KAREN A. MONSEN
employment law | litigation
Karen A. Monsen has practiced law for more than 19 years, with legal experience in employment law and commercial litigation and arbitration in state, national, and international forums. She also drafts technology and international contracts, and advises on intellectual property issues. In addition to these general practices, she focuses on electronic discovery, forensic investigations, cybersecurity, and document retention and destruction implementation.
She has handled numerous appellate matters in the state of Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is licensed to practice in the State of Texas, the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas.
Ms. Monsen is a seasoned litigator. She litigates on behalf of and counsels business clients in connection with employment matters generally, employment policies, controversies and disputes, litigation avoidance, employment legal compliance, noncompetition and confidentiality agreements, and general risk management strategies. She assists clients in the drafting and periodic review of employment policies and procedures, employee manuals and document retention and detention policies, and assists in the training of companies and their employees in the implementation of these policies and procedures. She also drafts, advises, and litigates executive-level employment agreements. Her company clients are in a variety of industries over multiple states, including technology, telecommunications, nonprofit, financial, environmental, construction, medical, restaurant, utilities, and human resources industries.
Ms. Monsen has long donated her time and resources to supporting causes for the homeless and disadvantaged. She has taken on multiple projects to help the homeless including supporting the State Bar of Texas’s Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans program, collecting school supplies for homeless families, and collecting and putting together personal care packages.
Monsen is recognized by her peers as one of San Antonio’s Top Attorneys in Labor and Employment by San Antonio Magazine.
EDUCATION
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas School of Law
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
State Bar of Texas
American Bar Association
San Antonio Bar Association
Texas Bar Foundation
RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
A San Antonio Top Attorney in Labor and Employment, San Antonio Magazine, 2023
Outstanding Lawyer in Labor and Employment, San Antonio Business Journal, 2013
State Bar of Texas, Access to Justice Commission Champion of Justice 2013
Texas Monthly Rising Star, 2006, 2008
Distinguished Toastmaster, Toastmasters International
RECENT PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
“Did COVID-19 Forever Change I-9 Compliance Measures?” Guest Speaker, San Antonio Manufacturers Association’s 2023 Employment Law Seminar, February 23, 2023
“Cyber Security Training,” Guest Speaker, San Antonio Human Resource Management Association, Inc.’s 13th Annual Employment Law Conference, August 21, 2019
ARMA San Antonio Conference, Organizer and Master of Ceremonies, February 22, 2019
Named as one of the “Best Lawyers” by SA Scene in the practice areas of Labor & Employment, Employment Lit: Defense, and Information Technology (2018) as selected by her peers
“A Day in your Life,” South Texas Society for Human Resource Management, Annual Seminar, co-presented with Leanne King, CEO of SeeKing HR, November 1, 2018
“Leveraging Cloud Computing with AI,” San Antonio Chapter of ARMA, co-presented with Don Douglas, CEO of Liquid Networx, October 16, 2018
“What HR Professionals Need to Know about Cybersecurity,” San Antonio Society for Human Resource Management, Employment Law Conference, August 22, 2018