Profile
Heidi A. Guttau represents employers in employment litigation matters in state and federal courts, including claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful discharge, non-compete violations and other employment-related matters. She also obtains injunctive protection on behalf of employers against individuals threatening their workplaces. She regularly handles ERISA litigation. Heidi frequently represents employers in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state anti-discrimination agencies.
Heidi was conferred a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law in 1997. She also received her B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, with a major in Finance from Creighton University in 1994. Prior to joining the firm, Heidi served as judicial clerk to Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.
Since 2018, Heidi has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers In America® for Litigation – Labor and Employment. She has also been recognized by Great Plains Super Lawyers in the practice area of Employment Litigation: Defense.
Areas of Practice
Education
- Creighton University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1997
- Creighton University, B.S.B.A., Finance, magna cum laude, 1994
Bar & Court Admissions
- Nebraska, 1999
- Iowa, 1997
- District of Nebraska
- Northern District of Iowa
- Southern District of Iowa
- Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- Nebraska State Bar Association
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Iowa State Bar Association Federal Practice Committee, Past member
- Iowa State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Council, Past member
- District of Nebraska Federal Practice Committee, Past member
- Omaha Bar Association
- Creighton Law School, Former Adjunct Instructor
- 4 Corners Community Foundation, Board of Directors
- Children’s Square USA Foundation, Board of Directors
- Hope-Net Ministries, Former Director
- Treynor Community School, Former Board member
Selected Practice Highlights
- Obtaining employer jury verdict in federal court in ADA discrimination case against national retailer
- Obtaining Nebraska Supreme Court decision in ConAgra v. Zimmerman holding that employer was entitled to permanent injunction to protect its workplace against threatening individual
- Obtaining employer jury verdict in the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County in wage payment lawsuit
- Successfully representing employers in numerous employment cases in federal and state courts, including obtaining numerous summary judgment orders for employers in discrimination cases
- Obtaining several appellate verdicts on employment cases in state and federal court
- Handling various ERISA litigation matters, including obtaining constructive trusts for reimbursement/subrogation claims as equitable relief under ERISA after the Supreme Court’s Knudson v. Great West decision
Recent Speaking Engagements
- “Keynote Panel, 5th Annual Diversity Event,” Nebraska Paralegal Association, June 2023
- “Employment Law in the Movies: Practical Takeaways for Employers,” Central Nebraska HR Employment Law Forum, March 2022
- “From Facebook to Firearms: How to Avoid Threats and Violence in the Workplace,” Iowa Hospital Association, June 2021
