Cathleen P. Welsh has
concentrated her practice in employment
law for the last fifteen years. She helps clients work through
complicated employment situations including investigating employee
misconduct; understanding and managing employee leaves of absence
and requests for accommodation; I-9
and immigration law compliance, exempt/nonexempt
classification and pay procedures; and employee
discipline/termination. She has assisted clients of all sizes from
small businesses not covered by most federal employment laws, to
governmental employers and Fortune 500 companies. In working with clients,
she gives practical cost effective answers
which allow clients to determine which level of risk management
best suits their organization. She is extensively involved in human
resource and business organizations and is frequently asked to speak to
community and professional groups on all areas of employment law.
Experience:
- Advocated for numerous employers before the Virginia Workers'
Compensation Commission, Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia
Department of Labor and Industry and Virginia Human Rights Council
- Advocated for numerous employers in charge proceedings before the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Written Affirmative Action Plans and analyzed data for progress
- Defended clients undergoing compliance audits with the OFCCP
- Represented clients being investigated for wage and hour violations
by the U.S. Department of Labor
- Represented and assisted clients being investigated for immigration
law violations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Represented employers in employment litigation in state and federal
courts
- Drafted Employment and Independent Contractor Agreements, including
noncompete, nondisclosure and nonsolicitation agreements
- Conducted HR audits reviewing documentation and practices for
compliance with applicable employment laws
- Conducted FLSA audits of numerous public
school divisions in Virginia
- Advised clients of legal obligations and responsibilities implicated
in mass layoff and plant closing situations.
- Drafted and revised personnel policies and employment handbooks
- Trained hundreds of supervisors on sexual and other harassment,
employment law risk management, proper interviewing, discipline and
discharge, managing workers' compensation, FLSA compliance and
employee privacy, among other topics
Honors and Awards
- "Legal Elite," Virginia Business Magazine, Labor and
Employment, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
- Named to Best Lawyers in America ®, Workers' Compensation,
2006 - 2008
- Named to Best Lawyers in America ®, Labor & Employment Law,
2008
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia
J.D. 1992
- The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
B.A., Government, 1984
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Virginia State Bar
- Virginia Bar Association
- West Virginia Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- National Society for Human Resources Management
- Shenandoah Valley Chapter Society for Human Resources Management
- Albemarle Charlottesville Human Resources Association
- Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, President (2006)
- Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Vice President Membership
- Rockingham Educational Foundation, Inc., Board Member
- United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Past Board Member
and Campaign Division Chair
Cathleen P. Welsh
90 North Main Street, Suite 201
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
P.O. Box 1287
Harrisonburg, VA 22803
T: 540.437.3113
F: 540.437.3101
email: Cathleen P. Welsh
Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 1992
- West Virginia, 2000
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