Overview

Kayla is a member of the firm’s labor and employment relations practice group. She specializes in advocating for employers before state courts, federal courts, and administrative agencies.

Kayla previously worked as an associate at a boutique labor and employment law firm, where she gained experience litigating labor and employment disputes, including disputes arising under Title VII, the FMLA, the FLSA, and the ADA, as well as state law equivalents. Kayla’s litigation experience also includes issues involving trade secrets, unfair competition and restrictive covenants (including noncompete, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality), disability and accommodation, leaves of absence, and reductions in force.

Kayla also advises clients on compliance with employment laws, develops employment policies and procedures, and drafts restrictive covenants and other agreements. She also conducts training for supervisors and employees on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.

After earning her J.D., Kayla served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Michael Fitzpatrick at the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and as a law clerk for a small Wisconsin firm. Earlier, she was a Summer Associate at an AmLaw 100 employment law firm, and served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Annette Ziegler of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Experience

  • Obtained total defense verdict for clients following a four-day jury trial in the Wisconsin Circuit Court for Dane County, alleging several claims including breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secret, and civil theft
  • Granted dismissal of sex and age harassment and discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, in which plaintiff alleged over 300 alleged facts relevant to Defendant’s motion for summary judgment
  • Received multiple awards of sanctions for payment of Defendant’s attorneys’ fees following dismissal of race discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56
  • Granted dismissal of breach of contract claim arising under Wis. Stat. § 103.465, governing restrictive covenants in employment contracts
  • Obtained dismissal by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in a disability discrimination and failure to accommodate case arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
  • Successfully represented employers in administrative proceedings before the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division
  • Attainted successful resolutions, dismissals, or dispositive motion victories in state and federal court in several areas of employment law, including cases arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADEA, the ADA, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and state law equivalents
  • Obtained favorable initial determinations in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation investigations before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Insights

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

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