Karen Elliott is the founding partner of FordHarrison's Richmond office and she concentrates her legal practice on the representation of management clients in workplace disputes.
Karen strives to provide her clients straightforward legal advice to help them craft effective business solutions to human resources challenges. She represents organizations of all sizes, from start-ups to companies listed in the Fortune 500. Karen has significant experience in a host of industries including nursing homes, physician practices, and health and rehabilitation centers, as well as travel and entertainment, fast food, and retail. Karen is often hired to serve as an independent investigator for employers facing complex and serious discrimination claims.
Karen's primary goal in advising her clients is to prevent litigation before it arises out of one of the dozens of federal employment law statutes. She routinely advises her clients on personnel policies, recordkeeping, and other preventative measures that can help them avoid running afoul of laws governing the workplace including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), to name just a few. Sometimes litigation simply cannot be avoided and Karen is no stranger to the courtroom. When a client is faced with a legal claim or agency charge, Karen capitalizes on her extensive experience handling cases before both federal and state courts and appearing on behalf of clients in state and federal agency proceedings.
Karen knows firsthand about the difficult employment issues that routinely challenge businesses. While serving as President for a not-for-profit organization, she had to act on her own legal advice when the organization's business office staff walked out unexpectedly. She knows from experience that the legal answer to the problem may not always be the preferred solution for the business, and she is adept in walking clients through the merits of adhering to the best course of action within the legal framework.
Part and parcel to her goal of preventing litigation for her clients is staying up-to-date on recent developments and emerging issues in employment law. Karen spends time each day reviewing and researching legal developments in labor relations, employment law, and employee benefits. She utilizes this knowledge to keep her clients informed and to advise them on any personnel policy adjustments they should be considering.
Karen is recognized by Martindale-Hubbell with an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating, which is the organization's highest rating for both professional excellence and ethical standards. She is also recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers Virginia, and Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite."