Skip to main content
Menu

Personal Profile

Kathy Nemechek’s practice focuses primarily on employment defense. She has spent nearly three  decades defending companies–from small businesses to the Fortune 100–in litigation across the United States involving both union and non-union environments. Since joining Berkowitz Oliver in 2001, Kathy has obtained favorable decisions both at trial and in pre-trial practice in employment discrimination cases filed in state and federal courts and before a wide variety of state and federal agencies.  She routinely represents employers in both single plaintiff and class action cases brought pursuant to Title VII, ADA, ADEA FMLA, OFCCP and wage and hour laws. Kathy also counsels clients of all sizes regarding day-to-day employment matters and application of federal, state and local statutes to various employment practices.  She also develops and conducts employee training on topics ranging from investigating harassment complaints to employee documentation and discharge. And Kathy is frequently hired to conduct sensitive internal investigations, often involving C-Suite employees or high-profile issues.

Clients appreciate her ability to identify and focus on their goals and to quickly grasp their business needs in crafting policies and recommending strategies both inside and outside the courtroom. In addition, Kathy has successfully briefed and argued cases before the Seventh and Eighth Circuits for the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Missouri Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court.

In addition to her employment practice, Kathy also represents clients in professional negligence cases. She also has experience in in product liability matters and is frequently sought out to negotiate employment and severance agreements for highly-compensated employees and to handle resulting litigation.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • The Note: Child Preference in Custody Decisions: Where We Have Been, Where We Are Going, Where We Should Go, 83 Iowa L. Rev. 437 (1998).

Education

  • University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., 1998) High Distinction
    • Order of the Coif
    • Associate editor of the Iowa Law Review
  • Iowa State University
    • (B.S., Community and Regional Planning, 1995) Honors & Distinction

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Bar Jurisdictions

  • Missouri, 1998
  • Kansas, 1999

Professional Memberships/Community Involvement

  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Board of Directors, Kansas City Ballet
  • Children’s Mercy Hospital Hands and Hearts Auxiliary Board Member (past president)
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association – Federal Advocates Section

Distinctions

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America – Management Employment
  • Recognized by Kansas and Missouri Super Lawyers