Heather Steele
Associate | Akron
Assistant | Amy Zeleznik : [email protected]
About Heather:
As an employment and labor attorney, Heather provides employers with counseling on matters related to their workforce, including employee leave of absence policies, accommodation requests, pregnancy, discrimination and harassment, wage and hour issues, personnel policies & employee handbooks, multistate compliance, employee terminations and reductions in force, and confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. In addition to counseling, Heather supports businesses and educational institutions by handling a variety of workplace investigations, inclusive of Title IX investigations and decision-maker services for school districts, colleges and universities.
She also represents employers in employment-related lawsuits in federal and state court. When litigation is unavoidable, or a charge has already been filed with an administrative agency, she vigorously defends and guides clients through the court or administrative process from start to finish.
Before joining the practice of law, Heather served as general manager for a Fortune 100 telecommunications company. This experience gives her a unique and important understanding of her client’s needs. Her goal when working with clients is to ensure they feel heard, valued, and a part of the decision-making process.
- Employment-related litigation in federal and state court – breach of contract, tortious interference, and trade secret misappropriation, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PFWA), and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Defend against Charge and/or Complaints – Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC ), Department of Labor (DOL) and Unemployment Compensation Review Commission (UCRC).
- Conduct thorough, fair and impartial workplace investigations
- Workforce training and development
- Serve as a Title IX Investigator and Decision Maker
- The University of Akron School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude)
- Litigation Certificate from University of Akron School of Law
- University of Massachusetts, Lowell (B.A.)
Admissions
- Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- Greenleaf Family Center, Board Member
- Torchbearers Akron, Class of 2023
Presentations:
- "Real Insights about Artificial Intelligence," Breakfast with Buckingham (May 2024)
- Morning Buzz Panelist, Greater Akron Chamber (October 2023)
- Buckingham Employment & Labor Seminar (October 2023)
- Ohio Contractors Association, Employee Handbook (October 2023)
- "Winter is Coming: Are you ready?" Breakfast with Buckingham (October 2022)
- "Making the Call: Evaluating Request for Religious Objections to the COVID-19 Vaccine," Akron Bar Association (January 2022)
- "HR Nightmares," Canton Regional SCORE (August 2021)
- "Hiring Legalities and Best Practices," Canton Regional SCORE (May 2021)
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Employment Issues (30 minute webinar) (November 2020)
- FTC Ban on Non-Compete Agreements (April 24, 2024)
- NLRB Says Severance Agreements That Contain Broad Confidentiality And Non-Disparagement Clauses Violate The National Labor Relations Act (February 24, 2023)
- OSHA Withdraws its Vaccine or Testing ETS (January 26, 2022)
- EEOC Issues Guidance on Employer-Mandated COVID-19 Vaccinations (December 28, 2020)
CONNECT WITH Heather
Our attorneys will provide a collaborative, thoughtful approach to your legal needs. We look forward to connecting with you.
