Caitlin Gehlen is a trusted advisor to employers, with a practice that focuses on employment and higher education law. Her practice is rooted in helping organizations proactively manage risk, navigate complex legal landscapes, and foster compliant, productive work environments.

Caitlin regularly counsels clients on day-to-day employment matters including hiring, performance management, leave and disability issues, terminations and layoffs. She is a skilled litigator, defending employers in discrimination claims, restrictive covenant disputes, whistleblower actions, and retaliation lawsuits. Caitlin has amassed extensive experience conducting policy reviews, investigations, and audits for employers of all sizes and industries, and frequently delivers in-house training on a wide variety of employment topics.

In addition to her employment practice, Caitlin advises and trains colleges and universities on a variety of legal issues including Title IX, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), Clery, FERPA, the Fair Housing Act, and the ADA. Caitlin also regularly conducts higher education investigations on behalf of institutions, including sexual misconduct investigations.

Caitlin is an alumna of the firm’s summer associates program. While she was in law school, Caitlin worked as a volunteer student law clerk with the ACLU-MN, Call for Justice, a local nonprofit that provides legal referrals for low-income individuals and families, and as a pro bono law clerk at a major Minneapolis law firm.

Areas of Focus

Credentials

Education

  • William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2016)
    • William Mitchell Law Review
  • Michigan State University (B.A., 2009)

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota

Recognitions

  • Minnesota Lawyer, "Up & Coming Attorney," 2025
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, "North Star Lawyers," 2018, 2019

Presentations

  • Breakout Session Co-Lead, "Navigating Complex Leave and Accommodation Challenges," Lathrop GPM 2025 Employment & Labor Law Seminar, September 30, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "Understanding Minnesota’s Paid Family Leave Law: A Legal Briefing for Employers," Lathrop GPM Webinar, September 25, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "Trauma-Informed Training for First Responders, Confidential Resources, and Campus Security," trainED, September 24, 2025
  • Speaker, "Navigating the Changing World of Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as an Employer and Employee," Neighborhood Development Center, September 18, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Appeal Officer Training," trainED, September 11, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, July 31, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "Employment Update," Lathrop GPM Health Law Seminar, July 24, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "LGBTQ+ Protections and Equality Considerations in the Workplace," Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 19, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programming in Today’s Health Care Environment," Minnesota State Bar Association Webinar, May 15, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "First 100 Days of the Trump Administration: What Nonprofits Need to Know," April 8, 2025
  • Co-presenter, "From Idea to Expansion: Launching, Growing and Sustaining Your Business," Neighborhood Development Center, December 2, 2024 and January 29, 2025

  • Co-presenter, "Employment Law Update," and "Leave No Stone Unturned: FMLA Leave and ADA Accommodations," Lathrop GPM 2024 Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 1, 2024 (Kansas City); October 23, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Conducting a Live Hearing Under Title IX/VAWA," trainED, September 24, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training Under the 2020 Title IX Regulations," trainED, August 1, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator and Decisionmaker Training Under the 2024 Title IX Regulations," trainED, July 24, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Annual Title IX/VAWA Hearing Panel Training," trainED, January 18, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Annual Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, January 17, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Trauma-Informed Training for First Responders, Confidential Resources, and Campus Security," trainED, January 9, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Recruiting and Hiring Trends," and "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); October 24, 2023 (Minneapolis)
  • Presenter, "Recent Changes in Employment Law for Health Care Providers," Lathrop GPM Health Law Seminar, September 13, 2023
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, August 2, 2023
  • Co-presenter, "Mission Critical - Updates on Trade Secret Litigation and Non-Compete Agreements," Lathrop GPM 2023 State of Litigation: Draft Edition, April 12, 2023
  • Presenter, "Navigating Misclassification Pitfalls: Are Your Nonprofit Workers Employees, Volunteers or Contractors?" Minnesota Association of Cemeteries, September 23, 2022
  • Presenter, "Intro to Corporate Structure," Duality Cohort 2, September 23, 2022
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, August 3, 2022
  • Co-presenter, "Leave Lessons: Common Misconceptions About the ADA and FMLA," Lathrop GPM 2022 Employment & Labor Law Seminar, May 4, 2022 (Minneapolis)
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, August 4, 2021
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, July 21, 2021
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, January 15, 2020
  • Co-presenter, "Today’s Unemployment Claims: An Employer’s Guide," LeadingAge Minnesota, November 11, 2020
  • Co-presenter, "Trauma-Informed Training for First Responders, Confidential Resources, and Campus Security," trainED, February 28, 2019

Professional Activities

  • Minnesota Bar Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers, member

Community Involvement

  • United Way Campaign, volunteer