Kathryn R. Brown

Special Counsel

  • Kathryn R. Brown
  • Phone: +1 215 979 1851

    Kathryn R. Brown - LinkedIn Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    30 South 17th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
    USA

Kathryn R. Brown practices in the area of labor and employment law. She is admitted to practice in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Ms. Brown advises employers on a range of workplace issues, including compliance with federal, state and local laws governing employees. Ms. Brown counsels clients in various sectors including higher education, healthcare, energy, financial services and retail. She is a member of the firm's Fashion, Retail and Consumer Branded Products, Education and Cannabis industry groups.

Ms. Brown represents employers in litigation and administrative matters, including investigations by the EEOC, DOL and OSHA. She provides guidance and training on matters including: hiring and onboarding; managing risks in employee discipline and terminations; workplace investigations of alleged harassment or discrimination; wage and hour compliance; independent contractor and exempt/non-exempt classification; leaves of absence; the interactive process of medical and religious accommodations; and implementing reductions in force, including by drafting severance agreements and advising on employee relations issues concerning the transition of departing and remaining employees.  

Ms. Brown defends employers in litigation and administrative matters before government agencies, including the EEOC, DOL and OSHA. She provides day-to-day advice to employers on matters including: hiring and onboarding; managing risks in employee discipline and terminations; wage and hour compliance; independent contractor and exempt/non-exempt classification; leaves of absence; the interactive process of medical and religious accommodations; and implementing reductions in force. 

Ms. Brown prepares employee handbooks and policies that are tailored to the employer's industry, geographical footprint and workforce.

Ms. Brown is a member of the Labor & Employment Law Committee of the Columbus Bar Association. She has served on the Duane Morris Recruitment and Retention Committee and the Associates Committee.

Ms. Brown volunteers as an alumna interviewer for Vanderbilt University Law School.

Areas of Practice

  • Employment Counseling and Advice
  • Employment Litigation
  • Employee Policy Development
  • Pro bono representation of applicants for U.S. citizenship

Representative Matters

  • Represented Fultra, a Mexico-based provider of motor transportation equipment and parts in North America and parent company of Fruehauf, in its acquisition of East Manufacturing, an aluminum trailer maker.

  • Represented IQVIA Inc. (NYSE: IQV), a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and clinical research services to the life sciences industry, in connection with its acquisition of all shares of capital stock of Cronos Clinical Consulting Services Inc., a leading global provider of specialty clinical service solutions with the goal of improving data quality in clinical trials.

  • Obtained summary judgment for non-profit organization in putative class and collective action alleging novel issues of independent contractor misclassification and race discrimination, resulting in dismissal of all FLSA and Pennsylvania state law minimum wage and overtime claims, ERISA claims, and race discrimination claim.

  • Won motion to dismiss entire complaint filed with Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission alleging claims of discrimination, retaliation and failure to accommodate.

  • Represented automotive industry employer in compensation dispute with former executive.

  • Assisted in representation of national cosmetology school in matter involving putative class and collective action claims in which students alleged they were owed wages for time spent in school clinics.

  • Negotiated pre-suit settlement of threatened claims of disability discrimination and failure to accommodate on behalf of medical professional.

  • Obtained dismissal of NLRB Unfair Labor Practice charge alleging unlawful discharge based on protected concerted activities.

  • Represented construction company cited by OSHA for serious violations, successfully advocating for reduction in proposed penalties and extension of abatement deadline.

  • Represented restaurant in wage and hour government audit in which violations were alleged of failure to pay minimum wages and overtime wages.

  • Obtained settlement that the client found favorable of federal lawsuit alleging race discrimination claims.

  • Obtained favorable resolution through mediation of lawsuit against printing industry employer involving claims of disability discrimination and retaliation under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

  • Obtained dismissal of disparate impact claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act on behalf of a hospital.

  • Obtained dismissal of an EEOC charge alleging race discrimination on behalf of a non-profit in the healthcare industry.

  • Successfully defended owner of nursing home against a TRO and Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed to enjoin the sale of the nursing home where the sale was not conditioned on the buyer assuming the collective bargaining agreement.

    • Pro Bono

  • Developed employee handbook policies for education non-profit organization.

  • Represented Jamaican citizen in achieving Legal Permanent Resident status from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and a visa from the U.S. Department of State, allowing her to reunite with her spouse in the United States.

  • Pursuant to court appointment, successfully advocated before state parole board for parolee to remain in mental health treatment programs rather than have parole revoked for parole violation.

  • Represented a Russian citizen and domestic violence survivor in obtaining lawful permanent residency in the United States under the Violence Against Women Act.

  • Represented a long-time lawful permanent resident in achieving his goal of U.S. citizenship, successfully advocating for her client to be exempt from the literacy portions of her client's citizenship examination, based on his disabilities.

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 2012
    - Student Writing Award Winner, Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law
  • University of Pennsylvania, B.A., magna cum laude

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Special Counsel, 2024-present
    - Associate, 2012-2024
    - Summer Associate, 2011
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    - Law Clerk to the Hon. Gene E.K. Pratter, 2013

Civic and Professional Activities

  • Columbus, OH Bar Association
    - Labor & Employment Law Committee
    - Federal Court Committee
  • Vanderbilt University Law School, Alumni Admission Interviewer
  • Citizen Police Academy 2024, New Albany Police Department
  • Former Steering Committee Member, Emerging Leaders Circle, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Honors and Awards

  • Named to Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch," 2023-2025

No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Selected Publications

Media Hits

  • Quoted, "Understand and Prevent Hostile Work Environments," SHRM.org, October 24, 2024

  • Quoted, "Think Tank COO Sex Harassment Case Poses ‘Proxy’ Liability," Bloomberg Law, Daily Labor Report, June 21, 2022

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "Extended Orientation: Time Management Strategies for a Sustainable Practice," Duane Morris, October 15, 2024

  • Guest "Episode 71: WARN Act Class Actions In The Era Of Remote Work," The Class Action Weekly Wire, Podcast, August 29, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Workplace Harassment Prevention - What EEOC's New Guidance Means for You," Brightmine, Webinar, August 15, 2024
  • Speaker, "Extended Orientation: Time Management Tips for Associates," Duane Morris, Virtual, August 7, 2024
  • Presenter, “Teens in the Workplace,” Webinar, Duane Morris Institute, June 6, 2024
  • Speaker, "Midwest States Legal Update," Duane Morris Institute (DMi) Webinar, March 9, 2023
  • Speaker, "HR in the Heartland: Compliance Action Items for Illinois and Ohio Employers," Duane Morris Institute (DMi) Webinar, September 20, 2022
  • Speaker, "Time Management Tips for Summer Associates," Duane Morris, Virtual, July 1, 2021

  • Presenter, "Why Does Jared Make More Than Keisha? And Other Pay Equity Issues that May be Lurking in Your Workplace," Webinar, Duane Morris Institute, July 11, 2019

  • Speaker, "Pay Equity: Legislative Trends and Practical Takeaways," Duane Morris' Developments in Workplace Law and Practice, Philadelphia, May 7, 2019

  • Speaker, "Time Management, Delegation and Productivity Tips," Duane Morris, Philadelphia, March 25, 2019

  • Presenter, "Strategies to Consider in Taking a Termination to Trial," Philly SHRM, Emerging Leaders Career Development Series 2019, Philadelphia, PA, March 5, 2019

  • Presenter, "It’s the Culture: Getting to the Root of Gender Bias," Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Hershey, PA, November 27, 2018

  • Presenter, "Workplace Law for Educators," Charter School, Philadelphia, November 17, 2017

  • Co-presenter, "Strategies to Consider in Taking a Discipline Decision to Trial," Duane Morris Institute Seminar, Philadelphia, November 15, 2017

  • Speaker, "Strategies to Consider in Taking a Discipline Decision to Trial," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), June 20, 2017
  • Speaker, Duane Morris' Developments in Workplace Law and Practice, Philadelphia, May 3, 2017
  • Speaker, "Updates to the NLRA, FLSA and OSHA," 2016 Annual Lawyer/Chief Executive Conference, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, State College, Pennsylvania, October 5, 2016
  • Speaker, "Recent NLRB Decisions That Impact both Union and Non-Union Employers," Duane Morris' Developments in Workplace Law and Practice 2016, Philadelphia, May 11, 2016
  • Panelist, "Managing Your Career and Creating a Professional Development Plan," Duane Morris, Philadelphia, March 23, 2016
  • Speaker, "Federal Wage and Hour Rules and Pennsylvania Background Check Rules for Child Safety," 2015 Annual Lawyer/Chief Executive Conference, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, State College, Pennsylvania, October 8, 2015
  • Speaker, "Limiting Litigation Risks and Costs (and Promoting Positive Employee Relations)," Duane Morris' Developments in Workplace Law and Practice 2015, Philadelphia, May 14, 2015
  • Speaker, "The NLRB's New Election Rules and Other Rules about Rules," Duane Morris' Developments in Workplace Law and Practice 2015, Philadelphia, May 14, 2015
  • Co-presenter, "Strategies to Consider in a Termination that Might Go to Trial," Duane Morris Institute Seminar, Philadelphia, October 22, 2014
  • Speaker, "Background Checks: Criminal, Credit and Social Media," Duane Morris' Developments in Workplace Law and Practice 2014, Philadelphia, May 8, 2014
  • Co-presenter, "Trying a Labor Arbitration Case," Duane Morris, Philadelphia, November 18, 2013
  • Co-presenter, "Religious Accommodations: Clash of Rights," Duane Morris Institute Seminar, Philadelphia, November 6, 2013
  • Co-presenter, "Practical Tips for Drafting Severance Agreements," Duane Morris, Philadelphia, December 17, 2012

Pro Bono

  • Represented Jamaican citizen in achieving Legal Permanent Resident status from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and a visa from the U.S. Department of State, allowing her to reunite with her spouse in the United States
  • Pursuant to court appointment, successfully advocated before state parole board for parolee to remain in mental health treatment programs rather than have parole revoked for parole violation.
  • Represented a Russian citizen and domestic violence survivor in obtaining lawful permanent residency in the United States under the Violence Against Women Act.
  • Represented a long-time lawful permanent resident in achieving his goal of U.S. citizenship, successfully advocating for her client to be exempt from the literacy portions of her client's citizenship examination, based on his disabilities. 
  • Developed employee handbook policies for non-profit organization serving middle school and high school students.