Since 2009, Helen’s practice has been primarily focused on labor and employment law, including litigation, counseling, arbitration and mediation with regard to employment discrimination, harassment, wage-hour compliance, and restrictive covenants. Prior to 2009, Helen’s practice was in commercial litigation.

Since joining Reed Smith in 2006 after clerking for the Honorable Leslie M. Alden of the Fairfax County Circuit Court, Helen has had extensive experience litigating complex disputes in Virginia and Maryland state and federal courts. In particular, Helen has defended employers against claims alleging race, age, disability, and sex discrimination; retaliation; sexual harassment; wrongful discharge; violations of wage and hour laws; and breach of contract. Additionally, Helen has successfully brought business tort claims on behalf of companies and partnerships. Helen is also experienced in representing employers in defending against charges of discrimination at the administrative agency level.

Since 2006, Helen has second-chaired five jury trials in the Circuit Courts of Virginia, including two jury trials involving a partnership dispute. Helen has also served as lead counsel in a number of state-level bench trials in the Circuit Courts of Virginia. Since 2006, Helen has handled dozens of deposition and successfully argued numerous dispositve motions for her clients, including motions in the “Rocket Docket.” Helen has also handled several mediations for her clients offering insightful counsel to assist her clients in arriving at alternative resolutions.

Helen’s clients regularly call on her to conduct and advise on internal investigations, and to provide advice on compliance with various laws affecting the workplace including the FMLA, ADEA, Title VII, ADA, FLSA and state wage and hour laws. She has also drafted and introduced for numerous companies employee handbooks and policy manuals.