Overview
Debbie grew up watching her father practice law and saw how he helped people resolve their problems. He inspired her to become a lawyer and he still inspires her today more than 25 years into her own career.
Debbie advises and defends clients in various industries, including financial institutions, health care and general corporate. With a particular focus on employment litigation and counseling, Debbie represents management in a variety of matters, including defending clients in administrative proceedings and against discrimination, wage and hour violations and retaliation claims. She has obtained numerous favorable summary judgment rulings in such cases. She also prosecutes and defends claims involving non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, and other forms of unfair competition. She defends collective and class actions, including FLSA collective actions. She also has versatility in a wide range of other commercial litigation matters, including shareholder, contract and other business disputes, antitrust issues, financial institution liability, fiduciary liability, and securities fraud.
Debbie also assists employers with compliance and employment issues under federal, state and local law, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, and WARN. She counsels and assists employers in investigations stemming from employee misconduct and employee complaints under federal and state statutes. She regularly reviews, revises and drafts employee handbooks, employment policies and procedures, employment agreements, severance and retention agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements and other employment related documents.
Debbie has handled numerous appeals before state and federal courts. She is the author of a number of published appellate opinions and has presented oral argument to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Debbie has jury and bench trial experience. Recognizing that trials involve risk and expense, clients sometimes prefer a form of alternative dispute resolution and, she often represents clients in mediation and arbitration. She also represents employers in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, among other agencies.
Experience
Membership & Involvement
- Member: Hancock County Bar Association; Indiana State Bar Association; Indianapolis Bar Association; Indianapolis Law Club
Honors
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rated
- Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation: 2024
- Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® in Litigation - Labor and Employment: 2024
- Selected to the Indiana Super Lawyers "Rising Star" list: 2009
Resources & Insights
Alerts
Speaking Engagements
Published Works
Blog
Contributing Author, SmithAmundsen's Labor & Employment Law Update, a labor and employment advisory blog.
Contributing Author, Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Dispatch, an HR advisory blog.
Blog Posts
Firm News
- How to be the Employer Everyone Wants to Work for in 2022: Recruitment, Retention and MoreHow to be the Employer Everyone Wants to Work for in 2022: Recruitment, Retention and More
Join us as our attorneys discuss best practices and policies to put in place in 2022.
- FMLA Fraud and Abuse 'Tis the SeasonFMLA Fraud and Abuse 'Tis the Season
In Hoosier Banker Magazine's November/ December 2021 edition, Debra Mastrian guides employers through how to handle false medical forms and suspected abuse of FMLA, which we often see an increase of requests for leave around the holidays.
- Employers’ Rights Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) Narrowed after Supreme Court Decision in Van BurenEmployers’ Rights Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) Narrowed after Supreme Court Decision in Van Buren
In today’s digital age, employers store immense amounts of information, including confidential and proprietary information, on their on-premises systems, cloud-servers and other data storage solutions.
- 107 Amundsen Davis Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2024 in America107 Amundsen Davis Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2024 in America
We are extremely excited to congratulate 107 of our attorneys on being recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2024 in America.
Services
- Appellate
- Banking & Finance
- Business Litigation
- Class Action
- Employment Advice & Counsel
- Employment Litigation
- Equal Pay Compliance
- Health Care
- Labor, Employment, Benefits & Immigration
- Mandatory Training
- Unfair Competition Counseling & Litigation
- Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Investigations
Education
Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D., 1994, summa cum laude
Franklin College, B.A., 1991, summa cum laude
Admissions
- Indiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana