Practice
Iwana Rademaekers is Of Counsel with Sprouse Shrader Smith, and she focuses on managing the critical employment and benefits issues businesses face with an approach that incorporates both practical solutions and risk management in furtherance of her clients’ goals. In her litigation practice, Iwana has appeared as lead counsel in 26 states and in six United States Courts of Appeals, and she has a distinguished list of case victories across the country for her clients. She also counsels clients on employment policies and practices to minimize the risk of employment litigation and ensure compliance with applicable laws, including issues relating to personnel policies, EEO compliance and plans, benefits, wage and hour laws, hiring and termination practices, affirmative action plans, harassment and discrimination investigations, restrictive covenants, and work-related contracts. Working with clients in a range of industries, including agriculture, banking, insurance, construction, technology, health care, service, and retail, Iwana tailors her representation to each client’s circumstances to develop strategies that best protect against claims and disruptions while working within the realities of her clients’ business operations.
Iwana’s litigation practice includes the defense of private and public employers, benefit plans, insurers, plan fiduciaries, and service providers against ERISA and benefits lawsuits asserting claims for benefits, breach of fiduciary duty, statutory penalties, and state law claims. She also represents employers in the defense of federal and state lawsuits of unlawful discrimination or retaliation, wage and hour violations, and wrongful discharge at both the trial and appellate levels. Advocacy on behalf of employers in state and federal agency administrative actions and complaints is also part of her skillset, resulting in dismissals of those proceedings.
Practice Area
Admissions
- Texas State Courts, 1988
- United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court, Western District of Texas
- United States District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
- United States District Court, District of New Mexico
- United States District Court, District of Colorado
- United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
- United States District Court, Western District of Michigan
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- United States District Court, District of North Dakota
- United States District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Education
- University of Texas, J.D./MBA, 1988
- McMurry University, BBA, summa cum laude, 1984
Memberships
- Amarillo Globe News Community Advisory Board (2018 – current)
- Foster and Volunteer for Gracie’s Project and Texas Panhandle Petsavers