Laura is an experienced litigator and Partner in DeWitt’s Litigation, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment Relations, and Background Screening practice groups. Her practice focuses on enforcing and defending violations of federal statutory laws in federal courts and administrative agencies nationwide.
She has a wide variety of experience litigating matters involving trademark, patent, and copyright claims under the Lanham Act and Copyright Act; employment claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA), Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA); consumer protection claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); and many other related federal and state law claims. She also has related experience before state and federal administrative agencies, including opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), inter partes review before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), employment defense before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), and Department of Workforce Development (DWD), and other similar state and federal agencies.
Although Laura enjoys advocating for clients through litigation and welcomes a good fight, she understands that litigation may not be the best option for every dispute or client. She uses her litigation experience to consult clients on “litigation avoidance” measures, including adopting policies, securing insurance, drafting contracts, implementing preventative measures, and taking other steps to reduce risks and avoid potential litigation. She also consults clients on “litigation rehabilitation” to adjust business practices and policies to learn from issues that may be identified before, during, or after the litigation process.
Laura is an experienced litigator. She has obtained successful resolution of disputes at all stages of the process from temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, pre-trial dispositive motions, and informal negotiations to mediations, bench and jury trials, post-trial motions, and appeals. She is routinely engaged in all aspects of her cases to provide her clients with consistent and competent representation, including discovery, motion practice, evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, trials, appeals, and settlement.
Laura is committed to producing timely, high quality legal work in an efficient and effective manner. She values building relationships with clients to guide them through legal disputes of all sizes and best position them to avoid future legal trouble. She relies on her broad experience, clear communication, and approachability to make the legal system accessible and understandable to her clients.
Notable Representations
- Obtained preliminary injunction in federal district court relating to trademark infringement claims after briefing and evidentiary hearing
- Successfully defended preliminary injunction in federal district court relating to trademark infringement claims
- Successfully defended temporary restraining order in Wisconsin State Court relating to trademark infringement claims after briefing and evidentiary hearing
- Obtained a favorable jury verdict in federal district court when defending a claim under the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. § 1983) and successfully defended the jury verdict on appeal before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- Assisted in obtaining a favorable jury verdict for millions of dollars in a copyright infringement case in federal district court
- Obtained summary judgment in federal district court in multiple cases involving breach of contract claims, Title VII claims, ERISA claims, and/or FLSA claims
- Obtained countless favorable decisions of no probable cause on behalf of employers before the EEOC, DWD, and OSHRC regarding claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
- Obtained successful resolution of cancellation and opposition proceedings before the TTAB