Personal History

Years of observing the time, expense and emotional drain of employment litigation motivated Kathy Perkins to start her own practice focusing on reducing the risk of employment litigation and helping clients anticipate and avoid disputes. Kathy also serves as a mediator to assist parties in reaching a settlement of their claims.

Kathy grew up on a cattle ranch near Howard, Kansas and after studying engineering at Kansas State University, earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School. She practiced for 13 years in Boise, Idaho, trying lawsuits in state, federal and appellate courts as well as representing clients in mediations, arbitrations and administrative proceedings. In the mid-1980s the Idaho Education Association selected Kathy as its outside counsel. Representing the teacher’s union and its 12,000 members became her entrée into the employment law and civil rights arena. Kathy has practiced employment and labor law almost exclusively for employers for the past 15 years but also has broad experience in commercial and construction litigation.

Kathy came home to Kansas in 1996. She has two teenagers, Jenni and Dylan, and lives with her husband Stan Davis on an oasis in the country near Lawrence, Kansas. She spends her leisure time bicycling, sailing, gardening and doing projects with metal and wood in their shop.