Kathleen K. Lucchesi

Biography

Kathleen K. Lucchesi is a principal in the Charlotte, North Carolina office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Although her daily practice focuses on developing good policies and practices to keep her clients out of the courtroom, Kathi’s extensive trial experience is what resonates with her clients. For Kathi, it’s all about relationships. She takes time to get to know her clients so she can quickly get to the heart of their legal issues and help them reach the best resolution. Sometimes the road to resolution leads to litigation. Other times, it requires creative solutions outside the courtroom that don’t include a trial.

Kathi has more than 20 years’ of experience before state and federal courthouses, including nearly six years as an Assistant District Attorney in Charlotte, and over 15 years representing employers. In that time, she has tried more than 75 state and federal jury trials. Kathi believes a good lawyer knows the law, but a great lawyer knows the judge. Kathi knows each judge’s preferences and pet peeves and can better communicate a legal argument because she “knows” her audience.

Litigation isn’t always the best course of action, so Kathi also helps her clients identify and develop the policies and best practices to avoid the courtroom. She regularly advises public and private companies, large and small, regarding all types of employment issues both in and out of the workplace, including hiring, firing, and employee discipline, claims for wrongful discharge and discrimination, FMLA and wage & hour compliance, and EEOC, DOL, ESC, and DOJ investigations. Kathi also provides workforce training, reviews and drafts employment policies, contracts, and separation agreements, and assists employers when employees commit criminal acts such as embezzlement and corporate malfeasance against the company.

Kathi graduated with honors from both the University of Indianapolis, where she played Division II volleyball and majored in communications, and the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she first discovered sweet tea, red velvet cake, and serious humidity.

Speeches

• “COVID-19 Guidance: What Small Business Owners Need to Know Right Now”, North Carolina Bar Association/North Carolina Small Business Center Network (Charlotte, NC, May 2020) (Panelist)
• “Best Practices for Returning to the Workplace After COVID-19”, Third Thursday Lunch Series (Charlotte, NC, May 2020) (Panelist)
• “When Animals Become Unpaid Employees: Employer Obligations in the Interactive Process of ADA Accommodations”, Mecklenburg County Bar Annual Labor & Employment Section CLE (Charlotte, NC, February 2019) (Presenter)
• “Limiting Risk and Preventing Abuse in Youth Sports”, Charlotte Soccer Academy (Charlotte, NC, February 2019) (Presenter)
• “Finding & Retaining Diverse Talent: Learning From Experts Like You”, National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) Driving Diversity & Leadership Conference (New Orleans, LA, February 2019) (Panelist)
• “Public Posts, Politicking, and Protected Speech: The First Amendment at Work… Literally”, National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms Annual Meeting (NAMWOLF) (Chicago, IL, September 2018) (Presenter)
• “Free Speech at Work: I Don’t Think It Means What You Think It Means”, Mecklenburg County Bar Annual Labor & Employment Section CLE (Charlotte, NC, February 2018) (Presenter)
• “Workplace Harassment & Discrimination: An Offense Requires a Good Defense”, Third Thursday Lunch Series (Charlotte, NC, August 2017) (Presenter)
• “Hot Issues in Employment Law: How HR Can Keep Companies From Getting Burned”, Trinity Consulting HR Seminar (Charlotte, NC, May 2014) (Presenter)