Introduction

Norah is a senior associate in Fredrikson & Byron’s Employment and Labor Law Group. Norah works with employers to be proactive about managing their employees, and she also represents employers in litigation. 

In her litigation practice, Norah defends employers in state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies such as the EEOC and Minnesota Department of Human Rights. She has experience defending retaliation and reprisal claims brought under the Minnesota Whistleblower Act, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and other state and federal civil rights laws. Norah has litigated claims of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination (age, disability, gender, pregnancy, religion, and race), defamation, and FMLA violations. Norah also works affirmatively on behalf of businesses to enforce confidentiality, non-compete and anti-solicitation agreements, and other commercial contracts. 

In her advice practice, Norah works closely with her clients on litigation prevention – focusing on policy development, employee training, and general human resources best practices. Norah also assists clients by drafting employment agreements, severance agreements, and employee handbooks. Norah trains, writes and lectures extensively on the use of technology in the workplace (including, email, internet, blogs, social networking sites, PDAs, cell phone use and text messaging) focusing on increasing the benefits of technology while decreasing the risks associated with employee use and abuse.

Norah co-authors the blog, netWORKed, an open discussion of technology and social media in the workplace. She can be found at http://www.networkedlawyers.com and http://www.linkedin.com/in/noraholsonbluvshtein.

Education

• University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude
• University of Wisconsin, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota
• Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court, Minnesota
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Practice Areas

• Employment & Labor
• Executive Compensation & Benefits
• Non-Competes & Trade Secrets
• Litigation

Selected Publications & Presentations

• Presenter, “How to Navigate Social Media in the Workplace,” Health Law Webinar, January 9, 2013
• “Thumbdrives, Emails and iPhones: Protecting Your Data from Pilfering Employees,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 28th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, November 7, 2012
• “Facebook Firings: Discipline and Discharge for Employee Social Media Activity,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 28th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, November 7, 2012
• Presenter, “Social Networking,” Minnesota Land Title Association Spring Seminar, April 5, 2012
• Presenter, Social Media Best Practices in Recruiting, Sourcing and Hiring, March 15, 2012
• “New Report on Social Media Provides No Bright Line Tests for Employee Conduct or Employer Policies,” co-authored with Norah Olson Bluvshtein, FredALERT: Employment & Labor, March 14, 2012
• Presenter, “The Impact of Social Media on Jury Selection, Retention and Decision-Making,” December 22, 2011
• Presenter, “Social Media and the Workplace: Ten Hot Questions and Their Answers,” Hennepin County Bar Association, December 14, 2011
• Presenter, “Social Networking and the Work Place: What Employers Want and Need to Know,” 2011 Assisted Living and Home Care Conference, Minneapolis, October 26, 2011
• “Supreme Court Update,” FredNEWS: Employment & Labor, May 2011
• “Social Media-The Law Scrambles to Catch Up,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 26th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 7, 2010
• “Social Media and Technology in the Workplace,” co-authored with Teresa Thompson, FredNEWS: Bank & Finance, March 2010
• “Social Media and Technology in the Workplace: Top 5 New Year's Resolutions for 2010,” co-authored with Teresa Thompson, FredNEWS: Employment & Labor, January 2010
• Webcast co-presenter, Minnesota CLE: Electronic Use Policies, December 10, 2009
• “Generational Issues in the Workplace,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 25th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 8, 2009
• “Employees’ MySpace Posts May Create Employer Liability for Invasion of Privacy,” co-authored with Teresa Thompson and Jessica Edwards, Summer Associate, FredNEWS: Employment & Labor, September 2009
• Webcast co-presenter, Minnesota CLE: Protecting Trade Secrets, Customers and Employees in a Challenging Economy, July 21, 2009
• Webcast co-presenter, Minnesota CLE: Keys for Unlocking Generational Differences in the Workplace, June 24, 2009
• “The Generation Wars: Tips for Effectively Managing Generational Differences in the Workplace,” December 2, 2008
• “The Collision between Technology and the Workplace-Practical and Legal Pointers,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 24th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 30, 2008
• Co-author, “Where Technology and the Workplace Collide - An Analysis of the Intersection Between Employment Law and Workplace Technology,” Privacy & Data Security Law Journal, April 2008
• Presenter, “Where Technology and the Workplace Collide,” 2008 Nonprofit Technology and Communications Conference, Minneapolis, March 27, 2008
• “Harassment Restraining Orders: A Tool for Employers To Prevent Workplace Violence,” co-authored with Ellen C. Meyer, FredNEWS: Employment & Labor, January 2008
• “Whistleblower Protections and Risks” Fredrikson & Byron’s 23rd Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 11, 2007
• “Caregiver Discrimination: A New Angle on Sex, Race, and Disability Discrimination,” FredNEWS:  Employment & Labor, August 2007
• “Handling Intermittent Leave Under the Family and Medical Leave Act,”Human Resources 2007 Answers to Your Top 25 Questions, June 2007

Professional Activities

• Minnesota State Bar Association
• State Bar of Wisconsin
• Hennepin County Bar Association

Honors & Distinctions

• FamilyWise Services’ 2013 Volunteer of the Year
• Genesis II for Families, Inc.'s 2008 Community Partner of the Year

Community Involvement

• Member, Minnesota Orchestra's Crescendo Project