Lauren Grinder

Lauren Grinder’s active litigation practice involves employment disputes, products liability defense, medical malpractice defense, insurance defense, class action defense, and commercial disputes. Lauren has experience guiding clients through the phases of litigation, including written discovery, depositions, authoring and arguing dispositive motions, and appeals. In addition, Lauren has assisted with the work-up of multidistrict litigation cases for pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. Beyond her litigation experience, Lauren has experience advising clients on employment matters, drafting employment agreements, and working with clients to develop employment handbooks. Before joining the firm, Lauren clerked for three years in federal district court for the Honorable J. Leon Holmes.

Experience

• Drafts and argues various motions in state and federal courts.
• Conducts depositions, manages document production, and oversees discovery in cases of varying degrees of size and complexity. Engages in written and oral argument of offensive and defensive discovery motions.
•  Assists in the defense of companies and individuals involved in litigation of employment issues, and engaged in commercial litigation relating to the enforceability of contracts, covenants, and agreements.
•  Provides strategic advice on employment matters to ensure compliance with employment laws.
•  Advises clients on Arkansas Freedom of Information Act matters and sending and responding to requests for records subject to FOIA.
• Represents hospitals, clinics, nurses, and physicians in a variety of professional liability claims.

Education

• University of Arkansas School of Law J.D., summa cum laude (2015)
• University of Arkansas B.A. in Spanish; B.A. in Political Science & Journalism (2012)

Professional Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America©: "Ones to Watch" Labor and Employment Law - Management (2021)
• The Best Lawyers in America©: "Ones to Watch" Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants (2021)
• The Best Lawyers in America©: "Ones to Watch" Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2021)
• University of Arkansas School of Law High Academic Achievement Award (2015)
• Davis, Clark, Butt, Carithers & Taylor PLLC Appellate Advocacy Prize (2015)
• Seattle Regional Winner, National Appellate Advocacy Competition (2015)
• Semifinalist, William H. Sutton Barristers’ Union Trial Competition (2015)

Involvement

• Arkansas Bar Association
• Board of Directors, Arkansas Women Lawyers Association
  • CLE Chair
• Note and Comment Editor, Arkansas Law Review
• Alumni, Chi Omega
• Honoree, Cystic Fibrosis Taste of the Finest (2021)

News & Articles

Firm News

• 47 Mitchell Williams Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® List - 17 Named 2021 Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch; 7 Named 2021 Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year"
• Mitchell Williams Attorneys Devin Bates and Lauren Grinder Presented at Firm's Peer Speaker Series - Discussed employment contracting and key provisions
• Mitchell Williams, TPC to Host Employment Seminar in Little Rock - Mitchell Williams Attorneys Read, Grinder and Talley to Present on Wage & Hour, Harassment in the Workplace
• Mitchell Williams Announces Ashley Z. Edwards and Lauren Grinder Join Firm

Articles

• CDC's New Definition of "Close Contact" Impacts Contact Tracing in Workplaces
• Elective Procedures to Resume in Arkansas Subject to Limitations
• COVID-19 Update: Governor Issues Liability Protections for Healthcare Workers
• First Responders and Front-Line Health Care Workers in Arkansas Now Eligible for Workers Compensation for COVID-19 Contracted in Line of Duty
• UPDATE: New Regulations Define Broadly Health Care Providers Excluded from Paid Expanded Medical Leave and Paid Sick Leave Requirements
• UPDATE: Wage and Hour Division of Department of Labor Provides Guidance On Employers' Responsibilities Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• UPDATE: Hospital Staffing Disruption COVID-19
• CMS Makes Toolbox Available to Streamline Relief for State Medicaid and CHIP Programs During COVID-19 Outbreak
• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Becomes Law: Implications for Employers
• COVID-19 in the Workplace: How Employers Should Respond
• Stafford Act and Possible Waivers
• Hospital Staffing Disruption COVID-19
• Court of Appeals Limits Defendant's Right to Allocate Fault to Nonparties
• The Art of Preparation: Cross-Examining Difficult Experts
• Hiring? Being Hired? Uncovering the Fine Print.
• Wage and Hour Compliance Should Be Top of Mind for Employers; California Court of Appeal Held Individuals May Be Personally Liable For Civil Penalties

Publications