Practice Areas
Industries
Admissions
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Education
J.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1995, Dean's List; Missouri Law Review, associate member, 1993-1994, Note & Comment Editor, 1994-1995; Student Bar Association, President, 1994-1995
B.A, English, Boston College, 1992, Dean's List
Profile
Kevin McLaughlin is President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm and represents clients in employment and labor matters. In his role as CEO, he oversees the daily affairs of all of the firm’s offices, leading strategic, financial and operational issues. His priorities in firm leadership include guiding long-term strategic growth initiatives, promoting diversity of leadership, and enhancing the firm’s service to clients and community.
In his legal practice, Kevin handles a range of employment issues including traditional labor matters, working with employers to navigate lawsuits, investigations and human resources issues. He has defended employers and management in employment discrimination lawsuits, wage and hour class action lawsuits, ERISA litigation and demands for arbitration, as well as lawsuits concerning non-competition and confidentiality agreements. His practice has included work with clients in the construction, financial services, retail and manufacturing industries, among others. He is a certified mediator trained in alternative methods of resolving disputes, potentially allowing parties to reach a compromise before going to trial.
With extensive experience in traditional labor law, Kevin also is experienced in providing counsel to management with respect to union relations, labor arbitrations and collective bargaining agreements. He advises on compliance with employment laws such as Title VII, ERISA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family & Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and wage and hour laws, as well as their state law counterparts, and assists in conducting internal investigations of employee complaints of harassment.
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- The Missouri Bar
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Community/Civic Activities
- Missouri State High School Football Official, 1995-2015
- St. Peter Catholic Church, volunteer coach, 2003-2015
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Labor Law – Management, Employment Law – Management, 2013-2023; St. Louis area Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year, 2023
- Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2013-2022; Leader in the Field, 2013
- Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star, 2018-2022
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represented a large retail establishment in a Missouri Human Rights Act lawsuit, obtaining dismissal of the lawsuit and of the appeal.
- Represented a national retailer in a nationwide class action wage and hour lawsuit.
- Obtained summary judgment for a construction company in a race discrimination claim in the city of St. Louis.
- Defeated class certification in WARN Act class action litigation, on behalf of a large retailer.
News & Insights
News
- June 1, 2023
- August 18, 2022
- June 1, 2022
- August 19, 2021
- May 20, 2021
- August 20, 2020
- April 23, 2020
- September 2019
- August 15, 2019
- April 2019
- October 15, 2018
- Construction Dive, August 28, 2018
- August 2018
- May 3, 2018
- May 26, 2017
- May 27, 2016
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- Webster Groves/Shrewsbury/Rock Hill Area Chamber of Commerce's Networking Lunch, September 19, 2019
- Corporate Counsel Institute, St. Louis, MO, May 15, 2019
- "Personnel Issues - Hiring, On-boarding, Training, Retaining, and Terminating"Financial Poise webinar, November 30, 2017
- October 16, 2013
- September 16, 2010
Publications
Blog Posts
- SimplyHR | Employment & Labor Blog , November 18, 2016
- SimplyHR | Employment & Labor Blog , April 11, 2016
- SimplyHR | Employment & Labor Blog , October 30, 2015
- SimplyHR | Employment & Labor Blog , June 30, 2015
- SimplyHR | Employment & Labor Blog , July 5, 2013
- SimplyHR | Employment & Labor Blog , April 8, 2013