Kendra Simmons

Overview Kendra helps employers prevent and solve problems. She is an experienced advisor and litigator, representing employers and businesses in litigation and advising them outside of formal legal proceedings. While Kendra works with employers in various industries, she works most frequently with clients in the health care, construction, manufacturing, transportation and technology industries. Kendra regularly drafts employment policies and agreements, including non-competes and other restrictive covenants, and represents employers in litigation on these same matters. She has obtained numerous dismissals of discrimination, harassment and retaliation charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Iowa Civil Rights Commission, as well as winning summary judgment for multiple clients facing similar claims in state or federal court. She has also successfully represented clients in jury trials, bench trials, other agency proceedings and arbitration. This litigation experience helps Kendra to better advise clients on practical solutions, always keeping their end business goals in mind. She is sought out for her experience in advising on and litigating matters under Iowas drug and alcohol testing statute. In addition, Kendra advises on due diligence matters for clients engaged in mergers and acquisitions. Kendras practice focuses on employment law and litigation, but her general business litigation background allows her to serve the wide-ranging legal needs of businesses and employers. Before joining the firm, Kendra was an associate at Seigfreid Bingham, P. C. in Kansas City, where she practiced general business litigation and worked on matters involving transportation law, employment law, and health care law, among other areas of law. Services Employment, Labor & Benefits Employment & Labor Litigation Class Action/Wage & Hour Litigation Litigation Trade Secrets Non-Competes Show More Show Less Experience Employment Obtained summary judgment for employer in religious discrimination case alleging violation of the MHRA due to COVID vaccine requirement. Beyer & Manfull v. Olmsted Medical Center, Case No.055-CV-23-2835 (Olmsted County District Court, June 2024). Obtained dismissal of multiple civil rights complaints brought against employers by former employees. Drafts employment policies, handbooks and agreements (including non-competes and other restrictive covenants). Advises clients on employment policies and various individual employment issues outside of litigation. Appellate Successfully affirmed district courts grant of motion to dismiss case for failure to state a claim. Garrett & Vandewalle v. Branson Commerce Park Community Improvement District (10th Cir. 2016). Represented motor carrier in appealing agencys unfavorable decision under federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act. Trans Am Trucking, Inc. v. Admin. Review Board (10th Cir. 2016). Represented motor carrier in petitioning for review of FMCSA action regarding a settlement agreement. Trans Am Trucking, Inc. v. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin. (10th Cir. 2015). Litigation Successfully moved to compel arbitration of employment discrimination claims. Woolridge v. Select Genetics, LLC, Case No. 21-CV-05057-MDH (U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, August 2021). Obtained dismissal with prejudice for employer in employment discrimination and defamation case. Clark v. Murphy Warehouse Co., et al., Case No. 27-CV-20-11832 (Hennepin County District Court, February 2021). Obtained summary judgment for employer in disability discrimination case under the ICRA based on a lack of qualifying disability. Rounds v. Risen Son Christian Village, Case No. LACV119744 (Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, August 2020). Part of a trial team that obtained a more than $1.6 million verdict in a business dispute involving breach of restrictive covenants (Pierce Street Same Day Surgery, L. C. v. Dr. Adam Smith et al., Case No. LACV178878 (Iowa District Court for Woodbury County Feb. 20, 2020). Defended employer against claim by former employee alleging violation of Iowas drug-and-alcohol testing statute (Iowa Code section 730.5). Obtained summary judgment for employer in race discrimination and retaliation case under ICRA and Title VII. Goodman v. Performance Contractors, et al. (N. D. Iowa 2019). Helped obtain temporary injunction against physicians prohibiting them from further violating their restrictive covenants. Pierce Street Same Day Surgery, L. C. v. Dr. Adam Smith et al., Case No. LACV178878 (Iowa District Court for Woodbury County Feb. 5, 2018). Helped obtain temporary injunction against pediatrician and her new clinic prohibiting her from further violating her noncompetition agreement. Prairie Pediatrics & Adolescent Clinic, P. C. vs. Dr. Tina Smith & Tri-State Specialists, LLP, Case No.: LACV177912 (Iowa District Court for Woodbury County Dec. 22, 2017). Obtained summary judgment for employer in FMLA entitlement and discrimination case initiated by a former administrator. Roys v. Upper Iowa University (N. D. Iowa 2017). Successfully defended delivery service provider against violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act in administrative hearing and through administrative appeals. Successfully represented businesses in bench and jury trials. Represented defendant national retail chain in complex, multi-million dollar arbitration. Defended motor carrier and multiple health care entities against discrimination and other employment claims. Represented defendants, including a motor carrier and professional sports franchise, in class actions in federal court. Other Assisted company in developing uniform procedure for collecting from non-paying customers. Revised contract documents for a service company to improve efficiency in the event matters resulted in litigation. Credentials Education Washburn University School of Law, J. D., 2013, magna cum laude Baker University, B. A., 2010, summa cum laude Admissions Iowa, 2016 Minnesota, 2021 Kansas, 2014 Missouri, 2013 U. S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2022 U. S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, 2022 U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 2016 U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 2016 U. S. District Court for the District of Kansas, 2014 U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, 2023 U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 2013 U. S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2014 Recognition Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, 2025; Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2022-2024 Great Plains Super Lawyers Rising Star, Employment Litigation: Defense, 2017-2023 J. L. Weigand, Jr. Notre Dame Legal Educational Trust Civic & Professional Professional Activities American Bar Association, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee Washburn Law Journal, Technical Editor, 2012-2013; Staff Writer, 2011-2012 Community Mind & Spirit Counseling Center, HR Committee Chair, Board of Directors, 2021-present Lead DSM, Governance Chair, 2021-2022; Governance Chair-Elect, 2020-2021; Community Leadership Program, 2019-2020 Young Variety Iowa Make It OK Iowa, Ambassador, 2020-present Young Professionals Connection, Community Engagement Director, 2017-2018 News & Insights Event02.19.2025 Enforceable Business Protection Agreements: Making Sure Your Restrictive Covenants Are Worth the Paper Theyre Written On Legal Update08.23.2024 Strike Three Against the FTCs Non-Compete Ban Legal Update08.19.2024 Two Weeks Out and the Status of the FTCs Non-Compete Ban Remains Up in the Air News Firm News08.15.2024 Fredrikson Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2025 Firm News08.17.2023 Fredrikson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 Firm News06.02.2023 Fredrikson Attorneys Named 2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Firm News08.18.2022 Fredrikson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Firm News07.29.2022 Fredrikson Attorneys Named 2022 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Firm News09.02.2020 Fredrikson & Byron Announces New Shareholders Firm News05.05.2016 Employment Attorney Kendra Hanson Simmons Joins Fredrikson & Byron Speaking Engagements Event02.19.2025 Enforceable Business Protection Agreements: Making Sure Your Restrictive Covenants Are Worth the Paper Theyre Written On Event07.26.2023 Employment Law Summer (Mini) Boot Camp Event10.28.2022 Des Moines Employment Law Seminar Event10.29.2021 Des Moines Employment Law Seminar Event10.28.2021 Fredrikson & Byrons 37th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar - Virtual Event04.01.2021 Reimagining the Workplace: Strategies for a Positive Way Forward in the New Normal Event11.11.2020 Health Law Webinar-Federal Employment Law Issues in the Evolving COVID-19 Environment Event11.2020 Fredrikson & Byrons 36th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar Event10.04.2019 Des Moines Employment Law Seminar Event05.23.2019 Investigating Complaints in Todays Workplace Event09.27.2018 Des Moines Employment Law Seminar Event09.27.2017 Des Moines Employment Law Seminar Event10.26.2016 Fredrikson & Byrons 32nd Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar Event10.06.2016 Des Moines Employment Law Seminar Legal Updates Legal Update08.23.2024 Strike Three Against the FTCs Non-Compete Ban Legal Update08.19.2024 Two Weeks Out and the Status of the FTCs Non-Compete Ban Remains Up in the Air Legal Update07.05.2024 Strike One Against the FTCs Non-Compete Ban Legal Update04.24.2024 What Should Employers Know about the FTCs Final Rule Banning Non-Competes? Legal Update01.11.2023 What Employers Need to Know about the FTCs Proposed Rule Banning Non-Competes Legal Update07.08.2021 The Present and Future of Drug and Alcohol Testing-What Employers Should Know About the Iowa Supreme Courts Recent Decisions Legal Update03.23.2021 Question of the Day: American Rescue Plan Legal Update12.21.2020 Question of the Day: EEOC Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Legal Update09.29.2020 Question of the Day: Iowa Department of Public Health Departs from CDC Guidance on Quarantining Legal Update09.15.2020 Question of the Day: Health Care Providers Exempted from FFCRA Leave Legal Update08.28.2020 Question of the Day: School-Related FFCRA Leave Requests Legal Update08.14.2020 Question of the Day: Health Care Provider Definition of the FFCRA Legal Update06.22.2020 Question of the Day: COVID-Related Lawsuit Protection Legal Update05.21.2020 Question of the Day: Effect of COVID-19 on Non-Competes Legal Update05.11.2020 Question of the Day: FFCRA Child Care-Related Leave Rights in the Summer Legal Update04.27.2020 Employment Question of the Day: April 27, 2020 Legal Update04.16.2020 Employment Question of the Day: April 16, 2020 Legal Update03.27.2020 Employment Question of the Day: March 27, 2020 Legal Update06.19.2019 Iowa Employment Law Update: One Minor Change Coming July 1, Others Brewing Legal Update09.07.2017 What a Difference a Year Makes: An Update on the DOLs Over Time Rule Legal Update10.07.2016 If You Have Employees In California - Action May Be Needed! Publications & Presentations Co-Presenter, Employment Law Update, Iowa Seminar, July 2, 2025 Presenter, Marijuana Maze: The Changing Legal Landscape, ABI Pre-Employment Testing Process Webinar Series, Session One, July 30, 2024 Moderator and Co-Presenter, Negative Consequences of Remote Work and How to Address Them, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee Meeting, March 14, 2024 Co-Presenter, Reimagining Restrictive Covenants to Protect Your Business, Fredrikson & Byrons Iowa Employment Law Seminar, October 28, 2022 Co-Panelist, Pre-employment Strategies: Expert Discussion, ABI Pre-employment Seminar, March 30, 2022 Co-Presenter, Retooling Remote Work for the Future and Wandering Employees, Fredrikson & Byrons Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 28, 2021 Presenter, Marijuana Maze: Tips for Employers on Navigating the Changing Legal Landscape, ABI Advanced Manufacturing Conference, September 29, 2021 Author, The Present and Future of Drug and Alcohol Testing-What Employers Should Know About the Iowa Supreme Courts Recent Decisions, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, July 15, 2021 Author, Top Areas of Focus for Employers Reopening Their Workplaces?, hrsimple HR , June 21, 2021 Author, Reimagining the Workplace: Strategies for a Positive Way Forward in the New Normal, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, June 17, 2021 Presenter, The Post-Pandemic Workplace, Iowa Employment Conference Webinar, April 7, 2021 Co-Presenter, Reimagining the Workplace: Strategies for a Positive Way Forward in the New Normal, Fredrikson & Byron Employment & Labor Webinar, April 1, 2021 Co-Presenter, Herd Immunity and Return-to-Office Webinar, Greater Des Moines Partnership Webinar, March 23, 2021 Co-Presenter, Federal Employment Law Issues in the Evolving COVID-19 Environment, Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, November 11, 202 Co-Presenter, Mental Health in the Workplace: COVID-19 and Beyond, Fredrikson & Byrons Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 29, 2020 Presenter, Safety, Compliance, and Business Continuity During a Pandemic, Community Bankers of Iowa, September 9, 2020 Co-Author, FFCRA Provides Paid Leave Benefits for Back-To-School, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Business Record Iowa, August 2020 Co-Presenter, Forensic Discovery/Extraction of Data from Electronic Devices and Effective Use in Trial, ISBA Annual Meeting, May 21, 2020 Co-Presenter, COVID-19 Employment Issues, Iowa Employment Conference, April 9, 2020 Presenter, Marijuana Maze: Tips for Employers on Navigating the Changing Legal Landscape, Fredrikson & Byrons Employment Law Seminar, Des Moines, IA, October 4, 2019 Co-Presenter, Investigating Complaints in Todays Workplace, Fredrikson & Byron Event, May 23, 2019 Presenter, An Update on Employee Privacy Issues, Fredrikson & Byrons Employment Law Seminar, West Des Moines, IA, September 27, 2018 Presenter, DOL Developments, Fredrikson & Byrons Employment Law Seminar, West Des Moines, IA, September 27, 2017 Presenter, Restrictive Covenants Refresher, Fredrikson & Byrons Employment Law Seminar, West Des Moines, IA, September 27, 2017 Presenter, Piecing Together the New Wage and Hour Reality, Fredrikson & Byrons Employment Law Seminar, Des Moines, Iowa, October 6, 2016 Co-Author, Courses of Action after Allegations of Misconduct, American Bar Association Business Torts Journal, Winter 2014, Vol. 21, No. 2 Author, The End of Design-Defect Claims: The Supreme Courts Immunization of Vaccine Manufacturers in Bruesewitz v. Wyeth LLC, Washburn Law Journal, Vol. 51 No.3 Show More Show Less