Karen L. Corman

Partner, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP

 


Ms. Corman's diverse practice includes representation of national and international clients in a broad range of labor and employment matters. Ms. Corman's litigation experience includes complex class actions in both federal and state court. She has extensive experience defending employers in individual and class action wage and hour, discrimination, harassment and overtime litigation, as well as in arbitration and mediation.

Significant cases include:

• consolidated class actions brought in state court on behalf of restaurant general managers claiming to have been misclassified as exempt from overtime rules and on behalf of exempt and nonexempt employees claiming unpaid vacation wages;
• a putative class action charging a national restaurant chain with making illegal deductions from employee pay through its net profit-based bonus plan; and
• a class action by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charging a popular local hotel with racially discriminatory recruitment and hiring practices.

Ms. Corman has also represented clients before federal and state agencies, including the EEOC, state human rights agencies, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Labor, and has participated in various legislative efforts.
Recent matters include:

• representing employers in the restaurant, advertising and technical industries in wage and hour compliance audits by state and federal departments of labor;
• establishing the classification of workers as independent contractors before the IRS and various state employment tax agencies; and
• advising employers and trade associations in seeking clarifications and changes to wage and hour laws before federal and state regulatory and enforcement agencies.

Ms. Corman is also experienced in the employment aspects of corporate and real estate transactions, including conducting due diligence and drafting employment, consulting and severance agreements, and transitional services agreements.

An important focus of Ms. Corman's practice is identifying and avoiding problems before they arise, through counseling, compliance audits, and training. She advises employers regarding employment contracts, arbitration agreements, and restrictive covenants designed to prevent theft of trade secrets and their customer base. In addition, her experience extends to the development of workplace policies and procedures.

Ms. Corman regularly consults with clients in training management regarding hiring practices, sexual harassment laws, and other employment laws and regulations, as well as assists in conducting workplace internal investigations and reductions in force.

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