Jennifer serves as both Managing Partner and CEO of Barley Snyder, guiding the firm’s overall strategy and growth. In addition to her leadership role, she is an experienced member of the Employment Practice Group, where she provides proactive counsel to employers and defends them in complex employment litigation.

Employment Counseling & Workplace Investigations
In her role as employment counselor, Jennifer provides advice to employers on a myriad of employment issues, including counseling on performance and conduct related issues, reasonable accommodation obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), FMLA compliance and management, sexual and other harassment, workplace violence, and many other issues. Jennifer has worked with clients in investigations involving harassment, misappropriation of funds and other areas of misconduct, including conducting investigations of executive and high-level management employees. Furthermore, Jennifer reviews personnel policies for employers and has reviewed hundreds of employee handbooks for legal compliance.

Workplace Training
Jennifer believes in a strategy of prevention for her employer clients, and in this role not only provides counseling and investigation services to employers, but also conducts a variety of on-site, workplace training in the areas of sexual and other harassment prevention, documentation strategies in the context of discipline and discharge as well as performance evaluations, FMLA/ADA/workers’ compensation interplay and management, workplace violence, NLRB/union organizing strategies for managers and supervisors, and the nuts and bolts of workplace management to prevent litigation. Jennifer is accustomed to conducting training at all levels to include employees, supervisors and managers, and executives and directors.

Employment Litigation
In her litigation role, Jennifer has handled cases at both the administrative level and in state and federal court. She regularly practices before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as well as administrative agencies throughout the country, handling all manner of discrimination and retaliation claims. Jennifer routinely handles litigation in the Federal District Courts in both the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania. She has obtained summary judgment and successful verdicts on behalf of her employer clients in numerous cases involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. In addition to defending discrimination cases involving sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, Veteran’s or military leave status, and other legally protected classes, Jennifer has also handled litigation for employers both at the administrative level and in state and federal courts involving claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA, the False Claims Act, the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and comparable state and local ordinances.

Crisis Management
With over 30 years of experience in employment law, Jennifer is particularly adept at guiding clients through high-stakes situations. She brings this depth of experience to her role as chair of the firm’s Crisis Management Service Team, delivering prompt, strategic counsel to help organizations manage risk, contain damage, and respond effectively during critical moments.

Higher Education
Jennifer also provides representation to universities and colleges on labor and employment matters, student discipline, sexual assault and other sensitive issues, and on compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Jennifer regularly presents on FERPA issues, including the interplay between FERPA and HIPAA. In addition, Jennifer counsels schools on issues related to Title IX compliance and student accommodation requests under the ADA. She is also a past presenter for the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) on FMLA and ADA matters unique to school districts.

Counsel to Other Industries
Jennifer represents clients of all sizes and in all industries and is well-versed in issues unique to manufacturing and the service sector. In addition, she regularly represents hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other health care institutions in employment issues unique to those settings, including issues related to the Older Adult Protective Services Act, credentialing and staff privileges, and medication diversion, among other issues. Jennifer is also labor and employment counsel to municipalities throughout Pennsylvania.