"Consummate preparation plays an important part in everything I do and accounts for my successful record in the courtroom. Whether I’m gathering facts, getting witnesses ready to testify, or rehearsing a courtroom argument, I leave no stone unturned. The same philosophy applies when I work diligently to ensure that my clients stay informed and compliant with the law."

Practice Overview

Highly regarded employment litigator MaryJo Roberts advocates nationally for clients in a wide range of workplace-generated disputes from inception through resolution, whether in motion pleading, mediation, or trial. MaryJo represents employers in Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state law discrimination issues, harassment, and retaliation claims. She also offers strategic yet practical guidance in wage-and-hour and Department of Labor audits and investigations. MaryJo has been designated as an Employment Law Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.

With more than 18 years of experience spanning federal and state trial and appellate courts and arbitration, MaryJo adeptly manages and defends employers in large cases, such as complex, high-stakes class action and collective actions, and also advises on a variety of tort law matters, including claims of defamation, battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Additionally, she provides counsel on issues involving employment contracts, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, confidentiality agreements, and in garnishment and wage-and-hour litigation. Previously, she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable James J. Brady, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana.

Although MaryJo brings outstanding trial skills to her practice, particularly in oral advocacy, she greatly prefers to help companies avoid problems and disputes on the front end. Partnering with clients to keep them compliant with all relevant laws and regulations, she provides astute guidance and comprehensive training in the areas of hiring and discharge, employee discipline and investigations, drafting employment handbooks and policies, and the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). MaryJo ensures that supervisors understand all rules and expectations and that they in turn convey critical information to their staffs—an approach that helps minimize damage if litigation ultimately ensues.

In addition to a robust employment law practice, MaryJo routinely handles Title IX matters along with student and faculty conduct cases for colleges and universities.  She has assisted in Title IX cases in various capacities including as investigator, counsel to hearing panel, and hearing chair and decisionmaker.

Bringing a calm, compassionate approach to often fraught situations, MaryJo takes an initially broad look at each case, narrows her focus to the most relevant facts, and develops an engaging story to weave throughout its course. She listens carefully to clients’ concerns and goals and lays out all strategy options so together they can choose a path to resolution that encompasses their priorities most advantageously.

As well as serving as the firm’s hiring partner, where she focuses on recruiting diverse, top-tier talent, MaryJo is currently spearheading Kullman’s Henry P. Julien Law Scholars Program. The yearly event provides students from multicultural backgrounds who are entering law school with a week-long grounding in the legal system. In addition, she chairs the firm’s scholarship committee and annually helps choose a deserving recipient of a grant towards a law school education. MaryJo feels gratified that she’s able to help the community through these programs.