Elizabeth K. Rattigan
Director
- ph: 603-448-2211
- dir: 603-448-2211
Suite 300
Lebanon, NH 03766-1461
Guided by experience, respect, and business-focused solutions, Beth Rattigan provides exceptional service in employment and labor law in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Exceeding expectations for labor and employment law.
With a focus on employment and labor law in Vermont and New Hampshire, Beth Rattigan regularly defends employers in federal and state court matters such as wrongful discharge and discrimination claims. She provides advice and training to management regarding employment law compliance and human resource issues including hiring, discipline, termination, reductions in force, wage and hour practices, investigations, sexual harassment, employee relations, employee training, personnel policies and employment agreements. She also serves as Chair of the Labor and Employment group.
Beth approaches her work from the perspective of her clients’ needs, avidly guiding them through difficult human resource matters and litigation with prompt, practical advice. When she’s not providing exceptional service to clients, you can find Beth gardening, biking, or snowshoeing.
Education
Vermont Law School, J.D., cum laude
University of New Hampshire, B.S.
Experience
- Successfully defended aerospace industry employer against employee whistleblower claim.
- Defended a large international manufacturing firm in a workers’ compensation, FMLA, ADA employment litigation by finding a creative solution that was cost effective for the company.
- Represented health care industry client in non-disclosure and non-solicitation litigation.
- Represented a manufacturer in a complex and sensitive sexual harassment claim that threatened to significantly hamper the company’s business operations, but was ultimately resolved without litigation.
- Represented a multi-state employer throughout comprehensive Department of Labor audit of wage and hour practices, and successfully negotiated resolution and reduced penalties.
- Defended a hospital in an employment dispute with a physician, successfully avoiding a protracted and expensive litigation.
- Counseled numerous businesses through difficult reductions in force.
Admissions
Vermont, 1996
New Hampshire, 1998
U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, 1999
U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2009
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2023
Memberships & Activities
American Bar Association: Labor and Employment Section, Litigation Section, Women’s Advocate Committee
Vermont Bar Association: Employment Law Section
New Hampshire Bar Association: Labor and Employment Committee
Society of Human Resource Management
Tri-State Defense Lawyers Association
Accolades & Awards
Chambers & Partners, Labor and Employment, since 2016
Listed in Best Lawyers®, Employment Law- Management and Litigation- Labor and Employment, 2021-2024
2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Litigation- Labor and Employment, and Employment Law- Management. Lebanon, NH
Community Involvement
Board Member, Vermont Public Company (merged entity of Vermont PBS and Vermont Public Radio); Board Member, Granite United Way, Chair, Community Impact Committee; Corporate Council, Vital Communities; River Valley Human Resources Association. Prior boards: Vermont PBS; Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Pentangle Arts Council, Opera North.
Reported Cases
ANSYS, Inc. v. Computational Dynamics North America Ltd and Doru A. Caraeni, 595 F.3d 75 (1st Cir. 2010) (non-compete and trade secret litigation)
ANSYS, Inc. v. Computational Dynamics North America, Ltd, Civil No. 09-CV-284-SM, 2009 WL 4403745 (D.N.H. Nov. 25, 2009) (non-compete and trade secret litigation)
Nordica USA Corp. v. Ole Sorensen, 475 F. Supp. 2d 128, (D.N.H. 2007) (jurisdiction for patent prosecution)
State Farm Mutual Auto Ins. Co. v. Powers, 169 Vt. 230, 732 A.2d 730 (1999) (underinsured motorist coverage action)
Publications
Contributing Author, Defense Research Institute’s 50-State Employment Law Update, Vermont, January 2021
Author, A Few Workplace Lessons from the COVID-19 Experience, NH Bar News (April 2020)
Guest Columnist, HR PRO, Valley News, Top HR Issues for 2016 (March 2016)
Guest Columnist, HR PRO, Valley News, Enterprise Business Supplement, Big OT Rule Change Could Mean a Big Change to Your Bottom Line (October 2015)
Author, Social Media Policies – Trap for the Unwary Employer?, New Hampshire Business Magazine (April 2013)
Presentations
Speaker, Monadnock SHRM Chapter, Top Ten Actions to Mitigate Litigation Risk in 2021 (May 2021)
Speaker, Strategic HR Conference, Brave New World: AI in HR (October 2020)
Speaker, Vermont Hospitality Coalition Webinar, Effective Workforce Planning Strategies during COVID (June 17, 2020)
Speaker, Vermont Bar Association, Can I Ask That?: Surprising, Recurring and Emerging Issues in Recruitment and Retention of Employees (June 26, 2020)
Guest on VPR’s Vermont Edition, Drug Testing At Work: What’s a ‘Reasonable Basis’? (February 22, 2019)
Speaker Monadnock SHRM Chapter, The ADA: What Every HR Professional Should Know (Keene, New Hampshire, May 2017)
Speaker, Strategic HR at Mt. Washington, Seven in Seven: Economic Trends Impacting the Law of the Workplace (Bretton Woods, NH, October 23, 2016)
Guest on VPR’s Vermont Edition, You’re Fired! The Right Way and The Wrong Way (August 26, 2014)