Menu

Rosalee M. McNamara

Rosalee McNamara represents businesses and organizations in employment and litigation matters throughout the United States. She has successfully defended – from charge to jury verdict – a wide array of employment discrimination complaints and collective actions, and has handled numerous court and jury trials in federal and state court.

Her successes include class/collective actions, and individual and multi-party lawsuits and charges. She regularly defends and counsels clients regarding claims of sexual and other harassment, disability, race, age, sex, national origin, and religious discrimination, Family and Medical Leave Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and related issues, hiring and reference procedures, employee discipline and termination, employee drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures, collective action wage and overtime claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employer benefits, and noncompetition agreements.

Rosalee conducts internal investigations and training for private and public employers, and presents seminars on employment-related issues. Her clients include national manufacturers, entertainment and hospitality companies, educational organizations, professional and financial institutions, accounting firms, construction and engineering firms, healthcare organizations, technology companies, and non-profit organizations.

Rosalee has been named a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and for many years has been selected as a Leading Lawyer by Chambers USA, and among Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Top 50 Female Lawyers. She has been a guest lecturer on legal issues at several universities.

Rosalee is a member of the firm's Executive Committee, and previously served as Manager of the Lathrop Gage LLP Labor & Employment Department.

Presentations

  • Co-presenter, "Leave & Accommodations – Deep Dive Into Employers’ Rights and Responsibilities under FMLA, ADA, PWFA and PUMP Act," Lathrop GPM 2023 Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 5, 2023 (Kansas City)
  • Executive Briefing Events
  • Co-presenter, "Is It Time to Require a Vaccination?," Uniting for Recovery Series, Missouri Chambers of Commerce, August 30, 2021
  • Moderator, "OSHA: Developments Under the Biden Administration," ELA Webinar, March 23, 2021
  • Presenter, "Looking Ahead at OSHA Activity in 2021 and Beyond," ELA, December 2, 2020
  • Moderator, "OSHA: Inspections & Investigations," Employment Law Alliance Webinar, August 26, 2020
  • Panelist, "Workplace Harassment around the Globe: Cultural and Legal Differences and What We Can Do To Help," Employment Law Alliance Global Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, October 13-15, 2019
  • Speaker, Webinar, "Year in Review: Key U.S. Labor and Employment Developments in 2014 and What to Expect in 2015"
  • Speaker, "Top Employment Law Risks for Non-Profits," Lathrop Gage Nonprofit Conference
  • Speaker, "FMLA & ADAAA," Springfield Area Human Resources Association
  • Speaker, "Lathrop Gage Labor & Employment Executive Briefings," Kansas City, MO

Publications

News Releases

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • American Employment Law Council
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Employment Law Alliance, Regional Officer; Business Development Committee, Chair
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Lawyers Association of Kansas City, Past Director and President, Young Lawyers Section
  • Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance (LEAP), Founding Board Member and Past Director
  • The Missouri Bar

Community Involvement

  • The Salvation Army, Kansas & Western Missouri Division, Advisory Board; Executive Committee of the Advisory Board; Programs & Ministries Committee
  • The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Tomorrow Leadership Program
  • Kansas City Municipal Officials and Officers Ethics Commission, appointed by Mayor

Honors

  • Benchmark Litigation, the Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, "New Labor & Employment Star; Labor & Employment," 2021-2023
  • Kansas City Business Journal, "Best of the Bar"
  • Fellow, American College of Labor & Employment Lawyers
  • Martindale-Hubbell® "Preeminent AV" Rating, 1998-2023
  • Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®, 2007-2024, in the areas of:
    • Employment Law - Management
    • Labor Law - Management, "Lawyer of the Year" 2013
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Band 1, Missouri Labor & Employment, 2004-2023
  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2005-2023
    • "Top 50 Women," 2005-2013, 2015-2019, 2021-2023
  • Selected to Ingram's Women Executives Kansas City 2018 Class 
  • Selected as a "Top Rated Lawyer" by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell™
  • Who's Who Legal:
    • Labour & Employment, 2022
    • Pensions & Benefits Lawyers, 2022
  • Editor, Iowa Law Review
Photo of Rosalee M. McNamara

Assistant

Amber Gregor
816.460.5324

Court Memberships

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Eighth and Tenth Circuits
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, District of Kansas, Western District of Missouri, and Eastern District of Missouri 
  • Missouri

Education

University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., with distinction

Grinnell College, B.A.