Jane Ann Himsel represents management in employment and labor-related litigation, focusing particularly on religious discrimination and religious accommodation in the workplace. She has extensive knowledge of Title VII, including how it relates to religious accommodation and discrimination, the ways in which the statute doesn't apply in certain circumstances, and the ministerial exception.

Jane Ann practices in state and federal courts, at the trial and appellate levels and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the Fort Wayne Human Rights Commission, and other local human rights commissions. She also has in-depth familiarity with claims arising under:

• The Family and Medical Leave Act
• The Employee Retirement Income Security Act
• The Fair Labor Standards Act
• The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
• The Indiana Possession of Firearms and Ammunition in Locked Vehicles Law
• The Indiana Wage Payment and Wage Claims Statutes
• Other Indiana statutes and common laws

Among her notable litigation successes, she obtained successful results before the Seventh Circuit on two occasions, including a ruling from the bench at the time of the argument.

Jane Ann also devotes significant time to assisting employers as they develop and implement personnel policies and practices geared toward litigation avoidance, and she helps draft handbooks. She also provides employment law advice and counseling on:

• EEO issues
• Hiring
• Terminations
• Reductions-in-force
• Plant closings
• Religious and disability accommodation
• Workplace violence

Additionally, Jane Ann offers training in the areas of anti-harassment and religious and disability accommodation and discrimination. She frequently speaks to employer groups on a variety of employment-related topics and has been a guest lecturer at Wabash College on the topic of religion in the workplace.
 
Jane Ann has significant experience working with companies that have fewer than 100 employees, including engineering firms, small specialty manufacturers, and small retailers. She has also worked extensively with large employers in the manufacturing and service sectors.   

Her practice also includes public sector labor law work.

Jane Ann is a member of the core group of Littler Mendelson's EEO Practice Group. In 2010, the Judges of the Southern District of Indiana asked her to serve on a Magistrate Judge Selection Committee for that Federal Judicial District. Previously, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of Indiana.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Indiana State Bar Association
• Member, Indianapolis Bar Association
• Member, Seventh Circuit Bar Association
• Vice-chairperson, Lawyers Council - ACLU of Indiana
• Trustee, North United Methodist Church

RECOGNITION

• Awarded, Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rating
• Named, Super Lawyer in Labor and Employment - Indiana, Super Lawyers,  2004-2009 and 2011