospital Association Employment Law Series, May 24, 2022
- Important Legal and Practical Considerations When Buying or Selling a Practice, Iowa Dental Association (IDA) Annual Session, April 28, 2022
- Iowa Employment Law 101, Leading Age Iowa 2022 Spring Conference & Solutions Expo, May 4, 2022
- Fair Labor Standards Act, Iowa State Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Seminar,November 3, 2021
- COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates, Minnesota Medical Association Physician Forum, November 3, 2021
- What You Need to Know Regarding the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 Action Plan, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, September 29, 2021
- Leading Age Iowa Fall Conference: Legal Updates for Long-Term Care Providers in Iowa, September 15, 2021
- Upcoming Order Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines for LTC Facilities, Leading Age Iowa member call, August 27, 2021
- Iowa Health Care Association Single Facility Conference: Staff Benefits, Bonuses & Giveaways, August 19, 2021
- When the Problematic Behavior Stems from a Mental Health Condition, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, July 28, 2021
- Updates Regarding OHSA’s Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Employers, Leading Age Iowa member call, July 16, 2021
- Understanding OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Employers, Leading Age Iowa member call, June 18, 2021
- Lien on Me (Just Kidding, Don’t), Iowa Association for Justice Claimants’ and Plaintiffs’ Trial Lawyers Conference, February 10, 2021
- Attorney Disciplinary Board Claims: A Clear-Eyed Analysis, Iowa Association for Justice Annual Convention, November 5, 2020
- Discovery Disputes and Motions to Compel, Iowa Association for Justice Claimants’ and Plaintiffs’ Trial Lawyers Conference, February 14, 2020
- Combating Never-Ending and Ever-Changing Motions in Limine (moderator), Iowa Association for Justice Annual Convention, November 8, 2019
- Social Media, Iowa Association for Justice Family Law Seminar, April 12, 2019
- Administrative Exhaustion: The Iowa Civil Rights Commission, More Important Than You Think, Iowa Association for Justice Claimants’ and Plaintiffs’ Trial Lawyers Conference, February 15, 2019
- Emerging Issues in Employment Law, Iowa Civil Rights Commission Annual Symposium, April 5, 2019
- Supporting Academic Success for Pregnant Students, Iowa Safe Schools Title IX Summit, May 15, 2018
- Employment Law Issues, Polk County Women Attorneys Spring CLE, 2018
- Beginning the Process – Charge and Complaint Drafting and Discovery Techniques, Eighth Circuit National Employment Lawyers Conference, April 6, 2018
- Mediation: How to Maximize Your Time and the Settlement (moderator), Iowa Association for Justice Employment Law Seminar, February 16, 2018
- Employment Law, Iowa Legal Assistants and Paralegals Seminar, 2017
- Jury Instructions in State Court: How to Instruct the Jury And Avoid Error on Appeal (moderator), Iowa State Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Seminar, November 13, 2015
- How Do I Stop Doing What I Don’t Even Know I’m Doing? Recognizing and Addressing Implicit Bias, VNS of Iowa/Hospice of Central Iowa All Staff Retreat, September 24, 2015
Industries & Practices
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceLabor & Employment Guides
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Labor & Employment
- Labor & Employment Guides
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission (current)
- Iowa Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure (current)
- Iowa State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section Council (current), CLE planning committee (current), Labor and Employment Legislative Committee (current)
- Iowa State Bar Examination Grader (current)
- Polk County Bar Association
- Polk County Women Attorneys, Co-Social Chair (2007), Continuing Legal Education Chair (2008), President-Elect (2009), President (2010), Past President (2011), Secretary and Historian (current)
Accolades
- Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2022
- Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law – Individuals and Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2019-2023
- Named a Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Employment Law – Individuals, 2022
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America Employment Law Issue, 2021
- Super Lawyers, Great Plains Rising Star, 2013-2021
- Order of the Coif, Drake University Law School, 2006
