Mary
M.
O'Brien
Main Biography
Mary O’Brien joined Meagher & Geer in 1986 and has served as head of the firm’s Corporate and Employment Practice Group since 1995.
Mary has been providing thoughtful and insightful counsel to business owners since 1986. Her practical approach to business issues stems, in part, from her upbringing in a family of business owners. Mary learned early on that employees are a business’ greatest asset, and that belief shapes the advice she gives business owners as they face a myriad of business issues each day.
When business issues arise, Mary’s 20+ years of experience provide invaluable perspective and strategic direction. Mary is well-familiar with litigation proceedings at the agency level as well as the state and federal trial and appeals courts. She is a zealous advocate for her clients throughout all stages of litigation.
Mary is a frequent speaker to business and management groups on a variety of topics. She also provides training to local and national businesses, educating management and labor on issues that impact the workplace. She is a regular contributor to Meagher & Geer’s Management Series seminars, and she has served as a mentor and teacher to new lawyers for the past 15 years.
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Minnesota Women Lawyers
Accolades
- Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, (only five percent of lawyers in the state were selected)
Speaking Engagements
- Lecturer, CHARGE BACK!! Strategies for Effectively Responding to a Charge of Discrimination (May 2011)
- Lecturer, Temporary and Contract Employees: Reducing Legal Risks and Managing Alternative Work Relationships (January 2011)
- Lecturer, Unique Aspects of Handling Litigation in Minnesota (December 2010)
- Lecturer, Negotiating Commercial Contracts
- Lecturer, Transitioning your Business
- Lecturer, Partnership Training
- Lecturer, Employment Agreements; Non-Compete Agreements; Confidentiality Agreements; Termination Agreements
- Lecturer, The Employment Relationship - Before, During & After: A U.S. & Canadian Perspective (October 2010)
- Lecturer, Hiring and Managing your Staff: A U.S. Perspective (October 2010)
- Lecturer, Employee Terminations: How to Avoid Sleepless Nights, Brain Drain and Becoming Best Friends with your Lawyer (January 2010)
- Lecturer, HR Training for Investigators
- Lecturer, HR Hot Topics: Do’s and Don’ts
- Lecturer, Hiring and Retaining the People you Need
- Lecturer, Retaining Key Employees
- Lecturer, Human Resource Documents: The Purpose Behind the Paper
- Lecturer, Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel and Human Resource Professionals
- Lecturer, Recognizing a Situation Warranting Discipline: Performance Issues; Documentation, and Liability for Disciplinary Decisions
- Lecturer, Acknowledging Your Role as a Leader: Affirmative Action; Equal Employment Opportunity; Grievance Procedures, and Sexual Harassment
- Lecturer, Privacy Issues in the Workplace
- Lecturer, Investigating Employee Complaints
- Lecturer, Employment Liability - Staying Cool in a Hot Legal Environment
- Lecturer, Standard Commercial Employment Practices Liability Protection
- Lecturer, Employment Claims - Discipline and Discharge
- Lecturer, Employment Claims: The Employment Relationship - From Complaint to Conclusion
- Lecturer, Employment Law Claims - Current Developments, New Issues Affecting Coverage
- Lecturer, Employment Claims - A Nuts and Bolts Approach to Reducing Liability
- Lecturer, Handling and Evaluating Employment Claims
- Lecturer, Investigation of Employment Claims - Federal Employment Discrimination Laws
- Lecturer, Employment Claims Seminar
- Lecturer, Developing Discrimination Policies
- Lecturer, Avoiding Discrimination Claims
- Lecturer, Efficient Handling of Discrimination Claims
- Lecturer, Sexual Harassment and the ADA
- Lecturer, ADA, COBRA and the FMLA
- Lecturer, Employment Agreements
- Contributing author, 2008 Employment Law Update
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Education
-
University of Notre Dame Law School
,
J.D.
,
1986
-
Concannon Programme of International Law, London, England
,
1984
-
College of St. Benedict
,
B.A.
magna cum laude
,
1982
Federal Court Admissions
-
United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 1986
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