Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP (DSV) is honored to announce the hire of Shelbie J. Byers, an associate whom focuses her practice on Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Law. Shelbie will be working with Melanie M. Dunajeski out of our Merrillville Office. Shelbie has experience with a wide array of business, commercial, and employment-related litigation and administrative matters and has assisted clients in state and federal courts as well as the EEOC, Department of Labor, OSHA, and other administrative agencies. Shelbie regularly counsels her clients and handles matters involving the following employment -related statutes: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, GINA, Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Her employment litigation experience ranges from single plaintiff cases to large, complex class and collective actions. Her business and other civil litigation experience includes insurance defense litigation, civil rights litigation, commercial and business contract litigation and complex commercial litigation. She also has significant experience in wage and hour class and collective actions, including misclassification claims and off the clock claims. Shelbie regularly assists clients in the use of alternative dispute resolution “ADR” to resolve business and employment-related disputes ranging from breach of contract to employment discrimination and retaliation. In addition, she regularly counsels clients in matters related to: State and Federal WARN Act requirements and compliance, state personnel records review act requirements and compliance, family and medical leave issues, requests for accommodation of disabilities, independent contractor issues, risks associated with the hiring of employees subject to restrictive covenants, employee disciplinary matters, reductions in force, early retirement programs, voluntary termination packages, individual employment terminations, and post-employment contractual, fiduciary and other legal obligations. Shelbie has significant experience in drafting and reviewing a number of business and employment-related agreements and documents, including: business-related commercial contracts, employment handbooks, employment agreements, severance and separation agreements, settlement agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-competes and other restrictive covenants, and consulting agreements.
Shelbie received her B.S. with Highest Distinction Honors from Indiana University Northwest and her J.D. degree Summa Cum Laude from Valparaiso University School of Law, where she served as the Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Shelbie was recognized in November 2014 with the Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Up and Coming Woman in the Law Award. Shelbie is active in the Women Lawyers Association, Lake County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Valparaiso University School of Law Northwest Indiana Alumni Council. Shelbie is licensed in Illinois and Indiana.
About DSV: DSV has a state-wide legal practice consisting of twenty-four (24) attorneys and three office locations in Indianapolis, Carmel, and Merrillville. DSV was originally founded as a law firm focused on the construction industry. Even today, DSV provides in-depth legal services to all aspects of the construction industry, including public and private owners, design professionals, general and trade contractors, construction managers, material suppliers, insurers and sureties. With the growth of the law firm, DSV has expanded its legal practice to serve the wide-ranging legal needs of its clients. Through its multiple service groups, DSV assists clients with legal issues in the areas of Business, Government, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Real Estate, Personal Legal Services, and Health Care Services.