Vedder

Labor and Employment

Shareholder

Cara Ottenweller counsels employers on complex human resources and employment law issues, offering practical solutions that align with her clients’ business goals.

Her primary goal is to keep her clients out of the courtroom and, when issues arise, to help them navigate out of legal difficulties.

With clients ranging from large multinational corporations to small startups, she works with business owners, executives, in-house attorneys and HR professionals. Cara advises on complicated termination issues, FMLA and ADA accommodation scenarios, wage and hour compliance, and workforce restructuring efforts. She develops workplace policies, conducts sensitive investigations, and leads interactive employment training courses for her clients.

When disputes arise, she successfully defends employers in federal and state litigation, arbitral forums and administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal, state and local agencies. She also represents unionized employers in grievance arbitrations and labor relations arbitrations.

Cara focuses on getting to know her clients and partners with them to achieve their goals through practical and efficient workplace solutions.

• Member, American Bar Association

• Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D., 2007, magna cum laude

• Indiana University, B.A., 2002