Adam T. Pankratz

Adam has first chaired a multiple-day employment discrimination arbitration, has first chaired contract dispute arbitrations, has first chaired a number of judge-tried trials, and has successfully argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of an order granting summary judgment. Adam also has significant experience in general commercial litigation and has second chaired a reinsurance arbitration regarding yearly renewable term rates resulting in a positive judgment for the client in excess of $100 million.

With respect to employment matters, Adam regularly engages in the following:

• Counsel employers on a wide range of employment-related matters, including policies, terminations, severances, reductions in force, FLSA compliance and classification of individuals as employees or independent contractors, FMLA compliance, WARN Act compliance, Department of Labor investigations, and I-9 compliance and investigations
• Defend claims of sexual harassment and discrimination based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, medical leave, pregnancy, nationality, religion, and other protected characteristics
• Represent employers in federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies such as the EEOC, the U.S. DOL, OSHA and their state and local counterparts
• Defend clients against lawsuits alleging violations of restrictive covenants and claims under the FMLA, Davis-Bacon Act and the FLSA
• Draft and advise on employment policies, handbooks, contracts, restrictive covenants, executive compensation agreements, and severance agreements
• Counsel employers on reductions in force, and draft necessary documentation and agreements
• Represent and counsel buyers and sellers in the sale of business context and mergers & acquisitions related to employment matters and conducts due diligence on behalf of buyers

Education

• J.D., cum laude, Washburn University School of Law, 2006
• B.B.A., cum laude, Wichita State University, 2002

Admission to Practice

• Missouri
• Washington
• U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
• Kansas
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
• US Court of Appeals, Second, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits

• Kansas Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Association
• Washington Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Greater Seattle Business Association
• Centurions Leadership Program – Greater KC Chamber of Commerce (Graduate)
• Kay Barnes Leadership Series (MAGLCC)
• KCMBA Bar Leadership Academy (Graduate)
• Beta Theta Pi – General Fraternity Volunteer – Assistant District Chief XXXI & former District Chief of District XXI

• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Pay Transparency Update: New York’s Pay Transparency Law and Cross-Jurisdictional Compliance Strategies” – September 12, 2023
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Pay Transparency Proliferation: Keeping Up and Staying Compliant” – San Diego – May 12, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Washington State Employment Law Update: Recapping a Busy Year and Preparing for 2023” – December 8, 2022
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Social Activism and the Workplace: In-House Counsel’s Role” – Amelia Island – November 11-12, 2021
• Virtual Managing a Workforce in 2022 – “2022 Washington Employment Law Update” – October 26, 2021
• Virtual Managing a Workforce in 2022 – “The Evolving Impact of COVID-19 and Its Variants on Washington State Employers” – October 12, 2021
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “COVID Employer Workshop: Tackling the Key Issues” – Austin – June 23, 2021
• ACC-W Labor & Employment Summit – “The New Normal/ Teleworking opportunities, Challenges and Solutions” – January 28, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “A Washington State Forecast for 2021: New Laws on the Horizon” – December 15, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Washington State’s “Safe Start” Plan: An Update for Employers” – June 2, 2020
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “LGBTQIA+ Update: the Latest Developments” – New Orleans – November 14, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “50 Years Since the Stonewall Riots: The Birth of LGBT Pride Month and The Evolution of Sex Discrimination Laws in the Workplace” – June 4, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave: Employer Obligations in 2019 and Beyond” – February 28, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “The Ever-Changing Legal Landscape of LGBTQIA+ Issues” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “State and Local HR Health Check” – Seattle – October 18, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Avoiding Retaliation Claims … and How to Be in the Best Position to Defend Them When They Arise” – Seattle – October 28, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “The Law and Language of Tolerance” – Seattle – October 28, 2016
• National Association of Produce Market Managers – “Human Resources Training and Trends for Produce Market Managers” – Kansas City – April 9, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Ethics Law Briefing” – Kansas City – June 18, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Professional Responsibilities Faced by In-House and Outside Counsel” – Omaha – June 2, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Professional Responsibilities Faced by In-House and Outside Counsel” – Des Moines – June 1, 2015
• Enterprise University – “Is Your Employee Handbook Up-to-Date and Effective?” – Overland Park – April 17, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Employment Law Update: Same-Sex Marriage, and the Modern Workplace” – Kansas City – October 9, 2014
• Enterprise University – “Is Your Employee Handbook Up-to-Date and Effective?” – Overland Park – October 2, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Nebraska Law Update & Current Status of Same Sex Marriage and Its Effects on Employers” – Omaha – September 30, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Iowa Law Update & Current Status of Same Sex Marriage and Its Effects on Employers” – Des Moines – September 29, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “Ethics Law Briefing” – Kansas City – June 10, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Nebraska Law Update” – Omaha – September 17, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “The ADA Reasonable Accommodations and Medical Information: Why Do You Ask?” – Des Moines – September 16, 2013

• October 22, 2024 – SHRM – “Meal Period Compliance: Insights from Washington Court Ruling”
• February 10, 2015 – SHRM.org – “Worker Fired for Poor Performance, Not for Alleging Race Bias, Sex Harassment”
• December 16, 2014 – SHRM Online – “Mo.: Columbia Is First Missouri City to Approve ‘Ban the Box’ Legislation”
• December 2014 – SHRM Missouri eAuthority Online – “Ban the Box Requirements”

• November 1, 2023 – Bloomberg Law – “Adidas, Home Depot Sued in Test Cases on Job Ad Pay Transparency”
• May 24, 2023 – Law360 – “New Benefits For Wash. Gig Drivers May Signal Wider Trend”
• October 13, 2021 – KOMO – “King County vaccine mandate prompts tide of legal questions from firms, employers”
• September 30, 2021 – KOMO – “Workers reach deadline to vaccinate or face termination; Businesses back mandate”
• June 4, 2021 – SHRM Online – “Employers Contend with Conflicts over Masks, Vaccinations”
• May 18, 2021 – SHRM Online – “Managing Workplace Mask Requirements as Restrictions Are Lifted”
• May 14, 2021 – SHRM Online – “Workplace Experts Advise Caution as CDC Lifts Mask Recommendations”
• May 14, 2021 – CNN Business – “Reopening plans for offices are complicated by new CDC mask guidelines”
• June 22, 2018 – Law360 – “3 Tips For Employers Looking To Back Worker Affinity Groups”

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Employment Law – Management (2024-2025)
  • Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024-2025)
• Super Lawyers Rising Star (2012-present)
• Best of the Bar – Kansas City Business Journal (2014-2016)
• Washburn Law Journal, Staff Editor (2004-2006)