
Whether it’s appearing in court for single-plaintiff discrimination claims, performing pay equity audits, drafting employment policies and procedures, or negotiating collective bargaining agreements, Chelsea provides a wide range of labor and employment litigation and consulting services to help her clients succeed and stay ahead.
She’s particularly skilled in advising and assisting clients in wage-and-hour matters, including providing preventive, practical advice for and defending against class and collective actions involving unpaid overtime, worker misclassification and other violations under the FLSA and its state law equivalents. Previously serving as a company point-of-contact within a pre-employment background screening company, she also possesses a deep understanding of recruiting and hiring complexities and maintains an exceptional bond with the HR function.
In her labor-management relations work, Chelsea helps clients in responding to unfair labor practice charges, serves as the employer representative in the election process, and designs successful strategies to avoid unionization and/or enhance communication efforts.
Key Practice Experience
- Pay equity
- Employment litigation
- Discrimination claims
- Retaliation claims
- Complex class actions
- Preventive employment counseling
- Labor management relations
- FLSA/wage-and-hour defense
- Employment policies
- Executive agreements and severance
- ADA and FMLA Compliance
- Workplace investigations
- Management trainings
- Organizational reviews
- Pre-employment background checks
- Data privacy and security
Key Industry Experience
- Cities and Counties
- Retail
- Health Care
- Nonprofit
- Manufacturing
- Hospitality
Professional Associations
- Minnesota Women Lawyers
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
- NAMWOLF
- Labor and Employment Practice Area Committee
- Emerging Leaders Initiative
Community Involvement
- Commissioner, St. Louis Park Police Advisory Commission
- Volunteer Attorney, Tubman Safety Project
- Clinic Volunteer, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
Presentations
- “Private Sector Labor Law,” Minnesota CLE, Understanding Minnesota and Federal Labor and Employment Law, September 2023
- “Private Sector Labor Law,” Minnesota CLE, Understanding Minnesota and Federal Labor and Employment Law, October 2021
- “Return to Workplace Guidance,” International Public Management Association for Human Resources, May 2021
- “Public Sector Labor Negotiations in a COVID-19 Economy,” Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Webinar, June 2020
- “COVID-19 Employment Update and Q&A with Labor and Employment Attorneys,” Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Webinar, May 2020
- “Planning for the Next Chapter of COVID-19 Public Workforce Changes,” Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Webinar, April 2020
- “Employment Impacts of COVID-19,” Winona Area Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, April 2020
Publications
- “It’s 2021. Do You Know Where Your Employees Are?” Minnesota Defense, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Summer 2021
- “Summary Guide to Sexual Harassment Law,” Minnesota CLE, Co-author, May 2021
- Minnesota Legislature Passes Bill For Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Congress Passes Additional Protections for Pregnant and Post-Partum Employees
- Minnesota Employers: Understanding the New Frontline Worker Pay Law
- Supreme Court Ruling Strikes Down OSHA ETS
- No Ruling, But SCOTUS Likely to Strike Down OSHA ETS
- California’s New Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19
- Employer Incentivization of COVID-19 Vaccination
- NJL Adds Two to Labor & Employment Team