Overview
Karen Asa focuses her practice on electronic discovery issues. She has significant experience in all matters relating to electronically stored information (ESI), utilizing advanced technologies such as concept search, clustering and analytics. She works closely with litigation case teams to deliver quality, cost-efficient methods in early project planning, managed discovery of ESI, data production and trial preparation.
Karen is also experienced in managing large document reviews and productions in commercial, intellectual property/patent, and antitrust litigation and government investigations. In addition to internal investigations, Karen conducts corporate due diligence reviews of employment matters in acquisition, private equity and lending transactions. She analyzes executive compensation and non-compete agreements, collective bargaining agreements, unfair labor practice claims, and wage and hour policies.
In the employment law arena, Karen has represented private employers before state and federal agencies in arbitration and litigation across the United States. She has drafted employee handbooks, corporate policies, employment contracts, enforceable restrictive covenants and performance improvement plans.
Karen is recognized as a Relativity Review Specialist by kCura, developers of Relativity, and she completed extensive training on the proper utilization of litigation technology.
Results
- Assisted in representing an international healthcare provider in qui tam allegations under the False Claims Act, and in parallel Anti-Kickback Statute investigations and litigation, from discovery through trial
- Managed and successfully utilized data management tools such as technology assisted review and advanced analytics to complete the discovery process in complex corporate litigation, patent infringement litigation, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation, Department of Justice investigations, Federal Trade Commission merger evaluations and internal corporate investigations
- Conducted confidential internal investigations and assisted on e-discovery and data security issues related to white-collar criminal defense, executive compensation disputes and corporate compliance
- Counseled clients on issues relating to discovery, data preservation and collection, early case assessment and comprehensive managed review
- Assisted in representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service with respect to favorable determination letter applications and assisted in representing clients compliance with state statutory power of attorney designations
- Consulted and trained management and staff employees from diverse work environments in laws that govern the workplace, including discrimination and harassment, reasonable accommodation, and wage and hour disputes, and developed equal employment opportunity plans (EEOPs) and document retention practices
Community
- Illinois State Bar Association, Legal Technology and Employment Law sections
Credentials
Education
Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, JD, 1998
Elmhurst College, BS, 1991
Admissions
Illinois
Courts/ Agencies
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
