Katelyn E. Nicasio

“I make a point of understanding a client’s business, not just their legal problem. That context shapes better advice, whether I’m drafting a policy or advocating in the courtroom.” —Katelyn E. Nicasio

Attorney Katelyn Nicasio combines litigation experience with practical compliance counseling, giving employers a single resource for both defending claims and preventing them.

When disputes proceed to litigation, Katelyn brings a steady, thorough approach that helps employers understand their exposure and options at every stage. She represents employers in single-plaintiff and class action litigation brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Illinois Minimum Wage Law, the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and various other state wage and hour laws. She manages all phases of discovery, develops dispositive and other motions, and prepares clients for evidentiary hearings before federal district courts and the U.S. Department of Labor. She also defends clients against charges of discrimination before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, and the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

Drawing on her litigation experience, Katelyn helps employers avoid disputes before they arise. She conducts internal investigations into complaints of discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment and provides employers with a clear assessment of their exposure and practical next steps. She also counsels clients on compliance with Illinois wage and hour laws and advises on employee relations issues, helping companies build practices that reduce the risk of future claims.

Katelyn has maintained an active commitment to access to justice throughout her career. She provides pro bono counsel to clients seeking asylum in proceedings before the Immigration Court. While in law school, she was an extern to the Honorable Philip P. Simon of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, and served as a teaching assistant for the Graduate Legal Studies Program at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, where she developed and led seminars on legal research and writing.

What Katelyn Delivers for Clients

• Plain-English Litigation Recommendations: Litigation requires countless strategic choices, weighing both legal- and business-oriented objectives in addition to practical realities. Katelyn analyzes these considerations to present a plain-English assessment and a well-defined recommended approach.
• Swift Action When Complaints Surface: Internal complaints of discrimination or harassment rarely arise at a convenient time, and how the first few days are handled often determines whether a matter escalates. Katelyn leads the internal investigation, moving quickly to gather the facts, and gives clients concrete, actionable recommendations to mitigate potential legal risk.
• Preparation for High-Stakes Testimony: A deposition or trial appearance can be the first time a witness has ever faced pointed, adversarial questioning, and being unprepared can undercut even a strong case. Katelyn works directly with witnesses ahead of depositions and trial testimony, helping them communicate clearly under pressure, manage their anxiety, and present themselves credibly to opposing counsel and fact-finders.
• Motions Built to Narrow a Case Early: A well-supported dispositive motion can eliminate a claim—or a significant portion of one—well before trial. Katelyn’s motion practice is aimed at achieving that kind of early resolution, helping clients avoid the expense of litigating claims that can be resolved without further proceedings.
• Direct Access and Responsiveness: A legal question that sits unanswered for even a few days can leave a manager unsure how to handle an employee situation in the meantime. Katelyn remains readily accessible to clients throughout a matter, providing them with a reliable point of contact as new issues emerge.

Education

• Indiana University Maurer School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2019)
  • Notes and Comments Editor, Indiana Law Journal
  • CALI Award for Corporations
  • CALI Award for Legal Research and Writing II
• Vanderbilt University (B.A., 2016)