Amy is known for developing strong, trusting relationships while counseling clients through complex workplace issues.
Overview
Clients know they can turn to Amy for employment best practices and to manage risks inherent to navigating all facets of the employment relationship. Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing focus on racial justice issues, and the #MeToo movement have altered the way both employers and employees think about workplace relationships and expectations. Amy counsels clients on equal pay, discrimination, harassment and related employee relations issues. She regularly leads internal investigations for employers into harassment and discrimination complaints, and also manages internal audits of other employment practices, such as wage and hour issues.
Amy helps clients develop policies that promote good employee-employer relationships. She advises on employment strategies and decisions, including issues involving the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), affirmative action programs (AAPs), Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and related state audits, and federal and state anti-discrimination law such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). And when policies and practices are challenged, Amy represents employers and government contractors in audits and investigations by OFCCP, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
A frequent speaker, Amy frequently presents to clients, industry groups, and other attorneys on a variety of topics, including OFCCP and MDHR audits, AAPs, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour law.
Experience
In today's highly charged climate, Amy's investigation services have been in high demand. She has led investigations into sensitive employee complaints for clients in industries such as health care, professional services, manufacturing, technology, non-profit, housing, automotive, brewing, and construction.
Amy has shepherded clients in various industries, including manufacturing, professional services, and banking, through successful affirmative action audits before the OFCCP and MDHR, and has litigated against OFCCP.
Amy obtained summary judgment for a technology client on a breach of contract case brought by a former employee in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, and won affirmance before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Amy co-led a team navigating complex wage and hour issues in a class action lawsuit for an energy client, resulting in a favorable resolution that permitted the company to continue its preferred practices.
Amy and a team led a trial in Minnesota state court that resulted in complete dismissal of a former employee's breach of contract claims against a manufacturing client.
Amy regularly negotiates quiet and mutually beneficial exits with workers in high-risk employment situations, including with executive-level employees in industries such as health care and technology.
Amy obtained summary judgment for a hospitality client on race and age discrimination claims brought by a terminated employee in federal court.
Amy obtained summary judgment for a retail client on ADA and FMLA claims from a terminated employee in federal court.
Amy is a Board member and volunteer attorney with the Children’s Law Center, which provides free legal services to youth in foster care and other children navigating the legal and social services systems. She has also represented indigent clients in family law matters pro bono through the Deinard Legal Clinic consistently for more than 10 years.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
"#MeToo: Can Lawyers Lead the Way on Prevention, Risk Management, and Inclusion?," University of Minnesota Law School, April 2019
"Ethics for Employment Lawyers," Minnesota CLE, February 2019
"MDHR Audits: What You Should Know and What You Should Do," Minnesota Affirmative Action Compliance Council (MAACC), November 2018
"#MeToo in the Workplace: Understanding, Addressing, and Preventing Sexual Harassment," Southern Minnesota Area Human Resource Association (SMAHRA), September 2018
"Affirmative Action Programs That Withstand OFCCP Scrutiny," Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2018
"Wage & Hour Basics: 10 Things You Must Get Right," Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2017
"Employment Law Blitz!," Coleman Roundtable, November 2016
"Best Practices for Employers Amid Increasing Focus on Sex Discrimination," Minnesota CLE, October 2016
"Pregnancy Discrimination Act Claims After Young v. UPS," Minnesota CLE, October 2015
"A Good Handbook Comes in Handy: Employee Handbook Tips," Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, September 2013
"Pay and Pregnancy: A Gender Discrimination Law Update," Minnesota CLE, September 2013
"Handling Facebook Posts You Don’t ‘Like’: Employer Social Media Strategies," Ramsey County Bar Association, June 2013
"Don’t Let Your Client’s Office Become ‘The Office’: Employment Law Updates Affecting Your Clients’ Businesses," University of Minnesota Law School, March 2013
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 2021
"Onsite Federal Government Contractors Will Be Asked About Vaccination Status," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, September 2021
"The 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection is now open," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, April 2021
"Contractors Should Prepare for Increased OFCCP Pay Scrutiny," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, March 2021
"New Executive Order May Require Contractors to Review Their Diversity and Inclusion Trainings," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, September 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 Blog, September 2020
"Are You Due for an OFCCP Audit?" Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, September 2020
"Updates on EEO-1 Reports, Non-Binary Self-Identification, and VETS-4212 Reports," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, September 2020
"OFCCP Developments During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, July 2020
"Federal Contractors Must Update Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, May 2020
"End to EEO-1 Component 2 Pay Data Reporting for Now..." Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, March 2020
"OFCCP Proposes Clarifying Evidence Standards, Post-Audit Procedures in Regulations," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, January 2020
"OFCCP Announces New 'Voluntary Enterprise-wide Review Program'," Stinson's Government Contracting Blog, March 2019
Co-author, "Chapter Five: Employee Notification and Employer Response," The FMLA Handbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
"Blogging on Broken Glass: Why the Proposed Free Flow of Information Act Needs a Specific Test for Determining When Media Shield Laws Apply to Bloggers," 10 Minnesota Law Journal, Science & Technology 747, 2009
Recognitions
Recognitions
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2023-2025
Selected as a "Diversity and Inclusion Award" honoree by Minnesota Lawyer, 2022
Selected as "Notable Partner in Law" by Twin Cities Business, 2022
Selected as "Up and Coming Attorney" by Minnesota Lawyer, 2018
Selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, 2014 - Present
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Children's Law Center, Board Member and Volunteer Attorney
Deinard Legal Clinic, Volunteer Attorney
American Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota Women Lawyers
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Education
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2010
- Order of the Coif
- Labor and Employment Concentration
- Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology, Lead Supervising Editor
Marquette University, Honors B.A., Journalism and Writing-Intensive English, summa cum laude, 2007
- Alpha Sigma Nu
- The Marquette Tribune, Reporter/Editor/Columnist
