Sara’s practice centers on traditional labor relations. She counsels employers on positive employee relations strategies well before a petition is filed, conducting vulnerability assessments and helping management teams address the workplace issues that drive organizing activity. If a petition does arrive, she serves as campaign strategist, guiding employers through the election process, and she represents them in collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration proceedings, objections to elections, and unfair labor practice charges and hearings before the NLRB.

Sara also defends employers against harassment and discrimination charges before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state agencies, including claims involving race, gender, age, national origin, disability, and sexual orientation, as well as retaliation and wrongful termination claims.

Before joining Barnes & Thornburg, Sara practiced labor and employment law at a national management-side firm, where she was a shareholder. In between, she served as senior labor and employment counsel at a technology company, advising the company on labor matters and issues specific to the gig economy, misclassifications, and labor relations. That in-house perspective shapes how she works with clients, with attention to business realities, internal decision-making, and cost. She is a frequent speaker on NLRB developments, union campaigns, and labor strategy.