Rebecca A. Weis
Rebecca Weis is a member of Stites & Harbison, PLLC. Her practice includes counseling and litigation in which she represents employers of all sizes in employment and business-related disputes.
Rebecca focuses primarily on traditional employment law. She regularly defends clients against employee charges and lawsuits asserting claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She also litigates claims for workers compensation retaliation, violations of whistleblower statutes, laws governing disability accommodation, family and medical leave laws, and wage and hour laws.
In addition to state and federal courts, Rebecca practices before a number of administrative agencies. These include the federal, state, and local agencies responsible for enforcing laws on civil rights and equal employment opportunity, minimum wage and overtime, unionized labor, and occupational safety and health.
Rebecca provides cost-effective and efficient solutions to her clients, and particularly enjoys helping clients successfully navigate the legal minefield that accompanies employment-related decisions. To do so, she partners regularly with human resources professionals, in-house attorneys, supervisors, and business owners to guide them through complex and difficult internal investigations, disciplinary measures, layoffs, reductions in force, and termination decisions. She further mitigates employer risk by providing strong policies, handbooks, contracts, employee training, and counseling.
Rebecca has substantial experience drafting restrictive covenants and litigating all sides of disputes related to non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions. She is also seasoned in prosecuting and defending the complaints that frequently accompany restrictive covenant disputes, such as claims for breach of fiduciary, conversion, and tortious interference. The range of clients she represents in this area is comprehensive, and includes employers, employees, and business owners.
Reopening comes with certain legal risks. Here’s what you should know
by Sarah Shadburne, Louisville Business First, May 29, 2020
GUEST COMMENT: Coronavirus ushers in mandatory paid leave — what employers need to know
Louisville Business First, March 24, 2020
Avoiding Employee Documentation Pitfalls
Presenter, Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities Annual Conference, November 2019
Restrictive Covenants and Non-Compete Agreements: A Look Back and What's Ahead
WEBCAST, speaker, The Knowledge Group, December 5, 2018
Employee Handbooks and Restrictive Covenants
Data Breach Prevention and Response
Recruiting Committee, Chair; Louisville Office Recruiting Committee, Member
Greater Louisville, Inc., Economic Development Committee
give[502], Founding Member
Mayor's Vision Louisville Initiative, Vice Chair
Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's Foundation Board of Directors, Former Board Member
Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies Board of Directors, Former Board Member
Young Professionals Association of Louisville Board of Directors, Past-President and Former Board Member
Leadership Louisville Center Board of Directors, Former Board Member
Louisville Downtown Development Corporation Board of Directors, Former Board Member
Leadership Louisville, Class of 2020
cum laude
University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
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University of Louisville Law Review, Member
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Student Bar Association President
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Stites & Harbison Leadership Award
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National Women Lawyers Association Award
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Book Award for Comparative Constitutional Law
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Moot Court Board Member
magna cum laude
University of Kentucky
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Student Body President
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University of Kentucky Board of Trustees
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Chi Omega Fraternity
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Honors Program
Rebecca has a long history of civic and community service, including as a member of the board of directors for the Leadership Louisville Center, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation, The Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies, and Dress for Success Louisville. Rebecca is also a founding member of [give]502 and a past President of the Board of Directors for the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL).
Rebecca was named to the "Forty under 40" list by Business First of Louisville in 2013. She currently serves on the Economic Development Committee for Greater Louisville, Inc. In that role, she weighs in on potential federal and state legislation that may affect her clients and their employees.
Rebecca is also cancer survivor—a badge she wears proudly. In 2016, weeks before her daughter’s first birthday, Rebecca was diagnosed with a very rare, acute leukemia. The cancer is so rare it had no standard recommended course of treatment at the time of her diagnosis.
Although devastated by the prognosis, Rebecca refused to yield. Instead, she became her own advocate and found hope in a brand new targeted chemotherapy being offered through an FDA-approved clinical trial. After four rounds of the clinical trial therapy, Rebecca received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant—the only potential cure for an acute leukemia like hers.
Rebecca is now alive and well thanks to ground-breaking research that led to creation of her clinical trial drug and the selfless bone marrow donation of a complete stranger.
Rebecca’s cancer battle reflects the same grit and determination she brings to her legal practice. She is undaunted by challenges, and serves her clients as both a trusted counselor and tenacious advocate.
Rebecca spends her spare time where it counts most—with the people she loves. On Saturdays in the fall, she cheers for her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes football team (Rebecca was raised in Columbus, Ohio and bleeds scarlet and gray—don’t hold it against her).
Kentucky Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2013-20)
Recommended by Premier Employment Lawyers (2019)
Recent Alumna Award, University of Louisville Law Alumni Council (2017)
Attorney to Watch, Business First of Louisville (2015)
"Forty under 40" List, Business First of Louisville (2013)
Insider Louisville, YP Top Influencer
Information You Need on the COVID-19 Coronavirus
Stites & Harbison has assembled a Coronavirus Response Team which consists of a cross-disciplinary task force of attorneys and critical staff members to ensure our firm remains “On the Job” for you. Updated 07/06/20
COVID-19 Human Resources Conversations: Live Q&A
This live Q&A was recorded on June 3, 2020. This discussion with John Wingo (Stites &Harbison, Nashville, TN), Rebecca Weis (Stites & Harbison, Louisville, KY), Kelly Hodges (Gresham Smith) and Dennis Georgatos (Skanska) is an HR conversation you don't want to miss.
Back on Track: Post-Pandemic Re-Opening Guidance for Kentucky Employers
Stites & Harbison employment attorneys Shannon Antle Hamilton, Demetrius Holloway, and Rebecca Weis discuss re-opening plans for Kentucky employers in this webinar presented May 21, 2020.
WEBINAR: COVID-19 and Your Business — What You Need to Know
Stites & Harbison, PLLC recently presented a webinar covering the various impacts of COVID-19 on businesses. You can review the webinar at any time utilizing the link above.
COVID-19 and Your Business — What You Need to Know
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
WEBINAR
Please join us for a WEBINAR discussing the impacts of COVID-19 on your business. You can join the webinar at any time and attend whichever presentation(s) that are of interest to you.
Department of Labor to Employers: You Must Notify Your Employees of New Paid Leave Laws by April 1, 2020
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, effective April 1, 2020, requires certain public employers and private employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide E-FMLA and Emergency Paid Sick Leave to eligible employees. Employers must notify current employees of these benefits by circulating the official Notice of Employee Rights published by the Department of Labor.
COVID-19 Ushers in Mandatory Paid Leave – What Employers Need to Know
On March 18, 2020, Congress passed the Families First Corona Virus Response Act. This broad-reaching legislation addresses several workplace issues related to the emergency circumstances brought about by COVID-19.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 45 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2020 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 32 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Rebecca Weis selected to Leadership Louisville Class of 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Leadership Louisville Center has selected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Rebecca Weis to participate in the Leadership Louisville Class of 2020.
Lawyer Up! Kentucky Imposes New Requirement for Legal Representation at Unemployment Hearings
In 1984, the Kentucky Legislature enacted KRS 341.407(3), permitting employers, including corporations and partnerships, to represent themselves or be represented by counsel in administrative unemployment proceedings. Thirty-five years later, on April 26, 2019, the Kentucky Court of Appeals declared that law unconstitutional and effectively held that a lawyer must represent corporations and non-natural entities in administrative unemployment proceedings.
Mandatory Arbitration, Shortened Statutes of Limitations, and Background Checks for Employees? You Bet!
In October 2018, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a far-reaching opinion voiding all Kentucky employer-employee arbitration agreements which were made a condition of an individual’s employment. On March 13, 2019, however, the Kentucky Legislature rejected that opinion, passing a bill that not only claws back the ruling but significantly expands employers’ options for imposing conditions on the employer-employee relationship.
DOL's New Overtime Rule Sets FLSA Exemption Threshold at $35,308 Annual Salary
On March 7, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor unveiled its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) recommending a scaled-back compromise to a controversial 2016 Obama-era overtime rule.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 42 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2019
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2019 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 33 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and nine attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Kentucky Super Lawyers honors 51 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2018
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2018 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 55 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 39 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Rebecca Weis earns 2017 University of Louisville Law Alumni Council Award
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The University of Louisville recently honored Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Rebecca Weis with the Recent Alumna Award at the 2017 Law Alumni Council Awards Luncheon held on October 12, 2017. The Law Alumni Council honors members of the Brandeis School of Law community.
Stites & Harbison promotes five attorneys in 2017
Kentucky Super Lawyers honors 55 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2017
Local Government Cannot Raise Minimum Wage Rate in Kentucky
Breakfast Seminar: New FLSA Wage and Hour Regulations
Are Your Salaried Employees Still Exempt?
Kentucky Super Lawyers honors 64 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2016
Super Lawyers honor Stites & Harbison's Kentucky Attorneys
Super Lawyers honors Stites & Harbison's Kentucky attorneys for 2013-14
A "Supreme" Summer for Employers
Stites & Harbison attorneys Demetrius O. Holloway and Rebecca A. Weis review some of the latest Supreme Court decisions as they pertain to employers and employees.
It's time to update your EEOC Workplace Notice poster