Karen G. Schanfield

Karen advises and represents employers on a broad range of workplace matters.

Her expertise includes leaves of absence, wage and hour issues, harassment, discrimination, disability and religious accommodation, retaliation, non-compete agreements, executive agreements and compensation, whistleblower claims, down-sizing and union matters. Her clients include publicly traded companies, non-profit organizations, government entities and executives. Karen serves as national labor and employment counsel for companies with operations in several states.

Karen has handled several high profile matters, including the investigation of top public officials for alleged sexual harassment, the termination of executives for illegal conduct, and whistleblower claims. For example, in the fall of 2015, Karen co-led an investigation of sexual harassment and the University of Minnesota Athletics Department in the wake of the resignation of Athletics Director Norwood Teague. The investigation consisted of over 100 interviews, the review of thousands of pages of relevant documents and emails, and broad-based surveys. At its conclusion, the investigation’s findings and recommendations were presented to the University’s Board of Regents and the State Legislature in public sessions.

Karen has over twenty-five years’ experience working with health care providers, clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities and other health care organizations. She has drafted and enforced physician employment and separation agreements and provides counsel on employment matters unique to the health care setting, such as HIPAA violations and the use of EMR. Karen also works closely with colleges and universities, advising on the denial of tenure and promotion, termination of faculty appointments, academic freedom claims and student matters.

Karen is an experienced arbitrator and mediator. She has decided and helped parties resolve workplace issues involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, FMLA and other leave of absence issues, whistleblower claims, defamation, and wage and hour disputes.

Employment

• Handles matters involving sensitive and controversial issues, significant potential damages, publicity and unique legal issues
• Negotiates and drafts executive employment contracts, non-compete, non-solicitation, and separation agreements for individual and group terminations
• Enforces non-compete agreements by employers and negotiates releases from non-compete agreements for employees and hiring entities
• Investigates claims of harassment and misconduct in public and private sector workplaces
• Represents employers in arbitrations, mediations, and before various state and federal agencies and courts, including the NLRB, the EEOC, the DOL, and state and local enforcement agencies
• Conducts due diligence reviews on labor and employment matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions
• Trains Boards of Directors, managers, supervisors and employees on compliance with workplace laws and regulations

Labor Matters

• Represents private and public employers in union arbitrations, union organizing, union contract negotiations and unfair labor practice proceedings

ADR Matters

• Serves as an arbitrator and mediator in cases involving claims related to executive pay disputes, discrimination, leaves of absence, retaliation, whistleblower activity, defamation, discrimination, unjust termination and other workplace matters

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1978, cum laude
• University of St. Thomas, M.A., 1972, with honors
• University of Minnesota, B.A., 1971, magna cum laude

Admissions

• Minnesota, 1978
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1978
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1979

Languages

• Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Minnesota—Labor & Employment, 2007-2024
• North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2013, 2015, 2019-2023
• Leonard Lindquist Distinguished Practice Award, Minnesota State Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section, 2022
• Minnesota Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor, 1997, 2002-2022
• Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law-Management, 2011-2021; Labor Law-Management, 2011-2021
• Lifetime Commitment Award, Twin Cities Cardozo Society, 2017
• Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis for Labor Law-Management, 2017
• Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis for Employment Law-Management, 2016
• Top 50 Women in Minnesota, Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2010-2014
• Top 100 Women in Minnesota, Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2005-2009
• Top 40 Labor and Employment Law Attorneys, Minnesota Super Lawyers, Multiple Years
• Law and Leading Attorneys, Multiple Years
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated, Multiple Years
• Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Professional Activities

• Governor’s Commission on Judicial Selection, At-Large Member, 2023-2027
• Ramsey County Bar Association, Chair, Labor and Employment Law Section
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Minnesota State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Executive Council
• National Association of College and University Attorneys, Member
• American Employment Law Council, Member
• University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Faculty Member
• William Mitchell College of Law, Adjunct Faculty Member
• Advisory Committee for the National Academy of Arbitrators Annual Meeting, Member, 2012

Community

• MinnPost, Board of Directors, Chair, DEI Committee
• Infinity Project, Board of Directors
• Jewish Family Service, Board of Directors
• The Jewish Federation of Greater St. Paul, Board of Directors
• Volunteer Lawyers Network, Provider of Pro Bono Legal Advice
• Hennepin County District Court, Volunteer Mediator
• United Jewish Fund and Council, Chair, Partnership 2000 Committee
• St. Paul Jewish Community Center, Board of Directors
• Minnesota Women Lawyers, Board of Directors
• Resources for Child Caring, Board of Directors
• Melpomene Institute, Board of Directors
• Jewish Metropolitan Council, Member, 2017