Kyla has developed significant trial experience for her tenure, having second-chaired numerous jury trials, each resulting in a complete defense verdict. She leverages that trial experience in her broader litigation and counseling practice, helping clients understand how workplace decisions may later be perceived by a judge or jury. With that insight, Kyla guides her clients in proactively identifying and resolving potential issues while effectively managing ongoing litigation.
Kyla is also committed to pro bono service. In 2026, Kyla was selected to receive an Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. The award recognized her representation of a prisoner in several related Section 1983 civil rights cases involving Eighth Amendment claims, including failure to protect and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. Beyond her pro bono litigation work, Kyla regularly advises nonprofit organizations on a range of employment matters, including employee handbooks, day-to-day counseling on performance management and terminations, and other operational employment issues. She also presents to nonprofit leaders on HR best practices and employee supervision.
Kyla is also actively engaged in the firm's adoption of emerging technology. She incorporates generative AI tools throughout her practice to enhance the efficiency and quality of her research, drafting, and case analysis, and holds a leadership role in Mayer Brown's internal efforts to evaluate, implement, and govern the responsible use of GenAI across the firm.
Kyla represents clients in a broad variety of actions, including:
Trials. Kyla has first- and second-chair jury trial experience in numerous single-plaintiff employment discrimination cases, with all trials to date resulting in a complete defense verdict.
Class and Collective Actions. Kyla regularly handles large class and collective actions within the wage and hour space brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") and other state wage and hour laws. Kyla also litigates complex discrimination claims involving allegations of sex, race, disability, national origin, and age discrimination and retaliation, as well as claims under the Equal Pay Act, including claims brought by the EEOC.
Individual Claims. She has obtained numerous favorable summary judgment rulings and Rule 12(b)(6) dismissals in a wide variety of claims alleging discrimination, retaliation, and harassment based on protected characteristics and conduct. Kyla also has experience defending employers in Sarbanes-Oxley and other whistleblower protection litigation.
Administrative Proceedings. Kyla frequently represents employers in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (age, sex, race, disability, and national origin discrimination, as well as sexual and racial harassment); the US Department of Labor (wages and FMLA); the Illinois Human Rights Commission (discrimination, harassment and retaliation); the Illinois Department of Labor (wage claims); the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (discrimination, harassment and retaliation), and various other state and local agencies.
Mediations. Kyla represents employers in formal, court-ordered settlement conferences and mediation programs and informal, voluntary mediations and case evaluation procedures mandated by state courts.
Arbitration. Kyla assists a wide range of clients in arbitral proceedings, up to and including arbitration hearings and post hearing briefing. Kyla also handles arbitration-related employment litigation.
Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility. Kyla also represents plaintiffs in trade secret litigation brought under the Defend Trade Secrets Act ("DTSA") and analogous state laws, including claims arising from employee departures, misappropriation of confidential information, and enforcement of restrictive covenants such as non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
Kyla maintains several substantive areas of concentration outside of her litigation practice, including:
Employment Counseling. She counsels clients regarding compliance with Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA and state and local employment laws. Kyla also offers guidance on WARN compliance regarding plant closures. Policies and Practices. She assists employers in drafting clear, consistent, and compliant employment policies applicable to employee populations across the country.
Investigations. She has experience conducting numerous high-profile investigations, with a particular focus on sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims. Kyla has also handled investigations related to internal and external complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on an employee's age, race, national origin, and disability status.
Mergers and Acquisitions. Kyla also maintains a business transaction practice, helping clients conduct labor and employment-related due diligence, negotiating contract provisions, and drafting employment-related sections of transaction documents.
During law school, Kyla was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu honor society, a distinction awarded to only 4% of students in the top 15% of their class. She also received the highest grade in her legal writing and jury selection courses, served as president of the Labor & Employment Law Society, was a member of the Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court team, and tutored first-year law students in torts. In her second year, Kyla was published for her law review article discussing the ways consumers may be affected by employers misclassifying employees as independent contractors.
