EDUCATION:
University of Virginia School of Law
Charlottesville, Virginia
J.D., 1992
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia
B.A., 1988
ADMISSIONS:
Virginia
West Virginia
- Virginia Bar Association, Labor Relations and Employment Law Section
- West Virginia Bar Association
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Public Contract Law Section
RECOGNITIONS:
- “Legal Elite”, Virginia Business Magazine, Labor and Employment, 2003-2009
- Named to Best Lawyers in America®, Workers’ Compensation, 2006-2010
- Named to Best Lawyers in America®, Labor & Employment Law, 2008-2010
- “Super Lawyer,” Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine, Employment & Labor, 2009-2010
- BV* Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
Cathleen P. Welsh
Shareholder
Harrisonburg
Phone: 540-437-3113
E-mail: cpw@lolawfirm.com
Download vcard
Share this bio
At Lenhart Obenshain
Cathleen P. Welsh has concentrated her practice in employment law for the last eighteen years. She helps clients work through complicated employment situations including investigating employee misconduct; understanding and managing employee leaves of absence and requests for accommodation; I-9 and immigration law compliance, exempt/nonexempt classification and pay procedures; and employee discipline and termination. She has assisted clients of all sizes from small businesses not covered by most federal employment laws, to governmental employers and Fortune 500 companies. In working with clients, she gives practical cost effective answers which allow clients to determine which level of risk management best suits their organization. She is extensively involved in human resource and business organizations and is frequently asked to speak to community and professional groups on all areas of employment law.
Experience
Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case and do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.
- Advocated for numerous employers before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and Virginia Human Rights Council
- Advocated for numerous employers in charge proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Written Affirmative Action Plans and analyzed data for progress
- Defended clients undergoing compliance audits with the OFCCP
- Represented clients being investigated for wage and hour violations by the U.S. Department of Labor
- Defended unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB
- Represented and assisted clients being investigated for immigration law violations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Represented employers in employment litigation in state and federal courts and private arbitration
- Drafted Employment and Independent Contractor Agreements, including noncompete, nondisclosure and nonsolicitation agreements
- Conducted HR audits reviewing documentation and practices for compliance with applicable employment laws
- Conducted FLSA audits
- Advised clients of legal obligations and responsibilities implicated in mass layoff and plant closing situations.
- Drafted and revised personnel policies and employment handbooks
- Trained hundreds of supervisors on sexual and other harassment, employment law risk management, proper interviewing, discipline and discharge, managing workers' compensation, FLSA compliance, FMLA/ & ADA compliance, employee privacy, and union avoidance strategies, among other topics.
More than Lenhart Obenshain
National Society for Human Resources Management
Shenandoah Valley Chapter Society for Human Resources Management, Legislative Chair
Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, President (2006), Board Member (2000-2007)
Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Board Member (2002-2008)
Rockingham Educational Foundation, Inc., Board Member
United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Board Member
Rose Funkhouser
540-437-3115
rfunkhouser@lolawfirm.com
Areas of Practice
Employment Law
Workers’ Compensation