Attorneys

Member

Shannon Antle Hamilton

Louisville, KY
502-681-0469

Shannon Antle Hamilton is a seasoned litigator and counselor on complex employment law issues. Shannon has significant lead counsel experience in employment litigation and has tried numerous cases in both federal and state court to jury verdict. Shannon’s trial experience includes defending companies in workers’ compensation retaliation claims, Family and Medical Leave Act claims, cases brought under Title VII and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Kentucky Whistleblower Act. Shannon also frequently litigates non-compete, non-solicitation and trade secret disputes. Shannon provides counseling to her clients on compliance in all areas of employment law and is a frequent speaker and author on trending employment law issues. She is former chair of the firm’s Employment Law Service Group.

Capabilities

Practice Areas

Employment Law

Employment Litigation

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

Is There No Such Thing as a Reverse Discrimination Claim Now?

Stites & Harbison Client Alert, June 6, 2025

FTC Noncompete Rule Struck Down Nationwide

with Zachary Losey (Zac) and Robin E. McGuffin,

Stites & Harbison Client Alert, August 22, 2024

Courts Now Split on Enforceability of FTC Noncompete Rule

with Zachary Losey (Zac) and Robin E. McGuffin,

Stites & Harbison Client Alert, August 2, 2024

FTC Non-Competition Final Rule Update

Stites & Harbison Client Alert, July 10, 2024

Department of Labor Overtime Rule Becomes Effective!

Stites & Harbison Client Alert, July 1, 2024

Recent Assignments

Obtained defense jury verdicts in two age discrimination cases based on a reduction-in-force. Paul R. Mitchell and Paul A. Stinnett v. Daramic, LLC, Daviess Circuit Court

Co-counsel in one of the first Kentucky wage & hour class actions tried to a jury defense verdict. Diana Johnston v. The Rawlings Company, LLC, et al., Oldham Circuit Court

Lead counsel for plaintiff in Gardner Denver Drum LLC v. Peter Goodier and Tuthill Vacuum and Blower Systems, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20703 (2006), to enforce a covenant not to compete agreement.

Obtained a defense jury verdict in favor of her client in a state whistleblower action.

Bar Admissions

Kentucky

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Firm Leadership

Employment Law Service Group, Former Chair

Diversity Committee, Member and Former Chair

S.W.I.F.T. (Stites Women Investing in our Futures Together) Committee, Member and Former Chair

Chief Talent Officer (2013-15)

Memberships

American Bar Association

Kentucky Bar Association

Louisville Bar Association

Community Involvement

Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Human Resources Committee (non-Board member)

Business Counsel, Inc., Strategic Growth Committee (non-Board member)

Education

J.D.,

1988

University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

Org / Honor

Journal of Family Law, Manuscript Editor and Member

B.S.B.A., Accounting,

1985

University of Louisville

More Than Stites & Harbison

In addition to taking care of her daughter and son, Shannon is a University of Louisville fan (“Go, Cards!”) and can often be found in the Green Parking Lot, hosting a tailgating party for her family and friends.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment (2013-25)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law – Management (2022)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year for Labor & Employment Litigation (2015)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2007-25)

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 25 Women Attorneys in Kentucky (2007, 2013-19, 2021-25)

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky (2015-18, 2023-25)

Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business,” Labor & Employment (2008-14; 2020-24)

Louisville Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” (2013, 2014, 2016)

Testimonials

Shannon has delivered effective preemptive employment advice, sound defense when required, and results for our firms for over 20 years. I have recommended her to many colleagues, because she has that rare ability to actively listen and quickly comprehend the whole of a given challenge. After careful thought, she then consistently offers realistic and cost-effective strategic options. Her ability to keep our cases moving forward at just the right pace, keeping us informed and engaged are particularly appreciated. She is an awesome attorney, and has earned my trust.

Daniel J. Adams, PE, Chairman, The Thermal Companies

Shannon Antle Hamilton comes recommended as a “very accomplished employment litigator,” attracting particularly praise for her strength at trial. She handles a range of employment law disputes, including FMLA, ADA and trade secrets litigation.

Chambers Commentary (USA)

Contact Resources

Shannon Antle Hamilton's PDF Shannon Antle Hamilton's Contact VCF

See more related to Shannon Antle Hamilton

Client Alerts

Is There No Such Thing as a Reverse Discrimination Claim Now?

On June 5, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion regarding whether an individual in a majority group must submit additional “background circumstances” in order to prove a prima facie case under Title VII’s disparate treatment provisions. Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, 605 U.S....
by Shannon Antle Hamilton

June 06, 2025

Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 47 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2025

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2025 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 47 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 34 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list. A number of Stites & Harbison attorneys...
by Stites & Harbison, PLLC

December 27, 2024

Client Alerts

FTC Noncompete Rule Struck Down Nationwide

On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas entered an order preventing the FTC’s rule on noncompetes from going into effect nationwide. For the time being, employers do not need to comply with the FTC’s rule, which was scheduled to go into...
by Shannon Antle Hamilton, Zachary Losey (Zac) and Robin E. McGuffin

August 22, 2024

Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications

Honorees Include 12 as “Lawyer of the Year,” 98 in Best Lawyers in America® and 31 in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®....
by Stites & Harbison, PLLC

August 16, 2024

Client Alerts

Courts Now Split on Enforceability of FTC Noncompete Rule

On July 23, 2024, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denied a company’s motion to enjoin the enforcement of the FTC’s rule banning nearly all noncompetes. This contradicts the Northern District of Texas’s order on July 3, 2024, which granted a preliminary injunction enjoining the rule as it applies to the...
by Shannon Antle Hamilton, Zachary Losey (Zac) and Robin E. McGuffin

August 02, 2024

Client Alerts

FTC Non-Competition Final Rule Update

On July 3, 2024, a Texas federal Northern District Court granted a preliminary injunction to the Plaintiff and the four Intervening Plaintiffs in the matter of Ryan v. Federal Trade Commission. The preliminary injunction enjoins the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) Final Rule prohibiting non-competition agreements from being implemented and enforced...
by Shannon Antle Hamilton

July 10, 2024

Client Alerts

Department of Labor Overtime Rule Becomes Effective!

The Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) Final Rule increasing the salary level for exempt positions and increasing the number of employees eligible for overtime goes into effect today, July 1, 2024, for all 50 states, with the exception of the state of Texas as an employer. The Overtime Rule does apply...
by Shannon Antle Hamilton

July 01, 2024

Client Alerts

Checking in on the Status of the Fair Labor Standards Act Exempt Salary Threshold Increase

It is two weeks until the July 1, 2024, effective date for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Final Rule (the “Final Rule”) raising the minimum salary level requirement for exempt white-collar employees to $43,888 annually. Now is the time to check in on the status of any legal challenges which...
by Shannon Antle Hamilton

June 17, 2024

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