Karen advises public and private institutions of higher education on a range of matters, including faculty, student and employment matters; research misconduct and compliance; investigations; governance questions; and federal and state litigation.
Her experience in higher education includes issues arising under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Clery Act, HHS and other federal research-related regulations, and other federal and state laws and regulations.
Karen has more than 12 years of experience as a litigator at leading national law firms. She has represented clients in all stages of federal and state litigation involving commercial, trade secret, employment, consumer finance and property disputes, including appeals and class actions. She has also advised universities, academic medical centers, and healthcare clients on the development, implementation and enforcement of research-related policies—including IRB, confidentiality and conflict of interest policies—and has negotiated sponsored research agreements, data use agreements and other contracts and memoranda of understanding. Earlier in her career, she served as the Legal Fellow in the Office of Legal Counsel at the University of Chicago, where she assisted in drafting and implementing university policies and investigated and responded to charges of discrimination. She also assisted in creating training and compliance programs related to Title IX, the Violence Against Women Act, and the Clery Act.
During law school, Karen received the Llewellyn Cup for second-place finish in the University of Chicago Hinton Moot Court competition and the Thomas R. Mulroy Prize for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy. She also served as a judicial extern for the Hon. James B. Zagel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.