Sarah Smith-Clevenger
Associate
Sarah Smith-Clevenger is a versatile attorney who handles the entire spectrum of workplace issues for businesses of all sizes. She provides guidance on risk assessment, policy development, education, and contract creation. She draws on her long-term client relationships to better understand how business needs affect employment decisions. Working with her clients, Sarah swiftly addresses potential liabilities to minimize risks. When litigation becomes unavoidable, Sarah represents clients in state and federal courts.
Employers across various industries, including education, financial services, retail, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, construction, engineering, and manufacturing, seek Sarah's counsel for guidance on workplace concerns, employee handbooks and policies, audits, and internal investigations. She helps resolve alleged federal and state violations concerning equal employment opportunity and labor laws. Sarah defends employers in litigation and arbitration cases involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour and leave-law violations, and breach of contract.
Sarah advises clients on labor union-management and organization, safety and health laws, employee classification, employment and severance, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Title VII. She also counsels universities on emerging Title IX issues and compliance with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), tailoring solutions to address the specific needs of each client.
Sarah assists employers with workplace investigations and employee discipline, ensuring compliance with various federal, state, and local labor and employment laws. She prepares and reviews employment contracts, drug-testing policies, severance agreements, and employee handbooks and policies for multi-state employers.
During college, Sarah served as a White House Intern in the Office of the Vice President, where she contributed to the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through policy research and negotiation with members of Congress. This experience further honed her skills in policy development and advocacy, which she applies to her legal practice today.
Experience
- Negotiated a favorable settlement in arbitration for an executive in an employment case involving the alleged breach of a noncompete agreement.
- Won dismissal for a client in a whistleblower action alleging OSHA violations.
- Obtained dismissal of claims for a client regarding an alleged breach of insurance broker duties under Louisiana law.
- Successfully defended an insurance client in $100 million bad faith claim as a member of trial and appellate litigation team. Assisted in all aspects of motions and trial preparation.
- Reunited a child with family after representing parent pro bono in a kidnapping case under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.