Meet Kathlyn Perez

Background

Perez Law LLC focuses on assisting businesses in three areas: (1) working with clients on retainer as outside employment counsel, (2) creating and conducting in-person, virtual, or module employment law trainings, and (3) implementing Perez Law’s signature ADA Compliance Program that assists businesses with Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations and leave-related legal issues.
For nearly 15 years, Kathlyn Perez, founder of Perez Law LLC, has represented all types and sizes of businesses ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, counseling on employee relations and HR issues, conducting internal investigations and trainings, negotiating employment contracts, and navigating high risk departures, severances, and settlement agreements.
Prior to starting her own business, Kathlyn was a Shareholder at Baker Donelson where she practiced in employment law and commercial litigation, handling the defense of all types of employment litigation, as well as complex business matters involving clients in a variety of industries.

Kathlyn graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from Tulane University School of Law and resides in New Orleans with her husband, who is also an attorney, and their two young children.

Recent Speaking Engagements

  • “How Hidden Biases Impact Our Work,” Keynote Speaker for Career Compass Kick-Off (August 2022)
  • “Handling Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues in the Workplace,” HR Acuity Webinar (July 2022).
  • “Professionalism: The Only Good ‘Ism’?” Panelist, Federal Bar Association CLE (November 2021)
  • “Gender Fender Benders,” ABA EEO Committee CLE (May 2021)
  • “On the Basis of Sex: A Look at Social Science on Detecting Gender Stereotyping and Implicit Bias,” Louisiana State Bar Association Webinar (March 2021)
  • “Hot Topics in Employment Law Under a Biden Administration,” New Orleans Bar Association Webinar (December 2020)
  • "Implicit Bias in the Law, the Court System, the Legal Community, and Your Legal Career,” Alvin Rubin Symposium, Panelist (May 2020)
  • "Professionalism: Interrupting Bias in the Workplace," Baker Donelson Labor & Employment Seminar "The Inside Scoop: Understanding and Reducing Legal Risks in the Workplace," Presenter (December 2019)
  • "Implicit Bias: How to Recognize It and What Campus GCs Should Do About It," National Association of College and University Attorneys 2019 Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado, Co-Presenter (June 2019)
  • “Why and How You Should Implement Effective Anti-Harassment Training Now,” Webinar Presentation (February 2019)
  • "Torts in the Workplace," 2018 Torts Seminar, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Panelist (December 2018)
  • “Employment Considerations in the New ‘Gig’ Economy,” Webinar (September 2018)
  • "The Inside Scoop: Understanding and Reducing Legal Risks in the Workplace," Presenter (December 2018)
  • "Implicit Bias in the Legal Industry," Association of Legal Administrators, Presenter (September 2018)
  • "Employment Law Issues in the Gig Economy," ABA/EEO Committee for Liaison with EEOC, OFCCP and DOJ, Co-Presenter (April 2018)
  • "Employment Issues Facing Emerging Companies," 2017 Louisiana Life Sciences and Technology Symposium, Co-Presenter (September 2017)
  • “Transgender Rights on Campus,” National Webinar (September 2016)
  • "Implicit Bias," Current Developments in Labor & Employment Law CLE, Louisiana State University and the Louisiana State Bar Association, Presenter (May 2016)

Representative Publications

Education

Tulane University Law School, J.D. 2006

  • Order of the Coif
  • magna cum laude
  • Civil Law Certificate
  • Articles Editor, Tulane Law Review
  • Recipient, John Minor Wisdom Award

Washington and Lee University, B.S. 2002

  • cum laude

Recent Professional Honors

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Litigation - Labor and Employment; Labor and Employment, Management (2020, 2021, 2022)

Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers as a top Louisiana lawyer in the area of Labor & Employment law (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)

Recipient – Emerge Summit, Millennial Award in Law (2019)

Recognized as a “Top Lawyer” in Labor and Employment Law by New Orleans Magazine (2019, 2021)

Named to New Orleans CityBusiness 2014 Women of the Year

Recent Publications

  • How to Respond to ‘Don’t Make Me Come Back to Work!’” New Orleans Bar Association Blog (June 2021)
  • WDSU Investigates: Westwego Mayor Owns Up to Sexual Harassment, Blames Meds,” On Camera Interview, WDSU (February 2020)
  • Implicit Bias in the Legal Industry: How ALA Members Can Take Action,” Association of Legal Administrators, New Orleans Chapter Newsletter, (3rd Quarter 2018)
  • Op-Ed: Employee Overtime Exemption Overhaul is Coming. Are You Ready?,” New Orleans CityBusiness (October 2016)
  • What is Implicit Bias and Why Should Employers Care?,” Baker Donelson, Diversity Matters (July 2015)
  • New DOL Regulations Bring Home Health Workers Into FLSA Framework,” Bloomberg BNA’s Health Law Reporter (June 2014)
  • Protecting Those Who Protected Us,” Louisiana Bar Journal, Volume 61, Number 4 (December 2013/January 2014)
  • 2013 Supreme Court Decisions Affecting Class Waivers in Employment Arbitration Agreements,” The Labouring Oar (June 2013)