Katherine A. Roberts

KATHERINE ROBERTS is the co-leader of Sidley’s Labor, Employment and Immigration practice whose experience extends to all aspects of employment litigation, counseling and labor relations. She routinely handles wage and hour class and collective actions involving state and federal overtime exemptions, meal and rest period claims and claims under the California Private Attorney General Act (PAGA). Kate also defends employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, failure to accommodate and other causes of action arising under state and federal law. Kate partners with her clients to complete efficient, timely factual investigations and legal evaluations to help them make informed decisions about litigation strategy and deployment of resources. 

Kate has extensive experience representing management in traditional labor matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act including negotiating and administering complex collective bargaining agreements, guiding employers targeted by strikes and other job actions, handling union representation and decertification elections, advising clients on union avoidance, defending employers against unfair labor practices and representing management in grievance arbitrations. In addition, she regularly counsels healthcare, waste/recycling, retail, media and performing arts clients on labor relations issues.

Kate is recognized by Chambers USA for her work in Labor & Employment in California (2021–2024), with clients stating that "Kate is an incredible negotiator. I would never want to be on the other side from her – she is incredibly skilled" and that she "understands the human element to legal work and how to navigate difficult situations. We value her guidance" (2024). Clients also remarked that Kate “is smart and tough” (2023) and has “that rare combination of a deep understanding of complex collective bargaining agreements and individual HR issues” and that her “knowledge of the underlying business environment field is impressive, and it adds value to the legal advice provided” (2022).  Kate was profiled in the Daily Journal’s 2023 and 2022 “Top Labor and Employment Lawyers” supplement, an annual list recognizing California lawyers for their work on significant cases, investigations, and transactions that had an impact on the larger world of labor and employment or the development of law. Kate was recognized in LawDragon’s 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers – Labor & Employment (2020–2025). She has also been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal and named to a number of lists including “Women of Influence: Attorneys” (2023), “Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment” (2022-2025), and “Thriving in Their 40s” (2021).

Kate serves as co-chair of SidleyWomen in Greater Los Angeles. She also is the former Inclusion Committee chair of the Greater Los Angeles offices and remains an active member of the committee.

Prior to law school, Kate was a reporter and editor for The Associated Press.

Kate’s Representative Employment Matters Include:

• Obtained complete summary judgment (affirmed on appeal) for national retail client against former store manager alleging race, age and sex discrimination and wage and hour claims.
• Obtained partial summary judgment in wage/hour class action in the Central District of California alleging misclassification of worker’s compensation insurance adjusters. The matter resolved on the eve of trial under terms that were extremely favorable to the client.
• Part of team that defeated class certification in California class action alleging misclassification of insurance adjusters filed against top national insurance company, leading to favorable settlement.
• Obtained summary judgment on majority of claims in two cases for healthcare employer, leading to settlement for minimal amount on the eve of trial.
• Obtained full dismissals of numerous EEOC and DFEH charges for various clients.

Representative Labor Matters:

• Lead negotiator and labor counsel for major West Coast solid waste/recycling company with more than 30 collective bargaining agreements. Negotiated initial contracts in Oregon and California with Teamsters and Operating Engineers.
• Lead negotiator and labor counsel for healthcare client in collective bargaining negotiations with SEIU-UHW and Operating Engineers. 
• Defeated class certification and won complete summary judgment in LMRA Section 301 hybrid breach of CBA/duty of fair representation claim against a major Los Angeles performing arts venue. Serve as lead negotiator and labor counsel for same client in negotiations with musicians’ union.
• Represented major West Coast healthcare employer in back-to-back representation elections at Los Angeles-area hospitals involving an 800-employee non-professional unit (SEIU-UHW) and a 600-employee registered nurse unit (California Nurses Association).
• Represented Los Angeles acute care hospital in NLRB election in which NUHW unsuccessfully tried to organize 500-employee service and technical unit. Election results certified in favor of the hospital without any post-election challenge from the union.
• Labor counsel for West Coast hospital system during coordinated, multi-facility strike by California Nurses Association.
• Provided on-site labor relations advice, responded to unfair labor practices allegations, oversaw communications with union representatives, hospital stakeholders, government officials and media, and interacted with law enforcement and hospital security to ensure safety of patients, employees and union members.
• Managed daily operations of union avoidance campaign for national retail client.
• Conducted supervisor/manager training for healthcare clients regarding union avoidance and proper conduct during union bargaining.
• Obtained full dismissals of numerous unfair labor practice allegations for healthcare, media, retail and performing arts clients before National Labor Relations Board.

Representative Transactional Matters:

• A fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management in its agreement to acquire a 40% equity interest in Diamond Infrastructure Solutions (Diamond) from Dow Inc. for approximately US$2.4 billion. Diamond provides specialist infrastructure services to Dow and other industrial customers at five Dow manufacturing sites in Texas and Louisiana.
• IEQ Capital in its acquisition of EPIQ Capital Group, an approximately US$5.3 billion multi-family office and investment firm.
• Angel City FC in its definitive agreement to sell a controlling interest to Willow Bay and Bob Iger at an enterprise value of US$250 million.
• Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Akumin Inc.
• Tata Consumer Products (NYSE: TATACONSUM) in its acquisition of food and beverage company Organic India.
• Eldridge Industries, in its acquisition alongside Dick Clark Productions, of all the Golden Globes’ assets, rights, and properties from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
• Azelis, in its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Gilco Ingredients.
• Brand Velocity Group (BVG) in its acquisition of SCORE Sports, a designer, manufacturer, and seller of youth team sports uniforms and equipment.
• FocalPoint Securities, LLC in its sale to B. Riley Financial (NASDAQ: RILY) for total consideration of up to US$175 million.

• Member, Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) Board of Directors
• Member, Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) Global Advisory Board
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, ABA Labor and Employment Section
• Former Co-chair, Public Counsel Leadership Council

Part of a team representing the First Amendment Coalition of Arizona and seven death row prisoners in a case challenging the constitutionality of the State of Arizona’s lethal injection procedures. As part of a settlement agreement, Arizona became the only state in the United States to ban the use of a controversial sedative and all paralytic drugs in its lethal injections. The National Law Journal highlighted the victory in naming Sidley as a finalist to its 2020 “Pro Bono Hot List.”

Kate serves as outside counsel for labor & employment matters to The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.