Heather Hamilton has extensive experience in the areas of employment litigation, counseling, and investigation. A passionate trial and appellate advocate, Heather has taken multiple jury and bench trials to verdict and taken and defended hundreds of depositions. Heather is particularly skilled at constructing case strategies that result in the successful dismissal of lawsuits at the summary judgment stage, at one time amassing eighty-eight consecutive favorable summary judgment decisions. Heather has also successfully defended those decisions in state and federal appellate courts across the nation.
Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Heather spent 15 years in-house, the majority of which she served as primary employment counsel to the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier. Heather coordinated employment advice for the company’s executive, corporate and sales teams, as well as the company’s internationally-based employees spanning 28 countries. While in-house, Heather also managed domestic and international employment lawsuits and handled a broad variety of consumer and business litigation cases. Heather led the defense of over twenty class and collective actions and now leverages that experience to support clients with wage and hour compliance. Prior to going in-house, Heather was a partner at a national litigation firm where she focused her practice on defending manufacturing, automotive, and retail clients in employment lawsuits and administrative claims.
Heather is a Kansas City native and strong supporter of the local bar. She just concluded her fourth term as President of the Cass County Bar Association and is a frequent presenter at national and local CLE’s focusing on labor and employment issues.