Education
Primary Focus Area
- Business Law
Community
Indianapolis Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
Other Focus Areas
Employment Law
Enjoys
In her role as an attorney at Gutwein Law, Tessa works across the employment law practice area, using her skills to navigate all aspects of the complex relationship between employers and employees to ensure a fair, safe, and respectful workplace. She participates in contract drafting and review for employment law documents, such as employee handbooks, employment agreements, and non-compete agreements, and represents employers in administrative investigations and claims. She also works in the business law practice areas including general corporate and mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to joining the firm full-time, Tessa spent a Summer as a Summer Associate at Gutwein Law where she developed a fondness for the firm’s clients, work, culture, and people. She also interned with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the Office of General Counsel. During her time with the EEOC, Tessa was committed to enforcing federal laws to prevent and resolve workplace discrimination claims. Her time with the EEOC and Gutwein Law has given her experience working with both employees and employers, giving her a wholistic understanding of both sides of a claim.
Tessa graduated with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Human Resources from Purdue University Northwest. She obtained her J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law where she was an Executive Editor of the Indiana Law Journal.
Outside of the firm, Tessa enjoys spending time her family, traveling, hiking, reading, and watching and playing sports.
Representative Transactions
- Creating employee handbooks and policies for employers operating in multiple states
- Advising on complex termination, discipline, and leave of absence issues and preparing employee separation and release of claims agreements
- Representing employers in EEOC and ICRC discrimination claims
- Conducting and managing workplace harassment investigations
- Presenting employee and management trainings, including reasonable accommodation, professional conduct, and sexual harassment training sessions
- Representing employers in OSHA and IOSHA violations