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Jennifer L Bame
Partner
Louisville, KY
Partner
Louisville, KY
Jen represents employers in all manner of labor and employment matters, including federal and state employment litigation, EEOC charges, appeals, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, injunction hearings to enforce non-compete agreements, and unemployment hearings. She regularly obtains dismissals and other favorable outcomes for employers, having successfully defended against claims brought under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, and Kentucky wage and hour laws, as well as claims of wrongful discharge and breach of contract. Jen also helps employers avoid litigation by providing training and counseling on a variety of topics, including terminations, workplace investigations, anti-harassment policies, and day-to-day employment issues.
Jen graduated cum laude from Washington University School of Law in St Louis, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Washington University Journal of Law and Policy and Vice President of the Women’s Law Caucus. Before joining the firm, she worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County where she represented indigent juveniles and adults through all stages of litigation including trial. Jen is also a published poet with a master’s degree in poetry writing from Columbia University.
Oller v. Central Bank (2022): dismissal of sex discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and breach of contract claims on summary judgment and for failure to state a claim.
Alicia Gambrel v. Parkplace Homes (2022): dismissal of sex discrimination, hostile work environment, and unpaid commission claims for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with discovery order.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #4 v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Gvt. (2021): dismissal of Union’s complaint which alleged the City’s ordinance banning the use of no-knock warrants was unconstitutional and obtained ruling that the City was not required to bargain with the Union before enacting the no-knock ordinance.
James Simmons v. North American Stainless (2021): dismissal of disability discrimination and retaliation claims on summary judgment.
Nancy Quinette, et al. v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Gvt. (2021): dismissal of claims alleging City violated collective bargaining agreement for failure to prosecute.
John Lee v. Trace3 LLC, et al. (2021): dismissal of breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims And compelling arbitration.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #83 v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Gvt. (2020): dismissal of claims alleging City failed to bargain and that City violated collective bargaining agreement on summary judgment.
Fitness Market Inc. v. Scheller’s Kentucky, et al. (2020): dismissal of complaint seeking temporary injunction and enforcement of non-compete agreement after hearing on motion for preliminary injunction.
Wiggins v. Holley Performance Products (2019): judgment in favor of employer on breach of contract claim after bench trial.
In re Mike-Sell’s Potato Chip Company and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (2019): dismissal of Complaint alleging unfair labor practices following remand hearing and appellate briefing.
Charles v. NGT (2019): dismissal of age discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, negligent retention, and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims on summary judgment.
Rose v. UPS (2019): dismissal of disability discrimination claim on summary judgment.
Johnson v. CCMA (2019): dismissal of sex discrimination claim on summary judgment.
Layman v. UPS (2019): dismissal of disability discrimination, sex discrimination, false light, and defamation claims on summary judgment.
McCoy v. Cambridge Franchise Holdings (2019): dismissal of discrimination, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour claims and compelling arbitration.
Wardlaw v. Autozone (2018): dismissal of retaliation and harassment claims for failure to state a claim.
Mullen v. Houston-Johnson Inc. (2018): dismissal of breach of contract and unpaid commissions claim on summary judgment.
Morton v. UPS (2018): dismissal of retaliation claim on summary judgment.
Crosby v. Ananda (2018): dismissal of complaint seeking temporary injunction and enforcement of non-compete agreement after briefing.
Vaughn v. Woodforest National Bank (2018): dismissal of wrongful termination claim for failure to prosecute.
Rawls v. UPS (2018): dismissal of wrongful termination claim for failure to prosecute.
Newell v. Ready Mix (2017): obtained preliminary injunction enforcing non-compete agreement in favor of employer.
Morcus v. Medicopy (2017): dismissal of fraud, tortious interference, negligent hiring, forgery, and consumer protection claims on summary judgment.
Washington University School of Law, J.D., 2014, cum laude
Columbia University, M.F.A., Poetry Writing, 2009
University of Florida, B.A., English, B.A., Sociology, 2006
Honorable Thomas H. Fulton, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Selected for inclusion in Kentucky Rising Stars® 2023
The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch®, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2023
Don Carter-Earl Tedrow Memorial Award, selected by the law school senior class as the exemplification of the aims of all those entering the profession of law, 2014.
Mary Collier Hitchcock Prize for outstanding writing, 2014.
Equal Justice Works Award for public service, 2014.
Dean’s Service Award for public service, 2014.
CALI Award for Mediation, 2013.
Tamanaha-Honorata Public Interest Award, 2013.
Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy, 2012.
Scholar-in-Law Award, 2011-2014.
Graduate, Focus Louisville, May 2019
Member, Friends of the Louisville Zoo Board, 2016-present.
Member, Coalition for the Homeless Associate Board, 2018 – present.
Founding Member, Future Advocates in Training, St. Louis, MO., 2011-2014.
February 5, 2020: National Business Institute: Guide to Human Resource Laws in the Workplace: Workplace Behavioral Issues: Appropriately Handling Thorny Situations and Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring
December 4, 2019: FMLA Master Class: FMLA/ADA/Workers’ Comp Overlap
November 14, 2019: Madisonville, KYSHRM: Labor and Employment Law Update
November 13, 2019: Webinar: 2019 FMLA/ADA Cases That Make You Say “Hmmm?”
November 15, 2018: National Business Institute: Human Resource Law from A to Z: Employment Law Update and Imperative Information That Every Employee Handbook Should Contain
November 6, 2018: FMLA Master Class: Mastering FMLA Fundamentals
July 24, 2018: Business Leaders and Bagels: Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations
February 13, 2018: National Business Institute: Guide to Human Resource Laws in the Workplace: Workplace Behavioral Issues: Appropriately Handling Thorny Situations and Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring
May 23, 2017: FMLA Master Class: Managing Serious Health Conditions and Medical Certification
April 10, 2017: Back by Popular Demand! Balancing Your FMLA, ADA and Workers’ Compensation Legal Obligations
March 14, 2017: 14th Annual Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Conference: Handling Absences while Maintaining Productivity: The FMLA, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation Conundrum
March 7, 2017: Labor and Employment Seminar: The Future of Labor Law Under A New NLRB
January 18, 2017: Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Remaining Union-Free Seminar
November 18, 2016: KYSHRM Leadership Conference: The Future of Right to Work in Kentucky
Paper, The Hardship of Undue Hardship: Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy in the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Circuits, 22d Annual Mid-South Conference on Bankruptcy Law, Feb. 5, 2016.
Note. For Those Who Do Not Speak: Protecting Class Arbitration as the Last Collective-Action Option for Women, 46 WASH. U. J. L. & POL’Y 245 (2015).
