Heather Steele

Associate | Akron

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Assistant  |  Amy Zeleznik  :  [email protected]

About Heather:

As an employment and labor attorney, I provide 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, I support 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.

I also represent 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, I vigorously defend and guide my clients through the court or administrative process from start to finish.

Before joining the practice of law, I served as general manager for a Fortune 100 telecommunications company. This experience gives me a unique and important understanding of my client’s needs. My goal is to ensure my clients feel heard, valued, and a part of the decision-making process when working with me.

  • 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)
Publications:

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Our attorneys will provide a collaborative, thoughtful approach to your legal needs. We look forward to connecting with you.