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Overview
Jillian uses her HR and clinical social work background to achieve client goals.
Jillian is a partner in Dorsey’s Labor & Employment group with over twenty years’ experience in the employment world as an in-house HR professional and employment lawyer. Jillian specializes in helping clients solve complex and emotionally-heated employment issues by not only applying the law, but using her HR experience and clinical training to understand the psychology and other factors driving workplace issues, settlement negotiations, and effective presentations to fact-finders. This includes providing strategic advice to address problems before they turn into litigation and effectively litigating claims when needed. Jillian also conducts independent investigations of all kinds, with a focus on allegations against C-Suite employees.
Education & Admissions
University of Minnesota Law School (J.D.), magna cum laude
Note & Article Editor, ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law
Minnesota State Bar Association Student Award for Excellence in Employment Law
Hunter College (Master of Social Work)
Cornell University (B.A., Psychology)
Admissions
- Minnesota
Experience
Representative Work
- Successfully tried two-week whistleblower case to jury verdict.
- Obtained summary judgment on numerous discrimination and retaliation claims in arbitration and courts.
- Advised on thorny employee situations all kinds, such as misuse of employer funds, workplace bullying, employee inappropriate conduct outside the workplace, and workplace accommodations.
- Obtained successful outcomes in NLRB charges, labor arbitration, and union negotiation.
- Conducted independent investigations of:
- General Counsel’s whistleblower allegation against CEO.
- Allegations of workplace bullying by CHRO.
- Allegations of inappropriate conduct by CFO.
- Allegations that General Counsel had inappropriate sexual relationship with subordinate employee.
- Allegations of wide-spread sex-based discrimination and harassment against executive.
- Allegations of bullying and unethical conduct by M&A executive.
News & Resources
Articles
May 17, 2023
September 1, 2022
December 20, 2021
November 18, 2021
November 09, 2021
November 8, 2021
September 13, 2021
January 4, 2021
December 2, 2020
March 27, 2020
March 25, 2020
September 12, 2019
May 21, 2018
December 13, 2017
February 24, 2017
January 13, 2017
March 29, 2016
March 28, 2016
MN CLE, The FMLA Handbook, “Managing the Leave Process After FMLA Leave is Granted,” updated chapter, Co-author, Marilyn Clark
January 2016
News & Press Mentions
July 10, 2020
November 17, 2017
Events & Speaking Engagements
November 13, 2025
August 21, 2025
March 7, 2025
August 15, 2024
November 14, 2023
August 3, 2023
October 25, 2022
August 18, 2022
November 11, 2021
September 14, 2021
April 15, 2021
April 22, 2020
April 11, 2019
March 6, 2019
May 3, 2018
Select Presentations
- "#MeToo: Has a Powerful Social Movement Changed the Rules of Sexual Harassment Complaints and Claims?," Hennepin County Bar Association (February 16, 2018)
- Dorsey L&E Conference, “Annual Cybersecurity Considerations in the Employment Relationship,” (April 27, 2017)
- Dorsey L&E Breakfast Briefing, “Employment in the Digital Ag,” (February 23, 2017)
- MSBA Corporate Counsel Institute, “Hot Topics in Employment Law,” (February 10, 2017)
- Dorsey E-Discovery Forum, “Let’s Go Back to the Beginning…Legal Holds & Preservation” (January 25, 2017)
- Minnesota CLE, Problem Employees Seminar, “When the Problematic Behavior Stems from a Mental Health Condition” (Nov. 15, 2016)
- Association for Corporate Counsel, MN Chapter, Nonprofit Tune-Up, “Employment Law Overview,” Training for in-house counsel to work with nonprofits. (October 27, 2016)
- Minnesota Association of Independent Schools Head of Schools Retreat, “Hiring Processes and Employment Policies,” June 22, 2016
- Assurex Global Webinar, “Making Sense of the Employee Classification Puzzle,” Co-presented with Bob Seng (April 28, 2016)
- Dorsey Minneapolis L&E Employment Seminar, “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before: New Twists on Disability and Religious Accommodation Requests." Presented with Sarah Herman (March 3, 2016)
- Association of Corporate Counsel, MN Chapter, Pro Bono Clinic 2015: Employment Law Overview
- Dorsey, 2015 Minnesota Employment Law Conference, “Investigations and Whistleblowing: How to Proceed When An Investigation Reveals Criminal Conduct or Other Improprieties.”
- Dorsey, 2015 Utah Employment Law Seminar, “Negotiating the Mine Field - How to Avoid Retaliation Claims.”
- Dorsey L&E Webinar, Accommodation or Corrective Action?: Navigating ADA Requirements and Performance Expectations for Employees with Mental Health Conditions
- Minnesota CLE, Women’s Economic Security Act
- Association of Corporate Counsel, MN Chapter, Pro Bono Clinic 2014: Employment Law Overview
- Lee, Hecht, Harrison: Employment Law: 2013 Update and 2014 Possibilities
- Dorsey L&E 2013 Fall Conference: Issues in Investigations: Who Did What, Where and When?
- Association of Corporate Counsel, MN Chapter, Pro Bono Clinic 2013: Employment Law Overview
- Lee, Hecht, Harrison: Employment Law: 2012 Update and 2013 Possibilities
- Association of Corporate Counsel, MN Chapter, Pro Bono Clinic 2012: Employment Law Overview
- Dorsey L&E Webinar: But We’ve Only Just Met: The Dos and Don’ts of Pre-Employment Screening
- Lee, Hecht, Harrison: Employment Law: 2011 Update and 2012 Possibilities
Accolades
- Minnesota Monthly, “Top Lawyers in Minnesota,” 2024-2025
- MSBA, North Star Lawyer, 2012-2015, 2018-2020, 2024
- Contributed more than 50 Diversity hours, 2023
- Minnesota Super Lawyers® Women’s Edition, 2020
- Minnesota Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” 2020
- Minnesota Lawyer, Up & Coming Attorneys, 2020
