KylePetersen
Partner
Labor & Employment
kpetersen@seyfarth.com
Kyle has a proven record of providing employers with proactive guidance and a pragmatic approach to mitigating legal risks without sacrificing business objectives.
More About Kyle
As a member of the firm’s Wage & Hour Litigation practice group, Kyle devotes a significant portion of her practice to representing employers across the United States in court litigation and administrative matters arising under federal and state wage and hour laws, and is a chapter author of the definitive treatise on wage and hour litigation, Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation. Kyle also regularly provides preventative counseling and works with employers to minimize their exposure to investigation and litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws. In doing so, Kyle partners with clients to develop business-oriented legal solutions and successfully defend and resolve employee lawsuits.
In addition, Kyle has successfully represented management against all types of discrimination and harassment claims, including those asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and other state laws. Kyle also regularly conducts internal investigations, negotiates and drafts employment and separation agreements, and advises employers on implementing personnel policies and mitigating risk in employment decisions. In counseling employers, she focuses not only on instituting legally compliant practices, but also on creating solutions consistent with management’s business objectives.
Kyle’s work on behalf of employers has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2023 and 2024 (Woodward/White Inc.).
In addition, Kyle has successfully represented management against all types of discrimination and harassment claims, including those asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and other state laws. Kyle also regularly conducts internal investigations, negotiates and drafts employment and separation agreements, and advises employers on implementing personnel policies and mitigating risk in employment decisions. In counseling employers, she focuses not only on instituting legally compliant practices, but also on creating solutions consistent with management’s business objectives.
Kyle’s work on behalf of employers has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2023 and 2024 (Woodward/White Inc.).
- JD, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Order of the Coif, High Honors
- BA, Indiana University
Political ScienceHonors Scholar
- Illinois
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Southern District of Indiana
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Related News & Insights
-
Media Mentions
11/08/2024
Seyfarth EEOC Webinar featured in SHRM
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Webinar
Sep 14, 2023
Webinar Recording: Time Well Spent Session 2: Shifting Standards of Conditional Certification
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Employment Law - Management (2021-2025)
- Chicago Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
- Seyfarth Women’s Network (Chicago Leadership Committee)
- Public Interest Law Initiative (Board Member)
- Friends of Drummond (Former Board Member)
- Hyde Park Refugee Project (Family Co-Sponsor)
- West Bucktown Neighborhood Association (Former Vice President and Board Member)
- KAM Isaiah Israel, Personnel Practices (Former Committee Chair)
- Center on Halsted, Community and Cultural Affairs Committee (Former Member)
- Co-Author, "Federal Government Suspends Long-Haul Truckers’ Hours of Service Rules To Help Cope With COVID-19 Pandemic," Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 21, 2020)
- Co-Author, "California State Court Agrees With Motor Carriers’ Preemption Challenge To AB 5," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, "AB 5 Challenge From California Motor Carriers: TRO Granted," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 2, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Keep On Truckin’: Strategies for Managing Wage and Hour Risks with Transportation Contractors After New Prime, Inc. v. Oliveira," Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 20, 2019)
- Co-Author, “FLSA” Turns 80: Causes of Growth In Wage And Hour Cases,” Employment Law 360 (June 12, 2018)
- Co-Author, "Supreme Court Unanimously Confirms Scope of Whistleblower Protection Under Dodd-Frank," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 21, 2018)
- “The Administrative Exemption: Ninth Circuit Weighs in on the Administrative-Production Dichotomy to the Chagrin of the Financial Services Industry,” National Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group Meeting, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 19, 2017)
- “It’s a Strange New World in California for the Administrative Exemption,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (August 24, 2017)
- “Can we Finally Retire the Notions of Construing the FLSA’s Overtime Provisions Broadly But Its Exemptions Narrowly?,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (August 3, 2017)
- “Making a Mountain Out of the Administrative/Production Dichotomy Molehill,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (July 31, 2017)
- “Too Personal to Proceed: Personal Banker’s Certification Bid Bounced Again,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (May 8, 2017)
- “Budget Blues: Planning for a Possible Government Shutdown,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (April 28, 2017)
- “Not So Fast: 9th Circuit Puts Brakes on Boilerplate, Bare Bones FLSA Complaints,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (November 14, 2014)
- “Put Up or Shut Up: 8th Circuit Shuts Down Overtime Claim Because Plaintiff’s Guestimates of His Hours Workerd Are Insufficient,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (November 12, 2014)
- “Court Makes a U-Turn and Decertifies Class at Trial,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (October 17, 2013)
- “Dukesing It Out: Tighter Post-Dukes Standard Helps Defeat Request For Class and Collective Action Certification,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Co-Author (January 23, 2013)
- “It’s A Matter of Fact: Sixth Circuit Holds that the Primary Duty Determination is Indeed A Question of Fact Properly Put to Jury and Affirms Employer Verdict in Henry v. Quicken Loans,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog (October 20, 2012)
- Co-Author, “The Impact of Fisher v. Right Aid, Part I,” Employment Law 360 (June 8, 2012)
- “Here, There, and Everywhere A Lawsuit: The Third Circuit Green Lights Parallel FLSA and State Law Wage Suites,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog (April 2, 2012)
- Chapter Co-Author, “Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation (The definitive treatise on wage and hour litigation.),” ALM Law Journal Press (2012)
- “Pharmaceutical Representatives as Exempt? Contrary to the 3rd and 9th Circuits, a Florida District Court Enters the Fray,” Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 18, 2011)
- Co-Speaker, "Time Well Spent Session 2: Shifting Standards of Conditional Certification," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 14, 2023)
-
"Independent Contractor Classification and Joint Employment," Seyfarth Shaw LLP, National Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group Meeting (November 18, 2020)
- "Incentive Compensation," National Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group Meeting, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 15, 2020)
- “Update on Illinois Labor & Employment Law - What Employers Need to Know,” Breakfast Briefing, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago, IL (September 11, 2017)
- “Administrative / Production Dichotomy in the Financial Services Industry,” Presented to Seyfarth Shaw LLP Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group (July 2017)
- “Identifying and Minimizing Risks: Independent Contractors & Joint Employment,” Presented to national retail client’s human resources and legal team (September 2016)
- “Tenant Screening: How to Use Criminal History Without Breaking the Law,” Presented to the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (September 2016)
- “You Do What Exactly? Drafting Job Descriptions for Compliance with the ADA, FMLA, and FLSA”, Presented to national client’s Human Resources team (July 2014)
- “Managing Risks Associated with Independent Contractors and Contingent Workforce,” Presented to national client’s Human Resources team (May 2014)
- “Employment Law Concerns for Employers With Contingent Workforces,” VMS Professionals Conference (May 24, 2013)
- “Reclassifying Exempt Employees: Navigating Wage and Hour Pitfalls,” C4CM Webinar (April 17, 2013)
- “How to Avoid Costly Wage & Hour Pitfalls for Construction, Engineering & Landscaping Employees,” Epay Webinar (March 13, 2013)
- “Wage & Hour Update: Everything You Need to Know Now and in the Future,” Breakfast Briefing, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago, IL (September 27, 2012)
- “Complying With the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act,” Assurance University (July 17, 2012)
- "Mandatory Vaccination Policies & Hospitals," Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (August 2010)
- "Legal Issues in the New Workplace," Media Finance Focus 2010 Conference, Nashville, TN (May 2010)
- “New Laws, Bad Economy: An Update on the Changing Landscape of Employment Law,” Labor and Employment Roundtable, Chicago, IL (April 2009)
- “FLSA Overtime Issues: Employees Gold Mine vs. Your Bottom Line,” Labor and Employment Roundtable, Chicago, IL (September 2008)
- “Bridge the Gap: Basic Skills for Newly Admitted Attorneys,” Practicing Law Institute, Chicago, IL (September 2008)
Kyle has a proven record of providing employers with proactive guidance and a pragmatic approach to mitigating legal risks without sacrificing business objectives.
More About Kyle
As a member of the firm’s Wage & Hour Litigation practice group, Kyle devotes a significant portion of her practice to representing employers across the United States in court litigation and administrative matters arising under federal and state wage and hour laws, and is a chapter author of the definitive treatise on wage and hour litigation, Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation. Kyle also regularly provides preventative counseling and works with employers to minimize their exposure to investigation and litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws. In doing so, Kyle partners with clients to develop business-oriented legal solutions and successfully defend and resolve employee lawsuits.
In addition, Kyle has successfully represented management against all types of discrimination and harassment claims, including those asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and other state laws. Kyle also regularly conducts internal investigations, negotiates and drafts employment and separation agreements, and advises employers on implementing personnel policies and mitigating risk in employment decisions. In counseling employers, she focuses not only on instituting legally compliant practices, but also on creating solutions consistent with management’s business objectives.
Kyle’s work on behalf of employers has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2023 and 2024 (Woodward/White Inc.).
In addition, Kyle has successfully represented management against all types of discrimination and harassment claims, including those asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and other state laws. Kyle also regularly conducts internal investigations, negotiates and drafts employment and separation agreements, and advises employers on implementing personnel policies and mitigating risk in employment decisions. In counseling employers, she focuses not only on instituting legally compliant practices, but also on creating solutions consistent with management’s business objectives.
Kyle’s work on behalf of employers has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2023 and 2024 (Woodward/White Inc.).
- JD, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Order of the Coif, High Honors
- BA, Indiana University
Political ScienceHonors Scholar
- Illinois
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Southern District of Indiana
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Related News & Insights
-
Media Mentions
11/08/2024
Seyfarth EEOC Webinar featured in SHRM
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Webinar
Sep 14, 2023
Webinar Recording: Time Well Spent Session 2: Shifting Standards of Conditional Certification
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Employment Law - Management (2021-2025)
- Chicago Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
- Seyfarth Women’s Network (Chicago Leadership Committee)
- Public Interest Law Initiative (Board Member)
- Friends of Drummond (Former Board Member)
- Hyde Park Refugee Project (Family Co-Sponsor)
- West Bucktown Neighborhood Association (Former Vice President and Board Member)
- KAM Isaiah Israel, Personnel Practices (Former Committee Chair)
- Center on Halsted, Community and Cultural Affairs Committee (Former Member)
- Co-Author, "Federal Government Suspends Long-Haul Truckers’ Hours of Service Rules To Help Cope With COVID-19 Pandemic," Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 21, 2020)
- Co-Author, "California State Court Agrees With Motor Carriers’ Preemption Challenge To AB 5," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, "AB 5 Challenge From California Motor Carriers: TRO Granted," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 2, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Keep On Truckin’: Strategies for Managing Wage and Hour Risks with Transportation Contractors After New Prime, Inc. v. Oliveira," Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 20, 2019)
- Co-Author, “FLSA” Turns 80: Causes of Growth In Wage And Hour Cases,” Employment Law 360 (June 12, 2018)
- Co-Author, "Supreme Court Unanimously Confirms Scope of Whistleblower Protection Under Dodd-Frank," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 21, 2018)
- “The Administrative Exemption: Ninth Circuit Weighs in on the Administrative-Production Dichotomy to the Chagrin of the Financial Services Industry,” National Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group Meeting, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 19, 2017)
- “It’s a Strange New World in California for the Administrative Exemption,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (August 24, 2017)
- “Can we Finally Retire the Notions of Construing the FLSA’s Overtime Provisions Broadly But Its Exemptions Narrowly?,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (August 3, 2017)
- “Making a Mountain Out of the Administrative/Production Dichotomy Molehill,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (July 31, 2017)
- “Too Personal to Proceed: Personal Banker’s Certification Bid Bounced Again,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (May 8, 2017)
- “Budget Blues: Planning for a Possible Government Shutdown,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (April 28, 2017)
- “Not So Fast: 9th Circuit Puts Brakes on Boilerplate, Bare Bones FLSA Complaints,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (November 14, 2014)
- “Put Up or Shut Up: 8th Circuit Shuts Down Overtime Claim Because Plaintiff’s Guestimates of His Hours Workerd Are Insufficient,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (November 12, 2014)
- “Court Makes a U-Turn and Decertifies Class at Trial,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, (October 17, 2013)
- “Dukesing It Out: Tighter Post-Dukes Standard Helps Defeat Request For Class and Collective Action Certification,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Co-Author (January 23, 2013)
- “It’s A Matter of Fact: Sixth Circuit Holds that the Primary Duty Determination is Indeed A Question of Fact Properly Put to Jury and Affirms Employer Verdict in Henry v. Quicken Loans,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog (October 20, 2012)
- Co-Author, “The Impact of Fisher v. Right Aid, Part I,” Employment Law 360 (June 8, 2012)
- “Here, There, and Everywhere A Lawsuit: The Third Circuit Green Lights Parallel FLSA and State Law Wage Suites,” Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage & Hour Litigation Blog (April 2, 2012)
- Chapter Co-Author, “Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation (The definitive treatise on wage and hour litigation.),” ALM Law Journal Press (2012)
- “Pharmaceutical Representatives as Exempt? Contrary to the 3rd and 9th Circuits, a Florida District Court Enters the Fray,” Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 18, 2011)
- Co-Speaker, "Time Well Spent Session 2: Shifting Standards of Conditional Certification," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 14, 2023)
-
"Independent Contractor Classification and Joint Employment," Seyfarth Shaw LLP, National Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group Meeting (November 18, 2020)
- "Incentive Compensation," National Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group Meeting, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 15, 2020)
- “Update on Illinois Labor & Employment Law - What Employers Need to Know,” Breakfast Briefing, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago, IL (September 11, 2017)
- “Administrative / Production Dichotomy in the Financial Services Industry,” Presented to Seyfarth Shaw LLP Wage and Hour Litigation Practice Group (July 2017)
- “Identifying and Minimizing Risks: Independent Contractors & Joint Employment,” Presented to national retail client’s human resources and legal team (September 2016)
- “Tenant Screening: How to Use Criminal History Without Breaking the Law,” Presented to the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (September 2016)
- “You Do What Exactly? Drafting Job Descriptions for Compliance with the ADA, FMLA, and FLSA”, Presented to national client’s Human Resources team (July 2014)
- “Managing Risks Associated with Independent Contractors and Contingent Workforce,” Presented to national client’s Human Resources team (May 2014)
- “Employment Law Concerns for Employers With Contingent Workforces,” VMS Professionals Conference (May 24, 2013)
- “Reclassifying Exempt Employees: Navigating Wage and Hour Pitfalls,” C4CM Webinar (April 17, 2013)
- “How to Avoid Costly Wage & Hour Pitfalls for Construction, Engineering & Landscaping Employees,” Epay Webinar (March 13, 2013)
- “Wage & Hour Update: Everything You Need to Know Now and in the Future,” Breakfast Briefing, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago, IL (September 27, 2012)
- “Complying With the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act,” Assurance University (July 17, 2012)
- "Mandatory Vaccination Policies & Hospitals," Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (August 2010)
- "Legal Issues in the New Workplace," Media Finance Focus 2010 Conference, Nashville, TN (May 2010)
- “New Laws, Bad Economy: An Update on the Changing Landscape of Employment Law,” Labor and Employment Roundtable, Chicago, IL (April 2009)
- “FLSA Overtime Issues: Employees Gold Mine vs. Your Bottom Line,” Labor and Employment Roundtable, Chicago, IL (September 2008)
- “Bridge the Gap: Basic Skills for Newly Admitted Attorneys,” Practicing Law Institute, Chicago, IL (September 2008)