Kyla is an experienced trial attorney, having second-chaired numerous jury trials, each of which resulted in a complete defense verdict. Kyla leverages that trial experience through her regular litigation and counseling work, understanding how events can later be perceived by a judge or jury. With that insight, Kyla guides her clients on how to predict and solve problems proactively, and appropriately manage ongoing litigation.
Kyla represents clients in a board variety of actions, including:
Trials. Kyla first and second chair jury trial experience in numerous single plaintiff employment discrimination cases, with all trials resulting in a complete defense verdict.
Class and Collective Actions. Kyla regularly handles large class and collective actions within the wage and hour space brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and other state wage and hour laws. Kyla also litigates complex and single-plaintiff discrimination claims involving claims of sex, race, disability, national origin, and age discrimination and retaliation, including claims brought by the EEOC.
Individual Claims. She obtained numerous favorable summary judgment rulings and Rule 12(b)(6) dismissals in a wide variety of claims alleging discrimination, retaliation, and harassment based on protected characteristics and conduct.
Administrative Proceedings. Kyla frequently represented employers in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (age, sex, race, disability, and national origin discrimination, as well as sexual and racial harassment); the US Department of Labor (wages and FMLA); the Illinois Human Rights Commission (discrimination, harassment and retaliation); the Illinois Department of Labor (wage claims); the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (discrimination, harassment and retaliation), and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division (discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wage claims).
Mediations. Represents employers in formal, court-ordered settlement conferences and mediation programs and informal, voluntary mediations and case evaluation procedures mandated by state courts.
Arbitration. Kyla assists a wide range of clients in arbitral proceedings, up to and including arbitration hearings and post hearing briefing. Kyla also handles arbitration-related employment litigation.
Kyla maintains several substantive areas of concentration outside of her litigation practice, including:
Employment Counseling. She counsels clients regarding compliance with Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA and state and local employment laws.
Policies and Practices. She assists employers in drafting clear, consistent, and compliant employment policies applicable to employee populations across the country, and training them on the same.
Investigations. She has experience conducting numerous high-profile investigations, with a particular focus on sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims. Kyla has also handled investigations related to internal and external complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on an employee’s age, race, national origin, and disability status.
During law school, Kyla was inducted in Alpha Sigma Nu honor society, an honor awarded to only 4% of students in the top 15% of their class. She also received the highest grade in her legal writing and jury selection courses, served as president of the Labor & Employment Law Society, was a member of the Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court team, and tutored first-year law students on the subject of torts. In her second year, Kyla was published for her law review article discussing the ways consumers may be affected by employers misclassifying employees as independent contractors.
