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Elizabeth Wente
Partner
Overview
The goal of Elizabeth’s practice is to serve as a resource throughout the life of the organization, not only when the client is facing litigation. To do this, Elizabeth collaborates with employers to implement preventative policies and practices to mitigate the potential for employment litigation, put the employer in the best defensible position if litigation occurs, and improve the overall workplace. As a result, Elizabeth assists clients with a multitude of employee issues that can occur before, during, and after employment.
Elizabeth helps employers navigate the hiring process and protect their interests by drafting employment agreements, executive employment agreements, non-compete agreements, and onboarding materials. She advises on hiring questions from background check concerns to state-specific hiring requirements to proper interview techniques. Serving as a trusted resource for her clients, Elizabeth works with employers on the day-to-day management of their organization by providing effective and responsive advice on disciplinary actions, investigations, FMLA requests, accommodation requests, and policy compliance. Elizabeth also conducts investigations for clients related to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
To help her clients proactively avoid litigation, Elizabeth assists clients by educating their workforce on employment laws and compliance through various training sessions. She has conducted training sessions for clients on a wide range of topics including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, investigations, civility in the workplace, unconscious bias, and wage and hour issues. Elizabeth specifically trains supervisors and managers for many of her clients to give them the basic knowledge surrounding employment laws and their legal obligations as a supervisor or manager.
Elizabeth also serves her clients by assisting with the end of employment relationships. This includes advising on termination decisions, drafting separation agreements, enforcing restrictive covenants, and advising on reductions in force. She also advises clients related to affirmative action, compensation analysis, wage and hour audits and investigations, EEOC (and state) charges, sick leave / paid leave, and pandemic-related compliance with local, state, and federal rules.
Credentials
Education
- Southern Methodist University, 2007 (J.D.), cum laude
- Tulane University, 2003 (B.S.), summa cum laude
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, 2014
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 2011
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, School Board Endorsement Committee, 2021-present; Chair, 2022
- Friends of the Zoo Board of Directors, 2021-present; Governance, 2022
- Child Advocacy Center, Board of Directors, 2012-2018; Board Development Committee, 2015-2016; Executive Committee, 2017-2018
- Junior League of Springfield, 2011-2017
- Springfield Business Journal, Most Influential Woman, 2022
- Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association
- Springfield Area Human Resources Association
- “Navigating Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace,” Branson Tri-Lakes HRA Seminar, April 2023
- “Marijuana in the Workplace,” Holmes Murphy Seminar, April 2023
- “The Exit: Managing Employee Separations,” Spencer Fane WorkSmarts Seminar, February 2023
- “The Only Constant in Employment Law is Change,” October 2022
- “Employers, Come on Down: Responding to Charges of Discrimination before the EEOC and State Agencies,” Spencer Fane WorkSmarts Seminar, September 2022