Nick Birkenhauer

Partner

Nick is a DBL Law partner whose practice is focused on assisting employers with all aspects of human resources and employment law. Nick has extensive experience working with employers of all sizes and across a wide array of industries, including healthcare and manufacturing.

Nick has considerable employment litigation experience, and practices at all levels of Kentucky and Ohio state and federal courts. Nick also regularly represents his clients before state and federal administrative agencies such as the EEOC, DOL, OSHA, Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Kentucky Human Rights Commission, and Kentucky Unemployment Commission. In addition to his employment work, Nick has broad business and commercial litigation experience.

Outside the office, Nick serves as the Chairman of the Salvation Army of Northern Kentucky Advisory Council. He is a member of the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board. Nick is also a member of the Covington Catholic High School Board and is active with the Alliance for Catholic Urban Education. He serves as co-chair on the Congregation of Divine Providence Development Advisory Board.

Nick is a Northern Kentucky native and resides in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky with his family.

Honors & Distinctions
  • Kentucky Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2013 – 2017)
  • Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
  • Northern Kentucky Law Review, Associate Editor
Professional Affiliations
  • Northern Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (NKY SHRM)
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
  • Kentucky Defense Council
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Northern Kentucky  Bar Association
  • Ohio Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Chairman, The Salvation Army of Northern Kentucky Advisory Council
  • Member, Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board
  • Member, Covington Catholic High School Board
  • Co-Chair, Congregation of Divine Providence Development Advisory Board
  • Member, Alliance for Catholic Urban Education Leadership Gifts Team
  • Member, St. Thomas Parish, Ft. Thomas, KY
Publications
  • Author, Kentucky Supreme Court Doubles Down on a More Nuanced Understanding of the “Open and Obvious” Doctrine under Comparative Negligence, Kentucky Defense Counsel’s Common Defense (Fall/Winter 2016).
  • Author, When Nonprofit Employees Volunteer: What it Means Under Federal Wage and Hour Laws, Kentucky Defense Counsel’s Common Defense (Spring/Summer 2014).
  • Author, Employers can Prevent Doomsday Scenario with Restrictive Covenants, Ohio State Bar Association’s Legal Basics for Small Business (2013).
  • Author, How You Conduct a RIF can Reduce Your Risk of Being Sued, Ohio State Bar Association’s Fine Print (Summer 2010).
Admissions
  • Commonwealth of Kentucky
  • State of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
11DBL Attorney Nick Birkenhauer
Contact
nbirkenhauer@dbllaw.com
(859) 426-2176

Education

J.D., Northern Kentucky University, Chase College of Law, 2007
B.A., Washington and Lee University, 2004

Practice Areas

Employment & Labor

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