Overview Experience Case Studies Insights Events News Outside the Office Community Leadership

Audrey Merkel

Associate

Milwaukee
phone: 414.978.5637
fax: 414.223.5000

email: [email protected]

Madison
phone: 608.255.4400

Overview Experience Case Studies

Insights Events News

Outside the Office Community Leadership

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Overview

Audrey assists clients with a wide variety of labor and employment matters.

Audrey discovered during her undergraduate law studies courses that she loved analyzing legal reasoning. This interest led to a legal career in the labor and employment field.

Today, Audrey has a general practice in labor and employment, where she assists with employment litigation, advises on the employment issues present in corporate transactions, and provides preventative counsel to help clients stay compliant with the law. Her experience includes defending employers in cases involving allegations of discrimination and harassment, drafting and updating employee handbooks and separation agreements, and advising on legally compliant recruiting and hiring processes.

Audrey joined Husch Blackwell in 2023 and was attracted to the firm’s commitment to offering cutting edge services to clients. The firm’s focus on client service matched her own: Audrey’s aim is for each client to always feel that their matter is the most important one on her desk.

Services

Employment Litigation Defense

Labor & Employment

Recognition

The National Law Review, Go To Thought Leader, 2021

Education

J.D., Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
- Journal of Law & Social Policy, Associate Editor
B.A., Marquette University
- magna cum laude

Admissions

Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Professional Memberships and Certifications

Milwaukee Bar Association
State Bar of Wisconsin

Experience

Drafted position statements on issues related to discrimination, retaliation, and failure to accommodate.
Reviewed and revised employee handbooks to ensure client compliance with current law.
Drafted authorization release forms for clients to use in recruiting and hiring processes.
Developed COVID-19 policies and accommodation request forms for clients.
Prepared non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.
Drafted CCPA compliant privacy policies, disclosures, and notices.

Articles | June 12, 2024

State Bar of Wisconsin: The Impact of the FTC's Ban on Noncompete Agreements in the Health Care Industry

Articles | March 18, 2024

Barbara Grandjean, Audrey Merkel Author Law360 Article on EEOC Case Addressing Gender-Based Pay Discrimination Against Men

Blog | February 07, 2024

Beyond the Stereotype: Confronting Gender-Based Pay Discrimination Against Men

Seminars | May 8, 2025

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and Considerations for Healthcare Entities in Accommodating Covered Employees - Milwaukee, WI

Speaking Engagements | November 12, 2024

Speaker, "Non-competes, No Hires, and Restrictive Covenants Best Practices," WisHHRA 2024 Webinar

Webinar | July 10, 2024

FTC Non-Compete Rule: Application and Strategy for Healthcare Employers

Webinar | September 21, 2023

2023 Labor & Employment Legal Updates: Illinois/Michigan/Wisconsin Program

Speaking Engagements | February 16, 2023

Speaker, "Work from Home Updates," MRA Employment Law Update Conference,

Speaking Engagements | February 8, 2022

Speaker, "Wisconsin Act 82," Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association Conference

Community Leadership

Audrey has volunteered with Sojourner Family Peace Center, where she assisted with applications for temporary restraining orders in domestic violence and harassment cases. She has also volunteered with Cook County, where she mediated small claims court cases.