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. Whether she is defending employment litigation cases, defending clients in wage and hour claims before the Department of Labor (DOL), or providing daily employment counseling on a variety of complex employment issues, including disability and religious accommodations, Stephanie takes a refreshingly straightforward approach when navigating challenging legal issues.
In addition to her broad-based litigation experience, Stephanie has specialty practice areas including representing clients in Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) audits and administrative claims before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and related state agencies. 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 companies in high-stakes internal investigations related to 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 as well as to advise on public company board diversity and ESG issues.
Experience
Stephanie has represented federal contractors and subcontractors throughout the United States in various industries, including transportation, rail, manufacturing, construction, health care, technology, 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 and state-related audits, including compensation focused 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 matters before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals for global aviation manufacturing company, including the defense and successful resolution of multiple OFCCP affirmative action plan audits and 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 the defense of ADA discrimination and Title VII retaliation cases 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; worker's compensation retaliation cases; and OFCCP affirmative action plan audits.
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 - OFCCP Update" seminar series, 2008-2023
- "Equal Pay for Equal Work," Independent Bankers of Colorado, 2020
- "EEO Compliance and Positive Workplace Training," 2017-2023
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
"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
Recognitions
Recognitions
Consistently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Labor and Employment – Management and Litigation – Labor & Employment. Selected as a Lawyer of the Year in 2022 and received Women in the Law recognition in 2017.
Recognized with the highest ranking in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.
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.
Received recognition in the Wichita Business Journal's Women Who Lead series.
Recognized for her community involvement by being selected to the Wichita Business Journal's 2003 "40 Under 40" recognition.
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
Mark Arts, Board of Directors, 2022-present
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, former member of the Board of Trustees
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Kansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Education
University of Kansas, J.D.
- Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy
Kansas State University, B.S., Business Administration, Human Resources Management, cum laude
