Karla E.Sanchez
Partner
Labor & Employment
ksanchez@seyfarth.com
Karla draws upon an extensive knowledge of the NLRB's internal processes to help her clients reach successful outcomes.
More About Karla
Karla is a skilled labor lawyer with an extensive knowledge of practice and procedure before the National Labor Relations Board. Clients turn to Karla when they are faced with labor-related litigation, because they can trust her to represent their interests and obtain great results at trials and hearings in front of courts and administrative agencies and in arbitration hearings. She also serves as first chair or chief spokesperson for her clients at the bargaining table.
Karla helps clients strategically approach their matters and reach successful outcomes by drawing upon her extensive knowledge of the NLRB's internal processes. She started her career as an attorney for Region 27 of the NLRB, where she conducted numerous representation elections and investigated over 100 unfair labor practice charges against both employers and unions.
Clients look to Karla for practical advice regarding their labor and employment matters, such as union organizing, labor negotiations, strikes and lockouts, and allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. Karla offers strategic solutions that give her clients options rather than restrictions. She also helps clients foster positive employee relations, which in turn helps to minimize their exposure to labor and employment litigation. Karla understands that a business' success requires it to be able to operate freely—and avoid labor and employment challenges.
Karla takes the time to get to know her clients and their businesses, so she can create solutions based on their specific needs.
Karla helps clients strategically approach their matters and reach successful outcomes by drawing upon her extensive knowledge of the NLRB's internal processes. She started her career as an attorney for Region 27 of the NLRB, where she conducted numerous representation elections and investigated over 100 unfair labor practice charges against both employers and unions.
Clients look to Karla for practical advice regarding their labor and employment matters, such as union organizing, labor negotiations, strikes and lockouts, and allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. Karla offers strategic solutions that give her clients options rather than restrictions. She also helps clients foster positive employee relations, which in turn helps to minimize their exposure to labor and employment litigation. Karla understands that a business' success requires it to be able to operate freely—and avoid labor and employment challenges.
Karla takes the time to get to know her clients and their businesses, so she can create solutions based on their specific needs.
- JD, University of Texas School of Law
With honors - BA, University of Chicago
With honors
- Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Indiana
Related Services
Blogs
- Karla has represented clients in dozens of representation petitions, over 20 arbitration hearings, and multiple unfair labor practice trials during her time at Seyfarth Shaw, including the following:
- Represented hotel client in an unfair labor practice trial before Region 13 involving allegations that the client terminated a lead organizer for protected concerted activity. The Administrative Law Judge found that the employee entered a secure area in violation of company policy and the Board affirmed the decision.
- Represented manufacturing client in an unfair labor practice trial before Region 28, involving allegations that the client refused to rehire or transfer employees in retaliation for protected concerted activities. The charges alleged that the client also made threats that it would not train, transfer or rehire employees who engaged in protected concerted activities. The Administrative Law Judge dismissed many of the allegations and the Board affirmed the Decision.
- Represented manufacturing client in an unfair labor practice trial before Region 16, involving allegations of coercive work rules relating to cell phone usage. The Administrative Law Judge found that the work rules violated the law, but the Board reversed on that issue and overruled the decision.
- During her time at Region 27, Karla processed, investigated, and litigated labor relations cases, such as an unfair labor practice trial that involved a charge against a union for discrimination against non-members.
- She has conducted multiple representation elections on behalf of the NLRB.
- She has investigated over 100 charges against both employers and unions on behalf of the NLRB.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
06/12/2024
Seyfarth Earns Top Tier Rankings Again in The Legal 500
-
Recognition
Jun 8, 2022
Seyfarth Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 US 2022
-
Webinar Recording
Jun 17, 2021
Webinar Recording: Top Labor & Employment Issues and Disruptions for the Midwest Transportation & Logistics Industry
-
Recognition
Jun 14, 2021
Seyfarth Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 US 2021
- Listed as a "Next Generation" attorney and "Rising Star" attorney for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2019-2024)
- Selected as one of the "35 Under 35" by Chicago Scholars
- Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2019-2020)
- Co-Author, "The Law of Medical Practice in Illinois," 3d, Vol. 21, Chapter 29 (Collective Bargaining under the NLRA in the Health Care Industry) Illinois Practice Series (2018)
- Co-Author, "Email Systems: GC Memorandum 18-02 Signals that the Trump Board May Review the Controversial Obama Board Changes Allowing Employees to Use Employer’s Email Systems for Protected, Concerted Activities," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 8, 2017)
- Co-Author, "Restaurant Wrong To Fire Workers Over Email Criticizing the Restaurant and its Managers," Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 4, 2017)
- Co-Author, "So Much for Management Rights Clauses — The Board Strikes Again," Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 14, 2016)
- Author, "Another Reason To Avoid a Mail Ballot Election," Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 7, 2016)
- Author, "One More Win for the Union: 24 Hours Less to Campaign in Mail-Ballot Elections," Employer Labor Relations Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 4, 2016)
- Co-Author, "How Will Browning-Ferris Change the Test for Joint-Employer Status for Union and Non-Union Employers?" Employee Benefit Plan Review (December 1, 2015)
- Co-Author, "How Will Browning-Ferris Change the Test for Joint-Employer Status for Union and Non-Union Employers?" Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 27, 2015)
- Co-Author, "NLRB Vastly Expands the Definition of Joint Employer," Employer Labor Relations Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 27, 2015)
- Co-Author, "The Department of Labor Investigates Retailers’ Relationships with Janitors," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 30, 2015); Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 30, 2015)
- Co-Author, "NLRB Makes Union Organizing Easier," Human Resource Executive (January 26, 2015)
- Contributor, Developing Labor Law: Midwinter Report
- Co-Presenter, "Top Labor & Employment Issues and Disruptions for the Midwest Transportation & Logistics Industry," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 17, 2021)
Karla draws upon an extensive knowledge of the NLRB's internal processes to help her clients reach successful outcomes.
More About Karla
Karla is a skilled labor lawyer with an extensive knowledge of practice and procedure before the National Labor Relations Board. Clients turn to Karla when they are faced with labor-related litigation, because they can trust her to represent their interests and obtain great results at trials and hearings in front of courts and administrative agencies and in arbitration hearings. She also serves as first chair or chief spokesperson for her clients at the bargaining table.
Karla helps clients strategically approach their matters and reach successful outcomes by drawing upon her extensive knowledge of the NLRB's internal processes. She started her career as an attorney for Region 27 of the NLRB, where she conducted numerous representation elections and investigated over 100 unfair labor practice charges against both employers and unions.
Clients look to Karla for practical advice regarding their labor and employment matters, such as union organizing, labor negotiations, strikes and lockouts, and allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. Karla offers strategic solutions that give her clients options rather than restrictions. She also helps clients foster positive employee relations, which in turn helps to minimize their exposure to labor and employment litigation. Karla understands that a business' success requires it to be able to operate freely—and avoid labor and employment challenges.
Karla takes the time to get to know her clients and their businesses, so she can create solutions based on their specific needs.
Karla helps clients strategically approach their matters and reach successful outcomes by drawing upon her extensive knowledge of the NLRB's internal processes. She started her career as an attorney for Region 27 of the NLRB, where she conducted numerous representation elections and investigated over 100 unfair labor practice charges against both employers and unions.
Clients look to Karla for practical advice regarding their labor and employment matters, such as union organizing, labor negotiations, strikes and lockouts, and allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. Karla offers strategic solutions that give her clients options rather than restrictions. She also helps clients foster positive employee relations, which in turn helps to minimize their exposure to labor and employment litigation. Karla understands that a business' success requires it to be able to operate freely—and avoid labor and employment challenges.
Karla takes the time to get to know her clients and their businesses, so she can create solutions based on their specific needs.
- JD, University of Texas School of Law
With honors - BA, University of Chicago
With honors
- Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Indiana
Related Services
Blogs
- Karla has represented clients in dozens of representation petitions, over 20 arbitration hearings, and multiple unfair labor practice trials during her time at Seyfarth Shaw, including the following:
- Represented hotel client in an unfair labor practice trial before Region 13 involving allegations that the client terminated a lead organizer for protected concerted activity. The Administrative Law Judge found that the employee entered a secure area in violation of company policy and the Board affirmed the decision.
- Represented manufacturing client in an unfair labor practice trial before Region 28, involving allegations that the client refused to rehire or transfer employees in retaliation for protected concerted activities. The charges alleged that the client also made threats that it would not train, transfer or rehire employees who engaged in protected concerted activities. The Administrative Law Judge dismissed many of the allegations and the Board affirmed the Decision.
- Represented manufacturing client in an unfair labor practice trial before Region 16, involving allegations of coercive work rules relating to cell phone usage. The Administrative Law Judge found that the work rules violated the law, but the Board reversed on that issue and overruled the decision.
- During her time at Region 27, Karla processed, investigated, and litigated labor relations cases, such as an unfair labor practice trial that involved a charge against a union for discrimination against non-members.
- She has conducted multiple representation elections on behalf of the NLRB.
- She has investigated over 100 charges against both employers and unions on behalf of the NLRB.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
06/12/2024
Seyfarth Earns Top Tier Rankings Again in The Legal 500
-
Recognition
Jun 8, 2022
Seyfarth Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 US 2022
-
Webinar Recording
Jun 17, 2021
Webinar Recording: Top Labor & Employment Issues and Disruptions for the Midwest Transportation & Logistics Industry
-
Recognition
Jun 14, 2021
Seyfarth Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 US 2021
- Listed as a "Next Generation" attorney and "Rising Star" attorney for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2019-2024)
- Selected as one of the "35 Under 35" by Chicago Scholars
- Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2019-2020)
- Co-Author, "The Law of Medical Practice in Illinois," 3d, Vol. 21, Chapter 29 (Collective Bargaining under the NLRA in the Health Care Industry) Illinois Practice Series (2018)
- Co-Author, "Email Systems: GC Memorandum 18-02 Signals that the Trump Board May Review the Controversial Obama Board Changes Allowing Employees to Use Employer’s Email Systems for Protected, Concerted Activities," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 8, 2017)
- Co-Author, "Restaurant Wrong To Fire Workers Over Email Criticizing the Restaurant and its Managers," Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 4, 2017)
- Co-Author, "So Much for Management Rights Clauses — The Board Strikes Again," Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 14, 2016)
- Author, "Another Reason To Avoid a Mail Ballot Election," Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 7, 2016)
- Author, "One More Win for the Union: 24 Hours Less to Campaign in Mail-Ballot Elections," Employer Labor Relations Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 4, 2016)
- Co-Author, "How Will Browning-Ferris Change the Test for Joint-Employer Status for Union and Non-Union Employers?" Employee Benefit Plan Review (December 1, 2015)
- Co-Author, "How Will Browning-Ferris Change the Test for Joint-Employer Status for Union and Non-Union Employers?" Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 27, 2015)
- Co-Author, "NLRB Vastly Expands the Definition of Joint Employer," Employer Labor Relations Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 27, 2015)
- Co-Author, "The Department of Labor Investigates Retailers’ Relationships with Janitors," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 30, 2015); Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 30, 2015)
- Co-Author, "NLRB Makes Union Organizing Easier," Human Resource Executive (January 26, 2015)
- Contributor, Developing Labor Law: Midwinter Report
- Co-Presenter, "Top Labor & Employment Issues and Disruptions for the Midwest Transportation & Logistics Industry," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 17, 2021)