Lisa J. Banks, Partner
Lisa Banks has been successfully litigating employment discrimination and whistleblower protection cases at both the trial court and appellate levels for over a decade. She is a founding partner of Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP, where she concentrates her practice on employment discrimination, whistleblower and Sarbanes-Oxley law, disability law, Family and Medical Leave Act and contractual employment disputes. Prior to forming the firm, Ms. Banks was a partner at Bernabei & Katz, PLLC, where she practiced from 2000 until 2006. Ms. Banks is an experienced advocate who has consistently achieved outstanding results on behalf of her clients.
Ms. Banks is a recognized leader in the plaintiffs' employment bar and was elected to the position of Vice President of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association. Washingtonian Magazine named Ms. Banks as among Washington's Top Lawyers for 2007, and selected her for its list of forty Best Attorneys under 40 in Washington, D.C. She is known nationally for her expertise in the field of disability law. She has served as a faculty member of the American Law Institute-American Bar Association, and has lectured on such various topics as the law of retaliation, evidentiary issues in employment litigation, and disability law. Ms. Banks is an active member of the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Metropolitan Employment Lawyers Association.
The American Arbitration Association ("AAA") named Lisa J. Banks to its National Roster of impartial experts, or "neutrals," to hear and resolve cases brought for binding arbitration before AAA. Neutrals, like Ms. Banks, are recognized for their standing and expertise in their fields, and are nominated to the National Roster by leaders in their profession.
Ms. Banks received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 1990. She received a J.D. degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 1995, where she served as an editor on the Denver University Law Review. She clerked for the Honorable Daniel M. Taubman, Colorado Court of Appeals, from 1995-1996, and for the Honorable Gregory K. Scott, Colorado Supreme Court from 1996-1997. Ms. Banks served as an Appellate Attorney with the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1997 to 2000. In 1999, Ms. Banks accepted an offer to spend six months as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of the Counsel to the President at the White House.
Ms. Banks has authored numerous appellate briefs and argued cases in the United States Courts of Appeal for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits.
Her reported decisions include:
EEOC v. United Parcel Service, Inc., 249 F.3d 557 (6th Cir. 2001)
EEOC v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 243 F.3d 846 (4th Cir. 2001)
EEOC v. Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp., 220 F.3d 1184 (10th Cir. 2000)
EEOC v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 187 F.3d 1231 (10th Cir. 1999)
Terry v. Director, Complaint Adjudication Div., EEOC, 173 F.3d 425 (4th Cir. 1999)
Wideman v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 141 F.3d 1453 (11th Cir. 1998)
Ms. Banks has authored the following articles:
Banks, L. and Katz, D., The Legacy of "Ledbetter", The National Law Journal (August 1, 2007) — PDF version
Katz, D. and Banks, L., "Victories for Workers", The National Law Journal (August 2, 2006).
Banks, L., "Keeping the Employee Working: Reasonable Accommodations and Leave Requirements", (March 10-11, 2006).
Banks, L. and Kabat A., "Evidence Issues in Harassment and Retaliation Cases: The Plaintiff's Perspective, (Chicago, IL)", (September 15-17, 2005).
Banks, L. and Katz, D., "Only Two Major Rulings", The National Law Journal (August 3, 2005).
Banks, L. and Katz, D., "Employment Cases: Constructive Discharge", The National Law Journal (August 2, 2004).
Banks, L. and Katz, D., 2003 Supreme Court Employment Law Review: "A Pro-Employee Trend", The National Law Journal (August 4, 2003).
Katz, D. and Banks, L., 2002 Supreme Court Employment Law Roundup: "Wins for Both Sides", The National Law Journal (August 5, 2002).
Banks, L., "Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic: The Supreme Court's License for Domestic Terrorism", 71 Denver Univ. Law Review. 449 (Spring 1994).
Click here to see a listing of Ms. Banks' Speaking Engagements