Dawn Joyce Lanouette

Dawn J. Lanouette is the Chair of Hinman, Howard and Kattell’s Labor and Employment Practice Group.

Labor and Employment

Ms. Lanouette counsels employers on all aspects of their relationship with employees from recruitment to termination. She provides training to Executives, Human Resources Personnel, and Managers and Supervisors on legal obligations and best practices. She drafts and reviews employee handbooks and employment policies, and provides regular advice to clients on complying with the myriad of federal and state labor and employment laws. She also counsels clients concerning wage and hour law, and provides assistance with audits of exempt status and gender equity.

When the relationship sours, Ms. Lanouette represents employers in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Her experience includes successfully defending clients before the Division of Human Rights (DHR) both before probable cause determinations and at hearings; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA); the New York State Department of Labor (DOL); the US Department of Labor; and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Ms. Lanouette has also served as a neutral investigator hired by employers to conduct investigations into sexual harassment and discrimination complaints and has provided training to in-house counsel, human resources professionals, and other attorneys on labor and employment topics.

Healthcare Law

Ms. Lanouette has extensive experience counseling hospitals, long term care facilities, and home health care providers concerning compliance with Stark, the Anti-Kickback Law, and related state statutes. She works with clients to comply with the Medicaid and Medicare laws, and advises clients and their Business Associates to ensure compliance with the HIPAA and HITECH Act.

Cyber Security Law

Ms. Lanouette counsels clients on the growing cyber security threat to businesses of all sizes, including conducting reviews of policies and procedures, making recommendations on best practices, and preparing a plan in the event of a cyber attack. Ms. Lanouette also counsels clients during breach events with regard to compliance with federal and state laws, and has assisted clients in conducting investigations into suspected breaches.

She serves on the Firm’s Finance, Personnel, Recruitment, Marketing and Technology Committees.

Ms. Lanouette is Chair of the Committee on Women in the Law of the Broome County Bar Association (BCBA), and a member of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Committee for Bar Leaders. She is a regular presenter of continuing legal education, a Past-President of the Broome County Bar Association Foundation, and a Past President of the Broome County Bar Association. She lives in Vestal, New York with her husband Ron and son William.