Rosalee M McNamara

Career

I believe in urgently handling every matter to achieve the best possible results. Clients depend on us to keep things moving, so I make sure we stay proactive and ensure they know when it’s their turn to weigh in. I also recognize how busy schedules are, so I’m careful to follow up in a way that respects time while keeping everything on track. One client stated, “Rosie has superior knowledge of our industry. She is a supportive and proactive counsel.”

Rosalee (Rosie) McNamara is known for her comprehensive and practical approach to employment and litigation matters. Representing large Fortune 50 and 500 companies, small businesses, private and public and tax-exempt, Rosie delivers unparalleled support in navigating complex employment issues across the U.S. She is a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (CLEL), an exclusive organization that “honors the leading lawyers nationwide in the practice of Labor and Employment Law.” She was also selected as the exclusive member for Missouri and Kansas for the Employment Law Alliance and was selected based on client accolades to the American Employment Law Council.

Rosie has also consistently been named a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers® in America, Super Lawyers® and among the Top 50 Female Lawyers. Her role as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and former Manager of Lathrop Gage’s Labor & Employment Department underscores her leadership and strategic insight in shaping the firm’s approach to employment law.

She works with clients in myriad industries, including:

Agribusiness and food

Construction and engineering

Education

Entertainment and hospitality

Health care

Life sciences

Manufacturing

Nonprofit and tax-exempt

Professional and financial organizations: accounting and legal

Technology

Clear communication and timely action are at the heart of how Rosie approaches every case. Clients have called her their “trusted legal advisor,” “loved by judges” and “imbued with great intuition.” Rather than jumping into litigation at every turn, she focuses on early case assessment to determine whether a matter is a serious threat or a minor issue to be quickly resolved. Her impressive track record includes successfully defending a broad spectrum of employment discrimination complaints and collective actions, from initial charges to jury verdicts.

Rosie has handled numerous trials in federal and state courts, with her practice covering a wide range of issues such as:

Collective action wage and overtime claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Disability

Employee discipline and termination, Employee drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures

Employer benefits and non-compete agreements

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) issues

Hiring and reference procedures

Investigations

Race, age and religious discrimination

Sexual harassment

By working with Rosie, clients gain access to a seasoned advocate with a proven ability to deliver favorable outcomes in challenging cases.

Practice Areas

Labor & Employment

Class Action Defense

Class, Collective & PAGA Representative Actions

Investigations

Non-Compete, Non-Solicit, Trade Secrets & Other Restrictive Covenants

Accountant Liability & Risk Management

Employment Counseling & Personnel Management Advising

Training & Tools for Clients

Employment Litigation

Discrimination, Harassment & Abusive Conduct

General Business & Complex Commercial Litigation

Experience

Built and led teams to help clients achieve growth and revenue goals through acquisitions, business combinations and new ventures.

Conducted numerous workplace investigations involving harassment, discrimination and whistleblower allegations, leading to no claims being filed.

Secured summary judgment in a state court sexual harassment case.