Yvonne R. Olinde Partner—Baton Rouge Phone: 225.381.8026 Fax: 225.387.5397 Email: yvonne.olinde@bswllp.com

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Yvonne Reed Olinde is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. Her areas of concentration are labor and employment law, as well as construction law.

In the employment context, Ms. Olinde has defended state and local governmental entities as well as private employers against various allegations of violations of federal and state statutes governing discrimination, harassment, wage and hour issues, whistle blower claims, and noncompete agreements.  Examples of claims frequently litigated include: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the United States Constitution, as well as Louisiana's discrimination, wage, and whistle blower statutes.  In addition to representing employers in traditional courtroom litigation, Ms. Olinde has also represented employers in civil service hearings, unemployment compensation hearings, and in responding to allegations brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Louisiana Commission on Human Rights.

Ms. Olinde works diligently with clients to prevent employment claims or minimize the risk should one arise.  Particularly, she drafts policy manuals, offers training for managers and employees, assists in hiring, firing, and disciplinary decisions, authors articles and presents seminars on various topics, and provides day-to-day counseling on a variety of issues.

Education

Admitted to practice: Louisiana 1999, including all state, federal and appellate courts throughout Louisiana, as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal

Paul M. Hebert Law School, Louisiana State University, J.D., 1999

Certified Public Accountant, State of Texas, 1995
Served as financial accountant for the refining and marketing operations of petrochemical company and for a pipeline construction company

University of Houston, B.A., Accounting, 1993

Professional Associations

Louisiana State Bar Association

Baton Rouge Bar Association

Publications

Authored article on Progressive Discipline for BSW Labor & Employment Section Newsletter (2004)

Co-authored paper and presentation for BSW Labor & Employment Law Seminar

Co-authored paper and presentation to members of Associated Builders and Contractors: Harassment in the Workplace: Don't Get Caught with Your Pants Down! (2002)

Published article for BSW View Point Publication on Harassment: An Employer's Liability (2000)

Authored paper and presentation for Lorman Education Services Programs on Fair Labor Standards Act: Coverage, Records and Time Keeping (1999)

Authored paper and presentation for Lorman Education Services Programs on Termination of the Employment Relationship: Today's Actions to Avoid Tomorrow's Liability for Termination of Employees (1999)

Authored paper and presentation for Lorman Education Services Programs on Louisiana Construction Issues: Insurance and Change Orders (1999)

Authored paper and presentation on Recent Developments in Construction Law (1999)

Presentations

Presented overview of discrimination and harassment issues to managers for gaming industry client (2004)

Navigating Shifting Waters Without Sinking the Ship: Insights and Strategies in Harassment & Discrimination Law (2003)

“Toto, I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore”: Recent Trends in Harassment and Discrimination Law (2002)

Issues in Discrimination and Harassment: Don't Get Caught with Your Pants Down! (2000)

Community Involvement

Finance Committee for the Louisiana Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross

Representative Matters

General Counsel for Concrete & Aggregate Association of Louisiana (CAAL).

Represented municipality, state entities, and appointed or elected officials in cases involving allegations of discrimination, retaliation, reprisal, and Constitutional claims.

Successfully defended petrochemical industry client at trial for alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Prevailed at the summary judgment stage of litigation on allegations of disability discrimination.

Prevailed in representing state entity for termination of employee in proceedings before the Civil Service Commission.

Prevailed in representing association defending against a claim for failure to include alternate designs in the bidding of a public project.

Successfully opposed writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on a procedural matter of first impression.

Prevailed on summary judgments for various clients on allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Defended gaming industry clients against claims brought pursuant to the Equal Pay Act, as well as allegations of sex discrimination, disability discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Represented restaurant owners in suit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and alleged victims for claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.

Managed construction litigation on behalf of design professionals and construction companies.