Recognized as an Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Star, Katherine R. Schafer is a management-side labor and employment law attorney with experience representing private and public sector employers in federal and state courts, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Department of Labor, the Unemployment Insurance Division, the National Labor Relations Board, and in grievances and arbitrations.

 Her practice includes counseling and defending management in all aspects of labor and employment matters, including discrimination and harassment complaints, civil rights litigation, employee discipline, terminations, layoffs, handbook policies, employee agreements, separation agreements, and wage and hour issues.

 She regularly defends employers in claims brought under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the New York State Public Employees Fair Employment Act (the Taylor Law), and the New York State Human Rights Law. Katie also advises employers on how to comply with various employment statutes, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). 

Katie represents private and public sector employers in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, health care, higher education, public school education, and the service and financial industries. She is a frequent lecturer and conducts in-house labor and employment training for human resource personnel, supervisors, and managers.