Lisa Karen Atkins

Ms. Atkins has represented employers as litigation and in-house counsel in a broad range of employment matters. She has defended numerous Title VII, age discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act cases at the administrative, trial, and appellate levels. Her experience includes sexual and racial harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and related state law tort claims. On behalf of employers, she has also handled Title IX discrimination and individual and official capacity claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1981, and 1985. She has experience counseling employers on a wide range of employment issues, including transfer, demotion, grievances, benefits, impairment and drug-testing, accommodation, employee discipline, termination, electronic use (Internet and electronic mail), conflict of interest, conflict of commitment, and military leave.  She also has substantial experience drafting and implementing employment policies, discrimination/misconduct investigations, management reviews, and severance agreements. In addition, she has advised on workforce planning, restructuring and reductions in force in non-union settings and represented clients in connection with investigations arising under federal programs and regulations. Her experience includes management training and assisting with the formulation and implementation of employment-related risk management strategies.

Ms. Atkins has an extensive higher education legal background, having served as general counsel for a mid-major, public research/doctoral university.  She has presented on various legal issues, including developments in the Americans with Disabilities Act and Ethics and Technology.

Ms. Atkins is currently a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).