Biography
Kathleen Pontone represents clients in matters involving employment, education and public accommodation law. She practices exclusively on behalf of management and the institution in these areas.
Education Lawyer of the Year in 2023, Kathie's practice includes providing advice on student issues and Title IX, as well as faculty disputes. She also has been representing an independent school on its policies, as well as various allegations of discrimination. She recently assisted trustees of a school in addressing alumni criticism of the school’s diversity and inclusion policy. She has litigated class action claims and cases in which Board involvement was required. Some of these cases involved claims of so-called "educational malpractice," as well as claims about grades, sports participation and other hot button issues. Kathie has provided defense of various claims at all educational levels.
Kathie has represented clients in several important public accommodation cases. She has defended multi-family housing providers, hospitals, banks and educational institutions in claims alleging a failure to accommodate various disabilities in both physical and online access, education and employment. Among Kathie’s cases, she successfully defended a worldwide bank in a case challenging the accessibility of a bank in a suit that examined the historic exemption. She also has handled numerous complaints alleging a failure to accommodate emotional support animals, waive various policies and attacks on their physical layout and website accessibility.
Kathie was recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for Employment Law in Baltimore in the 2024 edition of "The Best Lawyers in America" after earning the highest overall peer feedback.
Her defense of discrimination cases includes extensive experience in leave-related claims, sexual harassment and compensation disputes.
She has handled numerous enforcement actions brought by OSHA and State Plan agencies. These have individual cases with large penalties that were brought as a result of fatal accidents. She represents both contractors and manufacturers. She also works with employer consultants to plan revisions to policies to abate violations and avoid future OSHA liability.
She also has experience defending whistleblower and retaliation cases under federal administrative procedures.
Miles & Stockbridge Education Law Team:
Kathie is a member of the firm’s Education Law Team, comprised of more than 25 attorneys from practice areas across the firm who are experienced in the issues affecting educational institutions. The team includes lawyers from labor and employment, banking and finance, commercial and business litigation, e-discovery and information governance, employee benefits, government contracts, intellectual property and technology, and real estate transaction practices.
The firm’s commitment to education extends beyond legal issues. Members of the team are active in the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and other organizations, and speak and publish on education issues. Team lawyers have been quoted in The Chronicle of Higher Education and other publications, and have served on boards of directors, search committees and advisory panels, as well as in other roles for educational institutions.
Clients include colleges, universities, independent schools, public school districts and for-profit educational entities.
Services
- ADA & FMLA Claims
- Class Actions
- Corporate Litigation
- Education Law
- Employment Discrimination Litigation
- Government Audits, Investigations & Compliance
- Human Resource Management
- Indoor Air Quality
- Investigations & Internal Compliance Audits
- Labor, Employment, Benefits & Immigration
- Non-Competition Agreements & Trade Secrets
- Occupational Safety & Health
- Public Accommodation & Housing
- Severance Agreements
- Traditional Labor Law
- Workforce Reduction, Plant Closings & WARN
Education
- Duke University School of Law (J.D., 1977)
- Vassar College (A.B., 1972)
Bar Admissions
- California, 1978
- District of Columbia, 1980
- Maryland, 1981
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association: Labor & Employment Law Section
- American Bar Foundation: Fellow (2009-present)
- Lorman Education Services: Distinguished Faculty Member
- State Bar of California: Labor and Employment Law Section
- The Valleys Planning Council, Inc.: Vice President
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Labor Relations Committee, OSHA and Wage & Hour Subcommittees
- Women's Bar Association
Special Honors
- Best Lawyers in America®: Named "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Employment Law, Baltimore (2024)
- Best Lawyers in America®: Named "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Education Law, Baltimore (2021 and 2023)
- Best Lawyers in America®: Selected for inclusion in the areas of Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Labor Law - Management (2006-2026) and Education Law (2024-2026)
- Chambers USA - America’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Listed in the area of Labor & Employment-Maryland (2002-2026) (achieving the highest "first band" ranking for Maryland and a "Senior Statespeople" designation in 2026)
- Baltimore Magazine "Top Lawyer" for Education (2026)
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent® Rated
- Maryland Super Lawyers®: Selected for inclusion in the area of Employment & Labor (2013-2021, 2024-2025); Named among the Top 50 Women Maryland Super Lawyers (2017)
- The Daily Record: "Leadership in Law" Award (2004)
