Bernadette is a partner at Kollman & Saucier.  Her practice focuses on education law and management-side labor and employment law. Bernadette’s clients include colleges and universities, hospitals and health care providers, property management companies, childcare providers, governmental organizations, and a variety of other businesses.  She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

Investigator: Bernadette specializes as an investigator of workplace and higher education (student and employee) complaints.  Her work includes investigation of allegations under Title IX, Title VII, Title VI, Section 504, and the ADA.  She also represents educational institutions in the negotiation and resolution of administrative complaints with state and federal agencies, including the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Business Representation: Bernadette represents employers on a wide variety of other labor and employment matters including: 

• Administrative proceedings before the EEOC, MCCR, U.S. Department of Labor, Maryland Department of Labor, and other governmental agencies;
• Defense of employment discrimination claims including Title VII, FMLA, FLSA, ADA and State law claims; and
• Workplace Policy and Form Development including employee handbooks, non-disclosure documents, employment agreements, and separation agreements.

Training Facilitator: Bernadette facilitates training (virtual and in-person) for employers of all sizes on topics including EEO, Title IX, workplace civility, and investigation skills.

Publications/Presentations:

Bernadette’s recent lectures and publications include:

• “2021 Legislative Update”- presenter for College and University Professional Association for Human Resources
• “Maryland and Federal Employment Law Review: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues”– presenter for Maryland State Bar Association
• “Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. Higher Education Law Legislative Update”- co-presenter for National Association of College and University Attorneys regional group
• “Understanding the Difference Between a Serious Complaint and Employee Drama”- presenter for Lorman Education Services
• “Preparing For Unemployment Hearings”– presenter for Lorman Education Services
• “Reopening in the Era of Covid-19” – presenter for Maryland State Bar Association-Labor and Employment Law Section
• “Conducting Internal Investigations and Handling Formal Complaints”– presenter for National Business Institute
• Contributing author for Thomson Reuters Practical Law, Labor and Employment
  

Prior to getting her law degree, Bernadette worked as a secondary English teacher.  She returned to the other side of the classroom to attend University of Baltimore School of Law on a full merit scholarship. During that time, she served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Timothy E. Meredith on the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland and participated on UB’s Labor Law Moot Court Team where she discovered a passion for employment law.  She received her J.D. degree magna cum laude and joined K&S as an attorney immediately upon graduation.

Outside of her work resolving “big people” problems, she enjoys coaching youth field hockey and volunteering at her daughter’s school for party planning and other fun stuff.