Karleen is a partner in the employment law group in the Baton Rouge office. Her practice consists of employment and employee benefits matters, litigation and consultation regarding all aspects of employment law and ERISA. She handles issues related to executive compensation and plan qualification under the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA compliance, HIPAA compliance, and plan administration. Karleen also drafts employee pension and welfare benefit plans and various plan documents such as summary plan descriptions, plan amendments, and plan merger agreements and reviews prototype plan documents. She handles ERISA litigation involving issues of breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful denial of benefits. In addition to her experience in the benefits area, Karleen handles various types of employment litigation and provides advice to clients on issues related to Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, the FLSA, and related matters. Karleen frequently conducts training sessions on benefits and employment laws.

• Louisiana State University, J.D., 1997; B.S. in Accounting, 1994; Phi Kappa Phi; Beta Gamma Sigma Honorary Business Society

• Member: Louisiana State Bar Association [Young Lawyers Section Council (Chair, 2007-2008)]; Louisiana Bar Foundation Board of Directors; Federal Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section, Chair of the Special Committee on Employee Benefits); American Bar Association (Taxation and Labor and Employment Law Sections and Employee Benefits Committee); Baton Rouge Bar Association (Holiday Star Committee); Junior League of Baton Rouge (Legal Advisor)

• "Leave of Absence Pitfalls"
• "Employment Issues Affecting the Long-Term Care Industry"
• "HIPAA's Privacy Rule: A Potential Pitfall for Employers and Plan Sponsors," FBA Labor and Employment Law Section Newsletter (Summer 2004)
• "COBRA Compliance Under the Developing Law"
• "Countdown to HIPAA Compliance"
• "Bonuses, Commissions, and Severance"

• Representation of employers in various aspects of establishing, maintaining, and administering pension and welfare benefit plans
• Representation of employers on issues related to group health plans including COBRA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and other legislative acts and regulations
• Representation of private and public employers on various executive compensation issues, including compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
• Representation of tax exempt and governmental employers on eligible and ineligible plans under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code
• Representation of private and public employers in various employment-related matters involving issues of discrimination, harassment, family and medical leave, wage payment, and military leave
• Representation of plan sponsors in ERISA litigation