Mediation for Conflict Resolution
Proactively Resolving Disputes to Prevent Litigation
Balancing Employers’ Business Goals with Legal Compliance Advocating for Conflict Resolution
My name is Kathy Perkins, and I am an attorney specializing in employment law. I spent more than 25 years representing companies in lawsuits filed by former employees, and I now use the lessons learned from that experience to work with clients to reduce litigation risk:
Counseling
Employers deserve practical recommendations for managing employees while navigating the myriad of federal and state employment laws that apply to them. I have worked with well over a hundred clients ranging from small nonprofits, to business start-ups, to private and publicly traded companies advising on how to handle employee requests for leave and other accommodations, claims of harassment and discrimination (race, national origin, sex, age, disability, LGBTQ+), COVID related issues, performance problems, hiring/onboarding, termination, handbook/policy drafting, wage and hour compliance, etc. Depending on the size of the company, I work directly with board members, executives or HR managers. Industries represented include healthcare, manufacturing, local and state governmental entities, financial services, professional services, restaurants, retail, construction, education, transportation, and utilities.
Investigating for Employer Clients and as an Outside Neutral
The law requires investigation into complaints of harassment or discrimination and, if warranted, prompt, appropriate corrective action. I believe that an investigative process can also be an effective tool to aid management in making decisions, such as about employee discipline or terminations, accommodations for a disability or religious practice, or addressing internal conflict. I regularly train HR managers on conducting effective investigations and guide clients through internal complaint investigations.
I have been retained to conduct more than 25 investigations for organizations when a neutral third party is needed. Issues investigated include claims of sexual harassment, unlawful discrimination, whistleblowing, embezzlement, retaliation, and bullying. I have done investigations for educational institutions (college, university and K-12 schools), law firms, governmental entities, publicly traded companies, medium sized businesses, restaurants, healthcare, and nonprofit. Depending on client preference, I can travel to do interviews in person or use remote technology which has enabled me to more efficiently conduct investigations throughout the country.
Training
Manager training in employment laws is critical because people can’t be expected to follow rules they aren’t aware of. Clients regularly retain me to conduct training sessions for their managers and supervisors. Topics include harassment and discrimination prevention, discipline and performance management, interviewing, handling leave and accommodation requests, and wage/hour law compliance.
Mediating
A skilled mediator can be invaluable in resolving workplace disputes. One of the reasons I formed my own firm was to become trained and certified as a mediator and have the flexibility to serve in this role. I have mediated a wide variety of workplace disputes, including early intervention to address employee conflict, cases pending at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and harassment, discrimination, and wage/hour cases in litigation. I have taught mediation advocacy skills to litigators utilizing mediation as well as presenting at mediator training sessions.
Educational Background and Employment History
I earned my J.D. degree from Harvard Law School. My undergraduate degree is in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University.
I founded my own firm, Kathy Perkins LLC, in March 2008, in Lawrence, Kansas. My law career began in Boise, Idaho where I was with Eberle Berlin until opening the Boise office of Stoel Rives. After moving to Lawrence, I was a shareholder at the Stinson firm before joining Constangy, Brooks & Smith as a managing member.
Educational Background and Employment History
I earned my J.D. degree from Harvard Law School. My undergraduate degree is in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University.
I founded my own firm, Kathy Perkins LLC, in March 2008, in Lawrence, Kansas. My law career began in Boise, Idaho where I was with Eberle Berlin until opening the Boise office of Stoel Rives. After moving to Lawrence, I was a shareholder at the Stinson firm before joining Constangy, Brooks & Smith as a managing member.
Before starting my workplace law and mediation practice, Kathy Perkins LLC, in March 2008, I was previously a managing member of the Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLC office in Kansas City for nearly six years. I was also a shareholder in Stinson, Mag & Fizzell from 1996 to 2002, and before that, I served as a partner of Stoel Rives LLP in its Boise, Idaho office.
Licensing Credentials
Admitted to practice:
- Idaho (1983, now inactive)
- Missouri (1997)
- Kansas (1997)
- District of Columbia (2001, now inactive)
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, & Tenth Circuits
- U.S. District Courts in Idaho, Missouri, and Kansas
Professional and Nonprofit Affiliations
I have served as president of the Kansas Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Board as well as the Heartland Mediators Association (now Heartland Dispute Resolution Association). I was on the Board of the Jayhawk Society for Human Resource Management and served on the mediator panel for the Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services. As an executive committee member of the Management Labor & Employment Roundtable, I network with management side lawyers throughout the country and present annually at a national conference for HR professionals.
From 2009 to 2011, I was Board President for the nonprofit Willow Domestic Violence Center. I am an active member of the Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary Club and served as club president during FY 2018.
Publications and Presentations
In addition to providing training for clients, I am a frequent speaker at national and local programs. My presentations and publications include:
Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations
Sexual Harassment in the “Me Too” Era
The Hiring Workshop
Dealing With Difficult Personalities in the Workplace
Internal Complaint & Grievance Processes
Mediation Advocacy
Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls in Mediation
Gender in Mediation: Negotiation & The Gender Divide (Click Here to View)
Let’s Make a Deal: Settlement Savvy (Click Here to View)
Personal Life and Hobbies
I live just outside of Lawrence, Kansas with my husband Stan, two pugs, a chocolate lab, and four cats. When I’m not working, I enjoy playing tennis, sailing our boat on nearby Lake Perry, hanging out with my baby granddaughter in Alaska, and traveling the world – Morocco, Tibet, Uganda, Iceland, and Patagonia, to name a few destinations.