Kathleen O'Neill

Kathleen O’Neill is Counsel at Schwartz Hannum PC and a member of the Firm’s Labor and Employment and Education Practice groups. She provides strategic counseling and litigation support to independent schools, colleges, and employers across industries on a wide array of labor, employment, and institutional matters.

Kathleen represents clients in proceedings before state and federal courts, government agencies, and arbitration panels in cases involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, contract claims, and other complex employment-related issues. She is adept at guiding clients through high-stakes investigations and litigation, as well as helping them minimize risk through proactive compliance efforts.

In her counseling practice, Kathleen works closely with heads of school, in-house counsel, and human resources professionals to develop and implement workplace policies and practices. Kathleen also provides day-to-day advice on performance management, discipline, termination, accommodations under the ADA, FMLA compliance, employee leave, workplace safety and security, and student and employee mental health and fitness-for-duty concerns.

Prior to joining the Firm, Kathleen served as Assistant General Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice, where she advised on sensitive personnel and operational matters. During her 30 year federal career, she litigated employment discrimination claims throughout the country in both trial and appellate federal courts as well as before administrative tribunals. She began her legal career as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Frank H. Freedman in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and previously practiced at Sally & Fitch LLP in Boston.