Karen Bush Schneider concentrates her practice on employment, labor, and disability matters, helping both employers and employees pursue and protect their rights.

Karen works with businesses and government employers to maximize human resources and talent management in the workplace. From hiring to employee evaluations and performance reviews to end-of-employment considerations, she is acutely aware of the impact that decisions in these areas can have on morale, product or service quality, productivity, and, ultimately, the bottom line. Over the years, Karen has counseled a wide variety of clients including banks, manufacturers, physician practices and health care providers, insurance companies, municipalities, automobile dealerships, service providers, non-profit corporations, and accountants and other professional services.

Considered an authority in labor law, Karen has negotiated numerous collective bargaining agreements and has represented labor and management in election proceedings, unfair labor practice charges, intra-union matters, and grievance and interest arbitrations. She also has advocacy experience with various statutory claims raised under federal and state anti-discrimination laws, right to know acts, wage and hour laws, whistleblower protection acts, and similar employment-related laws.

Karen has instructed students about the National Labor Relations Act as an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where she received the Frederick W. Griffiths Distinguished Teaching Award in 2000. She also serves on the American Arbitration Association’s National Panel of Labor Arbitrators and the Michigan Employment Relations Commission’s Panel of Act 312 Interest Arbitrators for police and fire disputes.

Individuals seek Karen’s help when a disability threatens their livelihoods and incomes. Despite previously performing their jobs and enjoying careers without any problems, they often encounter filing obstacles, bureaucratic red tape, and denials of valid disability claims. When this happens, she advocates on their behalf to secure statutory pension benefits and disability retirement allowances.

Karen is highly regarded in both legal and business circles, as evidenced by honors such as the Ingham County Bar Association’s Leo A. Farhat Distinguished Attorney Award, the Greater Lansing YWCA’s Diana Award for Business Achievement, and recognition by Martindale-Hubbell as a Preeminent Woman Lawyer and the highest rating among her peers in the practice of law. She gives back to the community through her ongoing support of the Riverwalk Theatre and the Madeleva Society at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, where she presently chairs its national development steering committee. She has also served on the boards of numerous Capitol area non-profit organizations, including the Humane Society, the American Lung Association of Michigan, the Wharton Center Advisory Council, the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Lansing, and the Council of Catholic Women of St. Martha Parish.

At home, Karen enjoys cooking a variety of ethnic cuisines, is an avid fitness swimmer, and is a diehard Notre Dame fan.