Vermont Law Firm

Karen McAndrew (Full bio), head of the Litigation Section of the firm, concentrates her practice in all areas of employment law, with focus on litigation in insurance and college and university law. In addition to counseling clients with respect to employment law issues and compliance with the latest anti-discrimination laws, Ms. McAndrew also represents clients in mediation, arbitration, and state and federal court cases. She is a member of the Vermont and Chittenden County Bar Associations, and a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association. Email: kmcandrew@dinse.com

Barbara E. Cory (Full bio), a director of Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C., has broad experience in the areas of litigation, personal injury, insurance defense, employment, products liability, professional liability, commercial litigation, and workers' compensation. Her professional liability cases have involved legal, accounting, as well as medical malpractice. Ms. Cory's compensation work has involved representing employers and their insurance carriers before the Vermont Department of Labor and Industry, the Vermont trial courts, and the Vermont Supreme Court. She also has extensive experience in jury trials, both in state and federal court, as well as appellate experience before the Vermont Supreme Court. Ms. Cory also has had substantial experience in mediation and arbitration and has served as mediator in civil disputes. Over the years, Ms. Cory has also represented a number of French-speaking clients in various matters. She speaks French and has a reading knowledge of Spanish and German. Prior to joining the firm, she served as law clerk to U.S. District Judge James S. Holden, Chief Judge, District of Vermont, 1977. Email: bcory@dinse.com

Jeffrey J. Nolan (Full bio) is an attorney with Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. and focuses his litigation and counseling practice on: representing employers and institutions of higher education in employment and student-related matters, in civil litigation and administrative proceedings; advising employers and institutions of higher education on the resolution and legal implications of employment and student-related issues on a day-to-day basis, in light of federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements; and assisting employers and institutions of higher education in the development and implementation of appropriate policies, handbooks and training programs. Email: jnolan@dinse.com

Amy M. McLaughlin (Full bio) joined the firm's employment law group in October 1999. She advises and defends employers in matters arising under state and federal employment laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Vermont's Fair Employment Practices Act and wrongful termination issues. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. McLaughlin practiced with the Vermont Department of Labor & Industry. While in this position, her practice primarily focused on wage and hour compliance and workers' compensation issues. Email: amclaughlin@dinse.com

Sophie Zdatny (Full bio) joined the firm as an associate in January 2009, after practicing in West Virginia for eleven years. Ms. Zdatny has a general litigation practice in both state and federal court, with a concentration in insurance coverage and employment law. She also enjoys working on complex motions and appeals. Previously, Ms. Zdatny specialized in employment law for 7 years with the firm of Allan N. Karlin & Associates in Morgantown, West Virginia. Ms. Zdatny served as a law clerk for Judge Irene M. Keeley of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia for two years. Prior to that, Ms. Zdatny practiced with the firm of Key, Casto & Chaney, PLLC, where she specialized in school law. Ms. Zdatny also served as an adjunct lecturer in the Immigration Law Clinic at West Virginia University College of Law and taught Appellate Advocacy. Email: szdatny@dinse.com

Leigh Polk Cole (Full bio) advises institutions of higher education, businesses and health care employers regarding compliance with U.S. immigration laws and best practices for immigration compliance. She handles immigration cases for employment of college and university professors, physicians, health care workers, researchers, executives, managers, employees with specialized knowledge, and professionals and other eligible workers, and for international business owners. She advises colleges and universities on immigration matters for students and scholars. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Email: lcole@dinse.com

Firm Practice Areas: Banking and Financial Services, Business Planning and Transactions, Civil Litigation in all State and Federal Courts, Commercial Litigation, Private School and Higher Education Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning and Probate, Health Care, Immigration, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Product Liability, Real Estate, Complex Domestic Relations

Number of Attorneys: 27

Office Locations: Burlington, VT; Plattsburg, NY

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Member firms of the Employers Counsel Network practice law independently and not in a relationship for the joint practice of the law.