Ms. Crowder's practice includes advising employers on a wide variety of issues, including handbook policies, workplace investigations, and sensitive employee situations, such as discipline and termination. She also investigates claims of sexual harassment or other discriminatory conduct, as well as incidents of workplace violence. She helps train employers on best practices for handling workplace investigations and reducing claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
In her litigation practice, Ms. Crowder defends companies against claims filed by employees in both state and federal court, including claims arising under Title VII, the FMLA, the ADA, the ADEA, and state law discrimination statutes. She also defends employees on wage and hour claims, including FLSA collective actions. On the plaintiffs' side, Ms. Crowder routinely represents employers seeking to enforce non-compete agreements and works to protect employers' rights by obtaining temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to hold employees to the non-competition and confidentiality agreements they enter with their employers.
Ms. Crowder previously served as an associate at a law firm in Seattle, Washington, for six years, practicing school law, employment law, and general civil litigation. She represented school districts and employers in federal and state litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, as well as in administrative proceedings.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Crowder served as a career law clerk to the Honorable R. Allan Edgar, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, and the Honorable Shelley D. Rucker, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Tennessee. As a law clerk in federal district court Ms. Crowder assisted in drafting hundreds of legal opinions involving a myriad of issues, including employment discrimination, federal environmental laws, federal Indian law, intellectual property, criminal, and common law tort and contract diversity disputes. As a bankruptcy court clerk Ms. Crowder assisted in drafting legal opinions relating to bankruptcy court jurisdiction, trustee immunity, dischargeability of particular debts, collateral estoppel, contempt, property and exemption rights, tax issues and secured transactions. Her experience as a federal law clerk, at both the district court and bankruptcy court level, has provided Ms. Crowder with a wealth of insight into how courts resolve cases and determine their findings.