Bio

Carolyn primarily represents public and private employers in defending employment related matters, including Title VII litigation. She does extensive training in the employment area for employers. Carolyn is a frequent contributor to legal publications on topics involving employment and personnel issues. She earned her B.A. degree from UALR and her J.D. degree, with honors, from the UALR School of Law. She is a former President of the Arkansas Bar Association and former Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section. Carolyn is a long-time member of the American Bar Association, where she served as former Chair of the Commission on Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts and is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section.  She is a former member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, a past Chair of the Arkansas Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Union Internationale des Avocats, Women in Sports Law, American Employment Law Counsel, and is a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Carolyn is an arbitrator of The Court of Arbitration for Sport and a member of the American Arbitration Association Roster of Employment Arbitrators and Mediators. Carolyn was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

Areas of Service

Labor & Employment

Honors

  • Arkansas Bar Association
    • (President, 1995-1996; Labor Law Section, Chair, 1991-1992)
  • Pulaski County Bar Association
    • (President, 1989-1990)
  • American Bar Association (Distinguished Life Fellow Aware, 2023; Member; House of Delegates, 1997-2021; House Select Committee, 2010; Steering Committee of the Nominating Committee; Labor and Employment Law Section and Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee; Past Chair – Commission on Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts; Associate Editor – Employment Discrimination Law, Fifth Edition, 2017)
  • Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers (President, 1982-1983)
  • William R. Overton Inn of Court (President, 1992-1993)
  • Arkansas Fellows, American Bar Foundation (Past Chair)
  • Commission on Uniform State Laws, Governor’s Appointment 2013 – 2017
  • Members Consultative Group for Restatement Third, Employment Law
  • American Law Institute
    Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)
  • ‘Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • American Employment Law Council
  • Arbitrator, Court of Arbitration for Sport
  • Arbitrator, FINRA
  • Arbitrator, UFC Arbitration Panel
  • Member of the American Arbitration Association Roster of
  • Employment Arbitrators and Mediators and the Large Complex Case Panel
  • National Conference of Bar Presidents, Past Member, Executive Council
  • Transportation Lawyers Association, Past Member, Executive Committee
  • Little Rock Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Past Chair
  • Arkansas Real Estate Commission, Commissioner, 1978-1981
  • Member of Women in Sports Law
  • ​Associate Editor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Journal, 1977-1978
  • Best Lawyers in America in Labor and Employment, 1995-2023
  • Charles L. Carpenter Memorial Award, Arkansas Bar Association, 2005
  • Who’s Who Legal USA – Management Labour & Employment, 2005-2009
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers in Labor and Employment Law, 2006-2022
  • Top 50 Arkansas Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2010-2022
  • Top 50 Women Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2011-2022
  • Named one of the “Best Lawyers in Little Rock” by the readers of Little Rock Soirée and Arkansas Business, 2012, 2013, 2015-2017
  • Featured in AY Magazine‘s 2014 Powerful Women issue
  • Named one of the “Arkansas 200” by Arkansas Business, 2017
  • Lawyer of the Year in Little Rock Employment Law – Management, 2017
  • The Marquis Who’s Who – Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017
  • Named one of the “Arkansas 250” by Arkansas Business, 2018
  • Named to Arkansas Life magazine’s list of “Top Attorneys” 2019
  • Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee, 2019
  • Legal Services Corporation Pro Bono Service Award, 2020
  • Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • Chambers USA – America’s Leading Business Lawyers

Affiliations

  • Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, current Personnel Committee
  • Little Rock Sister Cities Commission, 2007 – 2017
  • Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault (Past Board Member)
  • Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (Past President)
  • VOCALS – Volunteer Organization, Center for Arkansas Legal Services
  • Arkansas Women Executives (Past President)
  • Advocates for Battered Women (Now Women & Children First (Founder and Board Chair)

Education

  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock, J.D., with honors, 1978
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock, B.A., 1974

Admissions

  • Arkansas, 1978
  • United States District Courts: Eastern & Western Divisions of Arkansas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court