Kathie M. Haley

Kathie is an accomplished attorney with more than 18 years of experience in domestic and international labor and employment law. She assists business and human resource leaders with labor and employment issues. Kathie has effectively represented companies of all sizes to prevent union organization, and has represented management in dealings with organized employees and their union representatives. She is an experienced negotiator, has successfully assisted employers during strike activities, and regularly develops creative solutions to business challenges.

Representative Experience

Labor Relations

• Counsel on union avoidance strategies; manage labor representation elections; lead negotiator for collective bargaining agreements; prepare strike responses; arbitrate grievances; manage the effectiveness of union campaigns. Defend and pursue clients' labor interests in arbitrations, NLRB cases, and federal courts. Advise clients regarding union matters. Experienced trainer in union free strategies, collective bargaining negotiations and strike preparation, and equal employment opportunity practices.

Human Resource Law and Compliance

• Provide day-to-day counseling services to human resource professionals and business leaders globally regarding labor and employment issues. Conduct employment audits; develops programs, policies and training related to employment law compliance; develop training programs to instill an understanding and commitment to compliance with employment laws and company policies. Investigate and handle administrative aspects of employment charges at the state and federal level; defend company in employment litigation; develop affirmative action plans, and defend company during Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) audits. Demonstrated ability to develop initiatives that result in legal compliance. Lead investigator of discrimination and corporate compliance claims.

Organizational Restructuring and Workforce Reduction

• Provide legal counsel and operational support to business leaders and human resource professionals in implementing and executing workforce reductions and plant closures worldwide.

Litigation

• Successfully represented employers in employment disputes in judicial, administrative, and arbitral forums involving claims arising under Title VII, Section 1981, ADEA, ADA, OSHA, FMLA and ERISA, as well as state and federal wage and hour disputes.

Workplace Health and Safety

• Providing guidance on the application of, and compliance with, federal and state OSHA standards and regulations to their workplaces and operations;
• Establishing best practices for employers duirng OSHA inspections or injury/illness investigations;
• Aggressively representing employers in all aspects of OSHA litigation from initial citation to trial;
• Providing comprehensive and real world training to employers in achieving compliance and avoiding OSHA breaches;
• Preparing or reviewing written safety programs, workplace safety rules, and employee handbooks for compliance with local, state, and federal statutes; and
• Assisting employers with record-keeping requirements, union and employee complaints and general inspection protocols.

International Labor and  Employment Law

• Assessing risks and benefits of global operational decisions;
• Managing global labor relations;
• Managing global human resources;
• Addressing international data protection issues;
• Expatriate employee programs;
• Developing multinational management training;
• HR due diligence and the integration of workforces as a result of mergers and acquisitions; and
• The development, review and implementation of contractual employment documents such as offer letters, employment contracts, proprietary information agreements, non-compete arrangements and other employment-related documents for countries outside the United States.

Education

Chicago Kent College of Law, J.D., 1993

Northwestern University, B.A., Organizational Behavior, 1987

Bar Admissions

Articles

Kathie authored the management guide, "Managing Your Way Through Union Organizing," as well as various management training materials, including articles on:

• Union Avoidance Training
• Managing Within the Law 
• Performance Management
• Careful Communication
• Doing Business Around the Globe