Fiercely protective of her clients’ interests, Sara combines a deep knowledge of employment law with a practical approach to the most complex issues facing national and regional employers.
Overview
A nationally recognized litigation attorney, Sara has broad experience in a wide variety of employment disputes. She defends employers against the full range of employment claims under federal and state laws, serving as lead counsel in jury trials, arbitrations and on appeal. Sara's extensive litigation experience contributes to her ability to provide employers with sound advice on day-to-day human resources issues and to serve as a proactive partner in her clients' strategic business initiatives.
Sara represents local and national companies in employment litigation with an impressive track record of success. Among her recent clients are Hallmark and the Kansas City Royals. Her practice encompasses complex class and collective action cases under state and federal law, as well as claims of discrimination, retaliation, whistleblowing, Family and Medical Leave Act violations, confidentiality and non-compete agreements. In addition to serving as lead counsel in litigation, Sara also has successfully represented employers in government audits and investigations and guided them toward quick and favorable resolutions.
Prior to joining the firm, Sara served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Howard F. Sachs, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Experience
Sara’s considerable class and collective action experience includes:
- Defense of a worldwide health care information technology company in multiple class and collective action lawsuits alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour laws
- Representation of a global packaging company in a nationwide collective action alleging "off the clock" claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act
- Defense of a wireless technology deployment company against class and collective action claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act
- Defense of a federally qualified health center against class and collective action claims alleging misclassification of exempt employees
- Representation of a multi-state property management firm in a class and collective action case alleging misclassification of exempt employees
Sara’s impressive roster of victories in discrimination claims includes:
- Enforcement of binding arbitration agreements on behalf of numerous employers in multiple jurisdictions
- Successful defense of a worldwide hotel company, through trial and appeal, against claims of harassment based on race, sex and age
- Successful defense of a regional bank, at trial, against claims of gender discrimination under Missouri state law
- Numerous summary judgment decisions and successful defense of those decisions on appeal for clients in a wide variety of industries, including a U.S.-based airline, a national bank, a Major League Baseball franchise, a healthcare software company and one of the world's largest food companies
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of a regional medical center in a case alleging violation of the FMLA and discrimination based on disability
- Successfully defended a credit services company, through summary judgment and appeal, against claims of wrongful discharge based on an employee's whistleblowing
- Recent reported cases include Frank v. Heartland Rehabilitation Hospital, LLC, Case No. 22-3031, 2023 WL 4444655 (10th Cir. July 11, 2023); Shiffman v. Kansas City Royals Baseball Club, LLC, 687 S.W.3d 443 (Mo. App. W.D. 2024); Robson v. Netsmart Technologies, Inc., Case No. 24-2083-KHV, 2025 WL 1548306 (D. Kan. May 30, 2025).
News & Insights
News
Publications
Speaking Engagements
"Updates in Wage & Hour Law, Accommodations and Leave Laws, New Challenges for HR in 2025, March 2025
New Challenges for HR in 2024, January 2024
New Challenges for HR in 2023, January 2023
New Challenges for HR in 2023, February 2023
Employment Due Diligence in Mergers & Acquisitions and the Hiring Process, March 2022
New Challenges for HR in 2022, February 2022
Recognitions
Recognitions
Received Martindale-Hubbell "AV" Rating, 2020
Named one of the Kansas City Business Journal's 2013 Women Who Mean Business.
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2013-2027 for Labor and Employment Law and selected as 2015 and 2022 Litigation – Labor and Employment "Lawyer of the Year" in Kansas City, Mo.
Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Labor and Employment in Missouri, 2012-2026
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Board of Directors for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Member
Board of Directors for the Folly Theater, Member and 2018 Event Co-Chair
Board of Directors for Art in the Loop Foundation, Member
Board of Directors of Kansas City Young Audiences, Past Member and 2019 Event Co-Chair
Hope House, Past Board Member; Board Chairperson, 2010-2012
2004 Woman of the Year Candidate, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
American Employment Law Council, Member
Kansas Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Missouri, 1993
- Kansas, 1994
Education
Northwestern University, J.D., 1993
University of Kansas, B.A., with highest distinction, 1990
Clerkships
- Honorable Howard F. Sachs, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
