Clients and peers praise Stephanie's work ethic, describing her as "quick to respond, attentive and very helpful with her opinions," "a diligent student of the law and a substantially effective trial lawyer" and "bright, responsive and a pleasure to work with," according to Chambers USA.
Overview
First and foremost a strategic legal advisor, Stephanie provides her clients with practical business and legal solutions in all areas of employment law compliance. Stephanie's focus is always on the business objectives of her clients in reaching the best possible outcome. As co-chair of the firm's Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits practice, Stephanie has first-hand insight into the many talents of more than 50 labor, employment and employee benefits attorneys throughout the country with whom she collaborates to provide exceptional client service.
Whether she is defending employment litigation cases, developing strategy to fight certification in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) class and collective actions, defending clients in wage and hour claims before the Department of Labor (DOL), or providing daily employment counseling, Stephanie takes a refreshingly straightforward approach when navigating challenging legal issues. In addition to her broad-based litigation experience, Stephanie has several specialty practice areas including representing clients in Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) audits and administrative claims before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). She provides consulting, training and audits on a variety of employment law compliance issues, including consultation in the development and implementation of affirmative action plans, pay equity audits, diversity programs, personnel policies and procedures. Stephanie also represents colleges and universities on various employment and Title IX-related issues including sexual harassment, misconduct and assault investigations. In addition, she utilizes her experience to serve as lead labor and employment specialty counsel in M&A transactions.
Experience
Stephanie has represented federal contractors and subcontractors throughout the United States in various industries, including transportation, rail, manufacturing, construction, health care, food processing and energy, during affirmative action plan (AAP) audits and administrative proceedings before the OFCCP. Stephanie's experience includes full service preparation of affirmative action plans and related compliance assistance to successfully resolving OFCCP audits with no findings of discrimination and no requirement of back pay awards or offers to unsuccessful applicants. Stephanie has experience working with various offices of the OFCCP including Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Kansas City, Houston, Minneapolis, Omaha, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis.
More than 25 years’ experience successfully advising and defending employment administrative charges, litigation matters and appeals for global aviation manufacturing company, including the defense and successful resolution of an EEOC-filed disability discrimination class action lawsuit.
Defense of a full-service nationwide provider of distribution center, warehouse and logistic needs in the defense of multiple actions challenging its independent contractor business model including the simultaneous defense of FLSA collective actions, state court class actions and state administrative claims.
Successful defense of cases for a large, Kansas-based energy company, for more than 20 years, including a Title VII retaliation case affirmed by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals; a state law whistleblower claim arising out the criminal trials of two former executives; federal court disability discrimination cases; and worker's compensation retaliation cases.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Stephanie speaks several times a year on various trending employment law topics. Below are some recent and representative presentations including:
- "New Challenges for HR" seminar series, 2008-2021
- "Equal Pay for Equal Work," Independent Bankers of Colorado, 2020
- "EEO Compliance and Positive Workplace Training," 2017-2018
- "Employment Law Compliance and Best Practices for Managers," 2017
- "OFCCP Trends and Audit Best Practices" presentation for Topeka-SHRM, 2016
- "ADA and Reasonable Accommodation Training and Best Practices," 2016
- "Affirmative Action Requirements for Banks and Financial Institutions," 2016
Publications
"OFCCP Revises Directive on Pay Equity Audits/Compensation Analysis," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, August 25, 2022
"OFCCP Adopts Two New Directives On Compliance Evaluations and Pay Equity Audits," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, April 7, 2022
"Vaccinations Required for Covered Federal Contractor Employees by December 8," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, September 28, 2021
"Onsite Federal Government Contractors Will Be Asked About Vaccination Status," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, September 2, 2021
"New Executive Order May Require Contractors to Review Their Diversity and Inclusion Trainings," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, September 25, 2020
"Government Contractors Susceptible to Increased Liability as Joint Employers After Court Strikes Portions of DOL’s New Joint-Employer Rule," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, September 17, 2020
"Are You Due for an OFCCP Audit?" Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, September 17, 2020
"Updates on EEO-1 Reports, Non-Binary Self-Identification, and VETS-4212 Reports," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, September 10, 2020
"OFCCP Developments During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, July 9, 2020
"End to EEO-1 Component 2 Pay Data Reporting for Now..." Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, March 2, 2020
"OFCCP Proposes Clarifying Evidence Standards, Post-Audit Procedures in Regulations," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, January 22, 2020
"OFCCP Announces New “Voluntary Enterprise-wide Review Program," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, March 2, 2019
Recognitions
Recognitions
Selected as a Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America®, 2022
Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law-Management and Litigation-Labor & Employment as well as the Best Lawyers "2017 Women in the Law" recognition.
Consistently recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Stephanie Scheck is highly respected for her litigation strengths and advises clients on complex class actions and FLSA class certification cases. An appreciative client says: "she is quick to respond, attentive and very helpful with her opinions."
Listed as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer® for Employment Litigation: Defense.
Nominated by her peers as one of the leading practitioners in her field in Who's Who Legal USA: Management Labor & Employment.
Recognized in the debut edition of Benchmark Litigation for Kansas where she received acclaim for her "skillful" mastery of employment litigation and her "cost effective" representation.
Recognized for her community involvement by being selected to the 2003 class of the "40 Under 40." This honor is given by the Wichita Business Journal to recognize Wichita residents under the age of 40 who are making significant contributions to the area's economy and to the community.
Awarded the "President's Award" in recognition for her service on the Wichita Bar Association's Diversity Action Plan Drafting Committee who worked to develop a Plan to promote diversity in the legal community in Wichita.
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Kansas and Wichita Women Attorneys Association
Society for Human Resource Management Member and Frequent Speaker
North Wichita YMCA, Advisory Board and Strong Kids Campaigner of the Year
Dress For Success Wichita, former President and Vice President
The Independent School, Board of Trustees 2011-2017
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Kansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Education
University of Kansas, J.D., 1996
- Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy
Kansas State University, B.S., Business Administration, Human Resources Management, cum laude, 1993