Katharine I. Rand
Having worked in human resources and management in the private sector, Katy Rand brings direct experience to her representation of employers, educational institutions, and other youth serving organizations. Katy is a litigator, advisor, investigator, and general problem-solver, known for her strategic and practical approach.
Katy serves as outside employment counsel for some of Maine’s largest employers, advising clients about employee relations, policy-development, reductions in force, wage payment, and other compliance-related matters. She has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal court.
While the majority of Katy’s management-side litigation practice involves claims of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, she also has substantial experience litigating restrictive covenant disputes as well as wage and hour matters, including class and/or collective actions.
Over time, Katy’s practice has grown to include representation of independent schools, higher education institutions, and summer camps, including with respect to policy development, compliance, all aspects of Title IX, and student discipline.
She has significant experience advising youth serving organizations in connection with highly sensitive matters, such as claims of current or historic misconduct, including sexual abuse. With Katy’s support and guidance, many clients have successfully navigated the legal, reputational, and moral implications of these complex matters.
Katy is also an experienced independent investigator, skilled at conducting fair, thorough, and trauma-informed investigations. As a certified Title IX and United Educators approved sexual misconduct investigator, Katy regularly conducts external investigations or serves as decision-maker for employers, educational institutions, and camps.
After college and before attending law school, Katy completed a management training program with Hannaford Brothers Company and worked for this major New England grocery retailer in various roles.
Katy also served as a Human Resources Consultant at L.L. Bean, advising managers on many of the same challenges she now helps her clients navigate. After graduating at the top of her law school class, Katy clerked for United States District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby.
- Received the University of Maine School of Law Faculty Scholastic Achievement Award for the highest grade point average over three years of study
- Recognized by Chambers USA for Labor and Employment Law (2010-present)
- Named "Lawyer of the Year" for Employment Law - Management by The Best Lawyers in America® (2019 and 2023)
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2015-present)
- Co-authored / updated Maine chapter in American Bar Association / Bloomberg Law, Wage and Hour Laws A State-by-State Survey (2016-present)
- Co-authored / updated chapters regarding reasonable accommodation in A Practical Guide to Employment Law in Maine (2019 to present)
- Maine Celebrates 40 Years of Anti-Discrimination Law: A Conversation with Maine Human Rights Commission Executive Director Patricia Ryan, 26 Me. Bar. J. 77 (2011)
- "Spyer" Beware: The Pitfalls of Using Social Networking Sites to Research Employees, 25 Me. Bar. J. 204 (2010)
- Employment At Will in Maine: RIP?, 22 Me. Bar J. 105 (2007)
- Taking Care of Business and Protecting Maine's Employees: Supervisor Liability for Employment Discrimination under the Maine Human Rights Act, 55 Me. L. Rev. 428 (2003)
- Member, Board of Directors, Camp Susan Curtis (2025-present)
- Justice Action Group, Pro Bono Committee (2019-2025)
- U.S. District Court, District of Maine, Court Operations Advisory Committee (2020-2023)
- Member, Board of Directors, Cleaves Law Library (2019-2023 ) Member, Board of Directors, Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine (2013-2017)
- Member, Board of Trustees, State Street Church (2013-2020)
- Member, Board of Directors, Catherine Morrill Day Nursery (2009-2013)
Practice Areas
- Serves as outside employment counsel for some of Maine’s largest employers
- Substantial experience advising and defending claims against healthcare employers
- Advises and/or serves as outside general counsel for independent schools and higher education institutions
- Routinely prepares and delivers trainings and presentations on a wide variety of employment issues, including harassment/microaggressions, FMLA, and wage and hour compliance
- Drafts and advises employers regarding employee handbooks, policies and procedures
- Negotiates, drafts, and defends claims arising under non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
Latest Updates in Employment
- Obtained summary judgment in race, national origin, and sex discrimination case brought by physician in federal court. Michailidou v. Eastern Maine Medical Center, No. 1:23-cv-00352-JAW, 2025 WL 2821371 (D, Me. Oct. 3, 2024)
- Defeated request for injunctive relief, secured dismissal, and successfully defended appeal in connection with lawsuit by a group of healthcare workers against several Maine healthcare employers by a group of plaintiffs alleging religious discrimination in violation of Title VII. Lowe v. Mills, 68 F.4th 706 (1st Cir. 2023)
- Obtained and successfully defended appeal of summary judgment in connection with disability discrimination matter. Trahan v. Wayfair Maine LLC, 957 F.3d 54 (1st Cir. 2020)
- Obtained summary judgment in connection with disability discrimination claim. Flanders v. Athenahealth, Inc., 1:19-cv-00283-GZS, 2020 WL 6119512 (D. Me. Oct. 16, 2020)
- Obtained and successfully defended appeal of summary judgment in connection with disability discrimination matter. Carnicella v. Mercy Hospital, 2017 ME 161, 168 A.3d 768.
- Obtained summary judgment on plaintiff’s tort claims in sexual harassment case in federal court. Perkerewicz v. Sugarloaf et al. 1:20-CV-273-DBH, 2020 WL 7647471
- Obtained dismissal and successfully defended appeal of employment discrimination matter. Darcy v. Maine Medical Center, 2012 WL 4325824 (Me. 2018)
- Participated in successful bench trial, resulting in permanent injunction against three individuals alleged to breach enforceable restrictive covenants. Securadyne v. Green, 2:13–CV–387–DBH, 2014 WL 1334184 (D. Me. April 2, 2014)
- Obtained summary judgment in connection with claim of race discrimination and hostile work environment. Blethen v. MaineGeneral, No. 1:11–cv–00277–DBH, 2012 WL 4325824 (D. Me. Aug 1, 2012)
Latest Updates in Litigation
- Regularly conducts independent investigations, in person or remotely, for a wide range of educational institutions, including for higher education institutions and independent schools throughout the United States, as well as youth serving organizations, such as summer camps.
- Routinely conducts or directs independent investigations into various workplace disputes, including sexual harassment, ethics complaints,
- Serves as decision-maker in connection with student discipline and similar matters.