Ms. Broadwater represents employers in employment-related disputes and counsels them on strategies for preventing employment law issues. With an extensive background in human resource management, she advises clients on a wide array of workplace issues, including policy development and implementation, recruitment and selection, employee relations, wage and hour compliance, counseling and disciplinary actions, family and medical leave management, performance evaluation, and termination of the employment relationship. She works closely with clients in the education sector, including independent schools, representing them on matters including faculty and employment contracts, the creation and governance of school boards; and the safety, welfare, and discipline of students.
Ms. Broadwater recognizes that legal issues are multifaceted and must be managed with attention to practical and legal concerns. She focuses on proactive counseling and working with clients to develop policies, procedures and practices that minimize liability. Ms. Broadwater works with clients to address legal issues in a manner that is consistent not only with applicable law, but also with each client's unique culture, mission, and operating needs.
Representative Clients
Ms. Broadwater represents a broad array of clients in one of the nation's leading practices in the representation of independent schools and other not-for-profits. In addition to her representation of independent schools, Ms. Broadwater works closely with national, regional, and state independent school associations to help establish and disseminate best practices for independent schools.
Activities
Ms. Broadwater regularly presents at conferences and events, including chapter events for the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Association of Independent Schools' annual conference, the National Business Officers Association's Annual Symposium, and Southern Association of Independent Schools conference. Ms. Broadwater has also presented before many regional independent school associations. As an advocate of preventive maintenance, she also designs and delivers custom training programs for clients.
Industries
Education
Nonprofit Organizations and Associations
Memberships
National Business Officers Association
National Association of Independent Schools
Society for Human Resource Management
American Bar Association
News
November 6, 2008, Heather Broadwater discusses legal implications of employee performance appraisals in Society for Human Resource Management article
January 30, 2007, Experienced Employment/Labor Attorneys Ari Karen and Caryn Pass Join Venable's Employment Practice in Washington
Publications
February 2012, A Rabbi, a Priest, a Minister and a Teacher Walk into a Classroom... Who is Covered by the "Ministerial Exception"?
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
Independent School Law Alert
February 2012, Compliance with the Truth in Lending Act Obligations in the Drafting of Enrollment Agreements
Suzanne Fay Garwood, Heather J. Broadwater
Independent School Law Alert
February 2012, Ensuring the Safety of All Children: A New Era in Child Abuse Reporting
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
Independent School Law Alert
February 2012, Will You Be My "Friend"? Legal Challenges in the Changing Social Media Landscape
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
Independent School Law Alert
May 2010, Update On Red Flags Rules: Approaching June 1 Deadline
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
Independent School Law Alert
October 27, 2009, Maximizing Revenue Opportunities With Free Government Spectrum Licenses
Heather J. Broadwater, Tony S. Lee, Caryn G. Pass
Independent School Law Alert
October 2009, The "Red Flags" Rule: What Independent Schools Must Know About Complying With New Requirements for Fighting Identity Theft
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
Independent School Law Alert
January 9, 2009, Independent School Law Alert - New Federal Family and Medical Leave Act and Military Leave Final Regulations Become Effective January 16, 2009
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
Independent School Law Alert
November 2008, Independent School Law Alert - The New Form 990: Is Your School Ready?
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
Independent School Law Alert
October 2008, Independent School Law Alert - President Signs New Law That Will Expand the Number of Employees Protected by the American with Disabilities Act
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
Independent School Law Alert
September 2008, Independent School Law Alert - Preparations Independent Schools Should Consider Now for the 2008 EEO-1 Report Filing
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
Independent School Law Alert
February 2008, Independent School Law Alert - No Longer Children: What to Consider When Students Reach the Age of Majority
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
Independent School Law Alert
February 2008, Independent School Law Alert - The Benefits and Risks to Schools in Classifying Individuals as "Independent Contractors"
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
Independent School Law Alert
September 2006, Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment
Heather J. Broadwater
Rural Telecommunications
November 2004, Look at the New Overtime Regulations
Heather J. Broadwater
Rural Telecommunications
Events/Speaking Engagements
Past Events
May 2, 2012, "Legal Issues Webinar: Employee Handbooks" for the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS)
Heather J. Broadwater
October 23, 2011 - October 24, 2011, "Employment Issues in Independent Schools" at the Southern Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
February 24, 2011 - February 25, 2011, 2011 National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
October 26, 2009, "Top Legal Issues for 2009-10" at the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) Annual Conference
Heather J. Broadwater
October 22, 2009, "Stretching Your Legal Dollars: Preventative Measures to Minimize Legal Exposure" at the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS) Business Officers Conference
Heather J. Broadwater
April 22, 2009, Venable hosts seminar on Best Practices for Non-compete Agreements for Women's Employment Law Networking Group
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
February 27, 2009, National Association of Independent Schools 2009 Annual Conference
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
February 25, 2009, National Business Officers Association 2009 Symposium
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
January 14, 2009, "Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 Seminar," presentation for the Women's Employment Law Networking Group
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
May 14, 2008, National Business Officers Association Webinar on "Handbooks"
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
April 9, 2008, Heather Broadwater to speak at National Business Officers Association Webinar on "FMLA, ADA, & Protected Groups"
Heather J. Broadwater
February 28, 2008 - February 29, 2008, National Association of Independent Schools 2008 Annual Conference
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
February 26, 2008 - February 27, 2008, National Business Officers Association 2008 Symposium
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
January 9, 2008, National Business Officers Association Webinar on "Hiring and Employment Contracts"
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
October 21, 2007, Southern Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference
Heather J. Broadwater
June 12, 2007, National Telecommunications Cooperative Association 2007 HRNet Conference
Heather J. Broadwater
May 8, 2007, "Hot Legal Issues for Independent Schools" at the Arizona Independent School Business Managers Meeting
Heather J. Broadwater
March 1, 2007 - March 2, 2007, National Association of Independent Schools 2007 Annual Conference
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
February 27, 2007, National Business Officers Association 2007 Symposium
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
2006, National Association of Independent Schools 2006 Annual Conference
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
2003-2006, Institute of Management and Administration
Heather J. Broadwater
2006, Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington
Caryn G. Pass, Heather J. Broadwater
2006, ELI Research
Heather J. Broadwater
2006, The Classrooms Legal Challenges
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
2005-2006, NBOA Employment Law Seminar: Critical Issues for Independent Schools
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
2006, National Business Officers Association 2006 Symposium
Heather J. Broadwater, Caryn G. Pass
2003-2004, Society of Human Resources Management
Heather J. Broadwater
2004, National Business Officers Association
Heather J. Broadwater
2004, EAP Data Information Solutions
Heather J. Broadwater
2004, National Grocers Association
Heather J. Broadwater
2004, Non Profit Risk Management Institute
Heather J. Broadwater
School Law
As an associate with the nationwide firm of Venable LLP, Heather Broadwater represents independent schools nationwide on a wide array of legal matters. With an extensive background in human resource management, she advises schools on employment issues, and assists schools in managing their relationships with students, parents, trustees, donors, alumni, vendors and other members of the school community.
Ms. Broadwater drafts, reviews and revises contracts utilized by independent schools, including teacher and faculty employment contracts, enrollment agreements, and agreements between schools and vendors. She counsels schools regarding policy development and implementation, recruitment and selection, faculty and employment contracts, employee relations, wage and hour compliance, counseling and disciplinary actions, family and medical leave management, performance evaluation, and termination of the employment relationship. In addition, she advises schools in establishing and enforcing harassment prevention programs and in conducting investigations into allegations involving students, employees and others involved in the school community. She also assists schools with student safety, welfare, and discipline issues; student and faculty handbooks; board governance and by-law issues; the defense of wrongful termination claims; and a variety of day-to-day challenges facing independent schools today.