Hon. Kathleen A. Roberts (Ret.) served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of New York from 1985 to 1995, when she joined JAMS as a mediator and arbitrator. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Roberts served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York (1979-1985), where she represented the government both as a plaintiff and defendant in race and gender discrimination cases.
Both on the bench and as a JAMS panelist, Judge Roberts has had extensive experience in adjudicating and settling employment disputes, including breach of contract and Fair Labor Standards Act cases, as well as claims of race, gender, age, national origin, and religious discrimination and sexual harassment.
Representative Mediations
- $18 million Fair Labor Standards Act class action against a national restaurant chain
- Dozens of gender discrimination and sexual harassment claims brought by women at all levels of employment in a wide range of industries
- Fair Labor Standards Act retaliation action brought by network newswriters and producers
- National origin discrimination action brought by American employees terminated by a Japanese corporation
- Settled three multi-million dollar class actions, pending in state and federal court, brought by former executives of a major brokerage firm, alleging securities violations and breach of contract in connection with an equity compensation plan
- Several breach of contract claims brought by doctor and dentist partners in medical and dental practice groups
- Sex discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation claims against a major law firm, arising in part from the display and exchange of internet pornography
Representative Arbitrations
- Constructive discharge claims arising from "change of control" and/or "change of responsibilities" following mergers or acquisitions
- Gender and sexual orientation discrimination, sexual harassment and age discrimination claims brought by employees in financial services, telecommunications, technology, advertising, marketing, and other industries
- Numerous breach of contract actions brought by high level executives and middle managers in the fields of telecommunications, technology, real estate, financial services, law, marketing and consumer electronics
- Race discrimination claims brought by current and former employees of a major military subcontractor in Eastern Europe and the Middle East
