Overview

Kaitlyn A. Hansen advises and represents employers in a broad range of employment law issues and disputes before state and federal courts, arbitration panels, and administrative agencies. Katie represents employers in all aspects of claims arising under various employment and other statutes including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Equal Pay Act (EPA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Katie has handled claims involving:

  • Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
  • Pay equity
  • Failure to accommodate
  • Administrative charges
  • Claims for unemployment benefits
  • Exemption classification issues
  • Wage and hour issues

Katie also regularly counsels clients with regard to all aspects of the employee lifecycle, including hiring, performance management, improving employee experience, and ending employment relationships.

Katie is a member of Littler’s Wage and Hour Practice Group, as well as its Staffing, Independent Contractors and Contingent Workers Practice Group. She advises clients on employee classification issues, as well as on leveraging contingent workforce solutions. Katie conducts audits to assess and mitigate contingent workforce and employee classification risks, and she also regularly litigates misclassification cases.

Before joining Littler, Katie clerked for former Chief United States Magistrate Judge Diane K. Vescovo and United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker in the Western District of Tennessee. During law school, Katie was senior notes editor for The University of Memphis Law Review.

Selected Matters

  • Obtained summary judgment for global manufacturing company regarding ADEA claims; affirmed by the Sixth Circuit
  • Obtained early dismissal of claims amounting to $2.5 million against a large national staffing agency
  • Obtained summary judgement for a healthcare client regarding Title VII and ADEA claims; affirmed by the Sixth Circuit
  • Obtained early dismissal of employment and contract claims against a technology client

Professional & Community Affiliations

Secretary

Standing Local Rules Committee

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

Associate

Leo S. Bearman Sr. American Inn of Court

Member

Memphis Bar Association

Treasurer

LGBT + Ally Section

Memphis Bar Association

Member

Professionalism and Ethics Committee

Memphis Bar Association

Member

Labor and Employment Section

Memphis Bar Association

Member

National LGBT+ Bar Association

Member

Tennessee Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Recognition

Recipient, Humphreys Fellowship

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

2016-2018

Recipient, Excellence for the Future Award

Fair Employment Practices, Employee Benefits, Torts I, Criminal Procedure

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

Recipient, Dean’s Distinguished Pro Bono Award

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

2018

Member, Diversity Leadership Institute

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

2017

Member, Helen Hardin Honors Program

University of Memphis

Recipient, Upsilon Mu Award

Highest GPA in Criminal Justice & Criminology Major

University of Memphis

2015

News, Analysis & Press

A Death Knell for Standard Boiler-Plate Severance Agreements: Key Considerations for Individualized Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Provisions in Severance Agreements After the National Labor Relations Board’s McLaren Macomb Decision

ACC Tennessee Newsletter

Summer 2023

Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines

HR Professionals Magazine

July 28, 2021

Building a More Inclusive Workplace for LGBTQ+ Employees: Bostock and Beyond

HR Professionals Magazine

November 2020

Books & Book Chapters

  • The Developing Labor Law, Bloomberg BNA, Contributing Editor, Chapter 29, 2021, 2023, 2024
  • Employment Discrimination Law, Bloomberg BNA, Contributing Chapter Monitor, Chapter 2, 2021
  • What is Corporate Compliance in Corporate Compliance Practice Guide, Lexis Nexis, Contributing Editor, Section 33.02, 2021

Speaking Engagements

Professionalism and Ethics Panel

University of Memphis School of Law Externship Class

October 15, 2024

State of the Queer Union

Memphis Bar Association CLE

September 27, 2024

Professionalism and Ethics Panel

University of Memphis School of Law Externship Class

March 26, 2024

A Labor of Love: Littler Lawyers Answer Your Most Burning Labor and Employment Questions

February 10, 2022

Education

  • J.D., University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, 2018magna cum laude
  • B.A., University of Memphis, 2015magna cum laude

Bar Admission

Tennessee

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee