Karen D. Adinolfi

Shareholder
Akron
222 South Main Street
Suite 400
Akron, OH 44308
P 330.849.6773
F 330.376.4577
P 330.849.6773 | F 330.376.4577



Overview

Karen is an experienced labor and employment counselor and trial attorney, having handled numerous cases for the Firm’s clients, whether public or private, for-profit, or non-profit, large or small. She counsels her clients on employee discipline and discharge, wage and hour matters, FMLA leave and other leaves of absence, disability law and reasonable accommodation, and all other facets of the employer-employee relationship. Karen has tried numerous cases to verdict, and many others through summary judgment, alternative dispute resolution, or appeal. She has handled public and private collective bargaining and arbitration matters, conducted workplace investigations, and has represented clients through numerous administrative agencies at the federal and state level, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Ohio State Employment Relations Board, Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and the Unemployment Compensation Review Commission.

Karen also has extensive experience representing and counseling Ohio state agencies and local political subdivisions in labor and employment matters, but also in the areas of governance, Ohio’s Sunshine Law, Ohio’s Public Records Act. Additionally, she has counseled numerous political subdivisions through governmental investigations and audits by State and federal agencies.

Languages
  1. French
Services

Industries

Education

  1. The University of Akron School of Law, J.D.
    • summa cum laude
    • Akron Law Review, Citations Editor and Staff Member
    • New York Bar Moot Court Competition
    • American Bar Association Moot Court Competition
  2. Kent State University, M.A.
    • summa cum laude
  3. The University of Toledo, B.A.
    • magna cum laude

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  3. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Clerkships
  1. Intern and Judicial Clerkship for The Honorable Deborah Cook

Recognitions

  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management (2021-2024); Litigation - Labor & Employment (2021-2024)
  • Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyers - Rising Star" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2005-2011)
  • Recipient, The University of Akron School of Law John R. Quine Award (2020)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Adjunct Faculty, Employment Law, University of Akron School of Law
  • Akron Bar Association - Past President (2020-2021)
    • President (2019-2020)
    • President-Elect (2018-2019)
    • Board of Trustees, Member (2015-2018)
    • Chair, Labor & Employment Section (2014-2015) and Member (2002-present)
    • Grievance Committee, Member (2010-present)
    • Fee Arbitration Committee, Member (2016-2018)
    • Chair, HR Committee (2017-2019)
    • Member, Finance Committee (2021-present)
  • Society of Human Resource Management - Akron Area Chapter
    • Vice President (2016-2018)
    • Governmental Relations Chair (2017-present)
  • Ohio State Bar Association
    • Member, Council of Delegates
    • Labor and Employment Section Council (2016-present)
  • Scanlon-Bell American Inn of Court
    • Barrister (2021-present)
  • Ohio Management Lawyers Association
    • Member (2018-present)
  • Ohio Women's Bar Association
    • Trustee-At-Large (2016-2020)
    • Member (2013-present)
Community Affiliations
  • Akron Blind Center
    • Chair, Board of Trustees (2016-2018)
    • Board Member (2013-2018)
  • Summit County Historical Society
    • Chair, Board of Directors (2018-2019)
    • Vice Chair, Board of Directors (2016-2018)
    • Board Member (2013-2019)
  • Friends of Summit County Metro Parks
    • Board Member (2020-present)

Insights

  1. Alerts
    Sixth Circuit Throws Out Minimum Wage Standards for Employees Who Drive Their Own Vehicles for Work (Mar 18, 2024)
    City of Columbus Bans Consideration of Salary History in the Hiring Process (Feb 29, 2024)
    U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Releases 4 New Resource Documents Addressing Students With Disabilities Under Section 504 (Feb 21, 2024)
    Is the Title IX Final Rule Finally Coming? (Feb 6, 2024)
    U.S. Department of Labor Implements New Rule to Clarify Worker Classification under FLSA (Jan 12, 2024)
  2. Articles
    Navigating employees’ charged behavior in the health care workplace - Physicians Practice (March 2024)
    The COVID-19 Vaccine: Issues for Employers - The Examiner Magazine, Akron Bar Association (January 2021)
    Your Sexual Harassment Policy: Use It or Lose Its Protection
  3. Presentations
    "Keeping What You’ve Got: Enforcing and Adding to a Judgment" - Scanlon-Bell Inn of Court (November 2023)
    "Navigating the Workplace: Labor and Employment Law Update 2023 – Case Law and Legislative Update" - Akron Bar Association (November 2023)
    "The Future of Work: Minimizing Risk & Avoiding Pitfalls" - Roetzel Labor & Employment Symposium: State of the Workplace 2023 (September 2023)
    "What Should an Employer Like the Cleveland Browns Do To Minimize Exposure to Liability and Prevent a Toxic Work Environment?" - Akron Bar Association (January 2023)
    "HB 352 Nearly Two Years Later: A Closer Look" - Akron Bar Association (January 2023)
  4. Podcasts
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Middle East Conflict Impact on the Healthcare Workplace: An HR Perspective (Nov 30, 2023)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: A Shot in the Arm: Navigating the Evolving Federal Vaccine Requirements (Nov 18, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Illinois’ Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers: Answering Employers’ Questions (Sep 7, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: What Does FDA Approval Mean for Employer Vaccination Mandates? (Aug 26, 2021)
  5. Firm News
    Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
    Karen Adinolfi Quoted in Akron Legal News Article Discussing the Recently Enacted PUMP Act (Apr 14, 2023)
    Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)
    74 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America®; 18 Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 19, 2021)
    Seventy Roetzel Attorneys Named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America© List; Ten Named “Lawyer of the Year” (Aug 20, 2020)

Overview

Karen is an experienced labor and employment counselor and trial attorney, having handled numerous cases for the Firm’s clients, whether public or private, for-profit, or non-profit, large or small. She counsels her clients on employee discipline and discharge, wage and hour matters, FMLA leave and other leaves of absence, disability law and reasonable accommodation, and all other facets of the employer-employee relationship. Karen has tried numerous cases to verdict, and many others through summary judgment, alternative dispute resolution, or appeal. She has handled public and private collective bargaining and arbitration matters, conducted workplace investigations, and has represented clients through numerous administrative agencies at the federal and state level, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Ohio State Employment Relations Board, Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and the Unemployment Compensation Review Commission.

Karen also has extensive experience representing and counseling Ohio state agencies and local political subdivisions in labor and employment matters, but also in the areas of governance, Ohio’s Sunshine Law, Ohio’s Public Records Act. Additionally, she has counseled numerous political subdivisions through governmental investigations and audits by State and federal agencies.

Languages
  1. French

Education

  1. The University of Akron School of Law, J.D.
    • summa cum laude
    • Akron Law Review, Citations Editor and Staff Member
    • New York Bar Moot Court Competition
    • American Bar Association Moot Court Competition
  2. Kent State University, M.A.
    • summa cum laude
  3. The University of Toledo, B.A.
    • magna cum laude

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  3. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Clerkships
  1. Intern and Judicial Clerkship for The Honorable Deborah Cook

Recognitions

  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management (2021-2024); Litigation - Labor & Employment (2021-2024)
  • Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyers - Rising Star" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2005-2011)
  • Recipient, The University of Akron School of Law John R. Quine Award (2020)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Adjunct Faculty, Employment Law, University of Akron School of Law
  • Akron Bar Association - Past President (2020-2021)
    • President (2019-2020)
    • President-Elect (2018-2019)
    • Board of Trustees, Member (2015-2018)
    • Chair, Labor & Employment Section (2014-2015) and Member (2002-present)
    • Grievance Committee, Member (2010-present)
    • Fee Arbitration Committee, Member (2016-2018)
    • Chair, HR Committee (2017-2019)
    • Member, Finance Committee (2021-present)
  • Society of Human Resource Management - Akron Area Chapter
    • Vice President (2016-2018)
    • Governmental Relations Chair (2017-present)
  • Ohio State Bar Association
    • Member, Council of Delegates
    • Labor and Employment Section Council (2016-present)
  • Scanlon-Bell American Inn of Court
    • Barrister (2021-present)
  • Ohio Management Lawyers Association
    • Member (2018-present)
  • Ohio Women's Bar Association
    • Trustee-At-Large (2016-2020)
    • Member (2013-present)
Community Affiliations
  • Akron Blind Center
    • Chair, Board of Trustees (2016-2018)
    • Board Member (2013-2018)
  • Summit County Historical Society
    • Chair, Board of Directors (2018-2019)
    • Vice Chair, Board of Directors (2016-2018)
    • Board Member (2013-2019)
  • Friends of Summit County Metro Parks
    • Board Member (2020-present)

Insights

  1. Alerts
    Sixth Circuit Throws Out Minimum Wage Standards for Employees Who Drive Their Own Vehicles for Work (Mar 18, 2024)
    City of Columbus Bans Consideration of Salary History in the Hiring Process (Feb 29, 2024)
    U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Releases 4 New Resource Documents Addressing Students With Disabilities Under Section 504 (Feb 21, 2024)
    Is the Title IX Final Rule Finally Coming? (Feb 6, 2024)
    U.S. Department of Labor Implements New Rule to Clarify Worker Classification under FLSA (Jan 12, 2024)
  2. Articles
    Navigating employees’ charged behavior in the health care workplace - Physicians Practice (March 2024)
    The COVID-19 Vaccine: Issues for Employers - The Examiner Magazine, Akron Bar Association (January 2021)
    Your Sexual Harassment Policy: Use It or Lose Its Protection
  3. Presentations
    "Keeping What You’ve Got: Enforcing and Adding to a Judgment" - Scanlon-Bell Inn of Court (November 2023)
    "Navigating the Workplace: Labor and Employment Law Update 2023 – Case Law and Legislative Update" - Akron Bar Association (November 2023)
    "The Future of Work: Minimizing Risk & Avoiding Pitfalls" - Roetzel Labor & Employment Symposium: State of the Workplace 2023 (September 2023)
    "What Should an Employer Like the Cleveland Browns Do To Minimize Exposure to Liability and Prevent a Toxic Work Environment?" - Akron Bar Association (January 2023)
    "HB 352 Nearly Two Years Later: A Closer Look" - Akron Bar Association (January 2023)
  4. Podcasts
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Middle East Conflict Impact on the Healthcare Workplace: An HR Perspective (Nov 30, 2023)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: A Shot in the Arm: Navigating the Evolving Federal Vaccine Requirements (Nov 18, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Illinois’ Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers: Answering Employers’ Questions (Sep 7, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: What Does FDA Approval Mean for Employer Vaccination Mandates? (Aug 26, 2021)
  5. Firm News
    Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
    Karen Adinolfi Quoted in Akron Legal News Article Discussing the Recently Enacted PUMP Act (Apr 14, 2023)
    Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)
    74 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America®; 18 Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 19, 2021)
    Seventy Roetzel Attorneys Named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America© List; Ten Named “Lawyer of the Year” (Aug 20, 2020)