Karen Reardon, Ph.D., J.D.

Prior to joining La Salle’s faculty in 2012, Professor Reardon practiced law as a partner and associate attorney with two multi-national law firms and, most recently, as the managing partner of her own boutique law firm and mediator.  She represented both individuals and companies in disputes involving: insurance and reinsurance; directors and officers of commercial, non-profit, and managed care organizations; trust and bank operations; employment practices; lawyers and other professionals. She has managed, litigated, arbitrated and mediated lawsuits involving securities fraud, corporate takeovers, employment discrimination and terminations, white-collar crime, public officials liability, benefits administration, and bankruptcy. She has been retained as a consulting and testifying expert in evaluating the reasonableness of attorneys’ fees and securities settlements, duties of cooperation, and issues of indemnification.

Areas of Expertise

Social Capital
Nonprofit Organizations
Entrepreneurship
Diversity and Inclusion
Leadership and Ethics
Business Law
Sociology of Law
Organizations
Deviance
Insurance
Mediation
Director and Officer Liability and Indemnification

Education

University Of Michigan: Ann Arbor, MI, Ph.D. (Sociology) 2016, MA 1983
Vanderbilt University School of Law: Nashville, TN, J.D. 1986
University Of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, BA 1981
Franklin College: Lugano, Switzerland, Semester Abroad 1980

Teaching

Frameworks for Socially Responsible Decision Making
Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
Introduction to Sociology Through Community Organizations
Introduction to Sociology Through Social Psychology
Sociology of Law
Dispute Resolution
Management and Leadership

Employment

Associate Professor with Tenure: La Salle University, Department of Management and AACSB Academically Qualified in Management and Business Law

Undergraduate Courses Taught: Legal and Ethical Environment of Business; Fundamentals of Contract; Ethical and Legal Decision Making: Challenges for Workplace Leaders; Dispute Resolution
Graduate Courses Taught: Competing in the Global Market I: Analysis of the Business Environment; Applied Research in Business; Frameworks for Socially Responsible Decision Making

Mediator and Consultant
Provide complex litigation and insurance dispute mediation services; coach businesses and organizations in efficient and effective management practices and business development.

Publications

Dissertation

“Examining the Critical Role of Social Capital in Entrepreneurship: A Qualitative Study of Emerging Nonprofit Organizations” (2016) University of Michigan Deep Blue repository: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/133337 . Defended July 29, 2016.

Published or Accepted: Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Journals

“The 3 Step Charette: A Framework for Teaching Students to Solve Complex Problems in a Real-World Environment” with Paul Arthur Bodine and Natasha Palesa Mothapo. Management Teaching Review. First Published Online July 9, https://doi.org/10.1177/2379298119855704 (2019).

“Lessons from Contractual Chaos: A Legal Knowledge, Business Judgment and Skill Development Exercise for the Legal Environment Class” with Marianne Gauss, La Salle University, Journal of Legal Studies in Business (“JLSB”), Vol.21: 96-116 (2018).

“Lift Every Voice: An Anthology of Contemporary Student Writings on Race” with Megan Schoen (Oakland University) and Jaime Longo, The WAC Journal, Vol 28: 7-33 (2017).

“Developing A Pre-Career Network: An Exercise In Identifying, Using And Making Investments In Social Capital” with Anne M. Walsh, La Salle University, Management Teaching Review, Vol. 2(2) 107-116 (2017).

“Using the Qualitative Interview in the Classroom to Help Students Make Connections among Course Content, Social Capital, and Careers,” Management Teaching Review- Inaugural Issue Vol. 1: 26-33 (2016).

“Computerized Writing Assessment Technology:  Business Law Students Weigh in on its Use in the College Classroom for Developing Workplace-ready Writing.” Computers and Composition Vol. 38:32-44 (2015).

“A note on the legal considerations in decision science models of collaboration, information sharing and integration in supply chains.” International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 14, No. 1 (2015).

“Introducing GINA: What Human Resource Educators Should Know About the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008” Journal of Human Resources Education, Vol. 8, No. 2/3, Spring/Summer (2014). https://journals.troy.edu/index.php/JHRE/issue/current.

Books

“In Living Color: An Anthology of Contemporary Student Writings on Race” wth co-editors Megan Schoen and Jaime Longo.  Parnilis Media (2020).

Book Chapters

“Diversity Management- Legal and Ethical Challenges for Aspiring Workplace Leaders” appearing in In Living Color: An Anthology of Contemporary Student Writings on Race.” Parnilis Media (2020).

Editor Reviewed Articles

“A Deep Dive into Corporate Social Responsibility,” La Salle University Academic Resource Center Newsletter (“ARC”) published May 2017.

“City as Classroom: Corporate Social Responsibility in Focus.”  La Salle University, I-LEEP Newsletter, Vol. 2 Issue 1 published October 2015.

“Picking Up on Social Responsibility.” La Salle University MGTL@ Work, September 2015.

“The Nonprofit Rx: A Cure-All?” La Salle University MGTL@ Work, February 2014.

“Raising the Bar: How the 2007 Supreme Court’s Recent Decisions Are Good for Corporations and Their Insurers.”  Andrews Corporate Directors and Officers Liability Reporter, Vol.23, Issue 2/July 23, 2007 (with Scott G. Golinkin and Eric J. Marler).

“The Resolution of the Conseco Securities & Coverage Litigation:  What Really Happened, How it Happened and What it Means Going Forward.”  PLUS Journal, November 2005 (with Scott G. Golinkin and Eric J. Marler)

“Avoiding Liability as a Non-Profit Director.”  CBA (Chicago Bar Association) Record, April 2005 (with Michael W. Early and Keith W. Mandell).

“Not All Settlements of Claims Are Covered ‘Losses’ Under D&O or E&O Policies.”  Mealey’s Emerging Insurance Disputes, May 20, 2003 (with Scott O. Reed).

“Disqualifying an Opposing Party – Arbitrator before the Arbitration.”  Mealey’s Litigation Reports – Reinsurance, January 2001(with Scott O. Reed).

“What the Prudent Director or Officer of Illinois Non-Profit Corporations Should Know.”  Illinois Nonprofit Chronicle, November 2000 (with Keith W. Mandell).

“A Critical Examination of Plaintiffs’ Damage Analysis:  An Important Defensive Tactic after Daubert and Kumho.”  Andrews Corporate Officers and Directors Liability Reporter, January 2000 (with Scott O. Reed).

“When the Merits Matter:  The Influence of Insurance on Settlements in Securities Class Actions.” Andrews Securities Litigation and Regulation Reporter in three parts on December 23, 1998 (Part I); August 23, 1999 (Part II); and September 13, 1999 (Part III) (with James M. McCarrick).

“A Hypothetical – Can a Professional Recover under an E&O Policy for Lost Business Arising from Employee Negligence?” in Mealey’s Emerging Insurance Disputes, August 1998 (with Daniel W. Sherman and Scott G. Golinkin).

“If You Paid for Legal Services Recently, Chances are You Paid Too Much:  Hourly Billing and the Reasonable Attorney Fee Standard.”  CPCU Journal, September 1995 and reprinted in the 1996 Insurance Law Review (Vol. 7) as one of the year’s best insurance articles (with Scott G. Golinkin and Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne).

Principal Editor and Author “Directors and Officers Liability Deskbook” written by attorneys at Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold, 1993-1996.

Peer Review Award

Management Teaching Review. Outstanding Reviewer Recognition, 2017.

Refereed Conference Paper Presentations

“A Place for Poetry in the MBA Classroom? Use of a Poetry Gallery to Humanize and Deepen Students’ Understanding of Ethical and Legal Constructs and to Build Social Capital as part of a Reflective Classroom,” Academy of Legal Studies in Business  (“ALSB”) Annual Conference, Montreal Canada, August 7, 2019 (with William Van Buskirk La Salle University.)

“In Search Of An Ethical Compass: A Poetical Adventure,” Management Organizational Behavior Teaching Annual Conference (“MOBTC”), Rampano, New Jersey, June 5, 2019  (with William Van Buskirk, La Salle University  and Michael London, Muhlenberg College.

“Out of the Classroom and Into the Community: Fostering a Deeper Understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility through Engaged Learning,” 33th Annual Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Philadelphia, PA, March 30, 20196 (with Carolyn M. Plump of La Salle University and La Salle University Students.)

“In Living Color: Gathering Student Voices on Race,” Lasallian Huether Conference in, Denver Colorado, November 2017 (with Jaime Lynn Longo.)

“Taking Action in WAC Work: The Student Anthology on Race,” Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Conference in Houston, TX, April 2016 (with Megan Schoen and Jaime Longo of La Salle University and Betsy Allan of Oakland University; presented by Schoen, Longo and Allan.)

“’I Get by With a Little Help from My Friends’ Developing an Early Career Network and Building Your Social Capital,” 30th Annual Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Philadelphia, PA, March 19, 2016 (with Anne M. Walsh of La Salle University.)

“Nonprofit Entrepreneurship: An Exploratory Study of Emerging Organizations,” Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, November 21, 2015.

“The Volunteer Experience in Emerging NPOs: A Comparative Case Study,” Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, November 19, 2015.

“Magic from Minutes of Contractual Chaos: A Legal Knowledge, Business Judgement and Skill Development Exercise for the Introductory Business Law Classroom,” Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA August 8, 2015.

“Connecting Course, Capital and Career” 28th Annual Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 2014.

“Theories and Research on Nonprofit Emergence,” ARNOVA Dissertation Fellows Seminar, Indianapolis, IN, November 17, 2012.

“Leveraging Social Capital: An Examination of Chicago’s Tutor Mentor Movement,” Conference on Equity and Social Justice, Richard Stockton University, Pomona, NJ, March 2011.

Keynote Addresses

Women’s Leadership Conference at La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA February 19, 2015.

Eastern Undergraduate Sociology Conference at Villanova University, Rosemont, PA, April 19, 2013.

Invited and Professional Presentations

Invocation: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 9th Annual Interfaith Service at Founders Hall La Salle University, January 20, 2020.

Invited Presenter: “Gender Gap in Nonprofit Leadership” La Salle University and Women’s Nonprofit Leadership Initiative Research Report Launch Philadelphia, PA October 3, 2019.

Invited Presenter: “An Early Action Plan for Identifying and Building Your Social Capital” La Salle University Academic Discovery Program, June 27, 2018.

Invited Presenter: “An Early Action Plan for Identifying and Building Your Social Capital” La Salle University Academic Discovery Program, June 28, 2017.

Invited Presenter: “Building Quizzes Online” 2017 Faculty Summer Institute. La Salle University with Daniel Luchay, May 24, 2017.

Invited Presenter: Honors Program Forum for Prospective Students and their Families, March 31, 2017.

Presentation and Facilitated Discussion: “Do This One Small Thing: A Conversation on Race and Social Justice.” La Salle University Explorer Café with TiRease Holmes, February 22, 2017.

Invited Presenter: “Quiz Quandaries: Conversations about the Canvas Test Function” La Salle University with Catherine Holochwost, January 12, 2017.

Invited Presenter: “An Early Action Plan for Identifying and Building Your Social Capital” La Salle University Academic Discovery Program, July 19, 2016.

Presentation and Facilitated Discussion: “Introducing the Anthology on Race: Contemporary Student Writings on Race-Join the Conversation” La Salle University Explorer Café with Drs. Megan Schoen and Jaime Longo, February 3, 2016.

Moderator: Volunteer Track Panel, Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, November 19, 2015.

Moderator:  Ethics & CSR Panel, Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, August 8, 2015.

Invited Presenter: “An Early Action Plan for Identifying and Building Your Social Capital” La Salle University Academic Discovery Program, July 23, 2015.

Panelist: “What the Business Law Professor Needs to Know About Pre-Law Advising,” Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, August 7, 2015.

Invited Facilitator: Writing Across the Curriculum Faculty Development Seminar, La Salle University, MBA 902, May 18, 2015.

Invited Co-facilitator: Poetry Gallery with Dr. William Van Buskirk, La Salle University, MBA 902, April 26, 2015.

Invited Lecturer/Facilitator: “Go to the Balcony: Mediation in Practice” for Dr. Joseph Seltzer, La Salle University, MGTL 813, February 16, 2015.

Presentation and Facilitated Discussion: “Workplace Integrity: How Do You Speak Your Mind When You Know What’s Right: Ethics?” La Salle University Explorer Café with Dr. Lynn Miller, March 26, 2014.

Invited Paper Presentation: “An Exploratory Study of Nonprofit Organization Emergence” ARNOVA Dissertation Fellows Seminar, ARNOVA Annual Conference in, Hartford, CT, November 20, 2013.

Presentation: “So You Think You Want to Save the World?” La Salle University Explorer Café with Dr. Laura Otten, November 6, 2013.

Speaker and Panelist: Leadership and Ethics Conference: Focus on the Pharmaceutical Industry, La Salle University School of Business, October 24, 2013.

Invited Participant, White House Conference on Immigration and Gun Control, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, May 29-30, 2013.

Invited Lecture: “Reflecting on Arthur Miller’s All My Sons: What Does Corporate Crime and Corporate Social Responsibility Look Like in the New Millennium?” for Dr. Margot Soven, La Salle University, English 110, February 15, 2013.

Invited Presentation: “Translating Rights Based Disputes into Interest Based Resolutions,” La Salle University School of Business, May 4, 2012.

Participant: University of Chicago Urban Forum on Studies of Context, Chicago, IL, May 18, 2012.

Paper Presentation: “Our National Soul:  Leveraging Social Capital as an Expression of Values in Response to Aspiration and Need– An Exploratory Study of the Emergence of Non Profit Organizations,” University of Michigan Department of Sociology, Inequality Working Group, Ann Arbor, MI, April 25, 2012.

Invited Lecture: “So You Want to Start a Nonprofit: How Much Social Capital Have You Banked?” for Dr. Joseph Rubenstein at Richard Stockton College, February 1, 2012.

Invited Participant: White House Conference on Sustainable and Green Communities with U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, December 6, 2011.

Moderator and Speaker: “The Birth of Relevant Research and Good Practice: The Enduring Chicken or Egg Issue?” Association of Researchers on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada, November 2011.

Invited Lecture: “Situating Community Organizations in a Socio-Legal Context” for Dr. Joseph Rubenstein at Richard Stockton College, Fall 2011.

Course Taught: “Introduction to Sociology through Community Organizations” for Dr. Joseph Rubenstein at Richard Stockton College, Pomona, NJ, Fall Term 2011, Spring Term 2011.

Invited Participant, White House Conference on Education with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, March 24, 2011.

Moderator and Speaker: “Under Fire:  The Criminal D&O Defendant” at the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) International Conference in San Diego, November 2004.

Speaker: “Emerging Issues in Handling Professional Liability Claims” at the PLUS International Conference in Philadelphia, November 2003.

Speaker: “Ensuring Protection for D&O Coverage in Corporate Bankruptcies” at the Institute for International Research Seminar on D&O Liability in New York, September 2003.

Moderator and Speaker: “A Critical Examination of Plaintiffs’ Damage Analysis:  An Important Defensive Tactic after Daubert and Kumho” at the PLUS International Conference San Diego, November 2000.

Moderator and Speaker: “The Debate You Asked for:  Is Damage Analysis in Securities Litigation Against Directors and Officers Junk Science?”  at the PLUS International Conference New York, November 1999.

Moderator and Speaker: “Valuing the Claim Against Directors and Officers:  How Damages Sought in a Securities Complaint Impact Settlements, Judgments, Reserves and Underwriting” PLUS International Conference in Palm Springs, California, November 1998.

Speaker: “Emerging Areas of Directors and Officers Liability” at the PLUS Directors and Officers Liability Symposium in New York, January 1998.

Speaker: “Non-Profit Professional Liability Insurance and Employment Practices Liability Claims.” Chicago Bar Association, January 1996

Speaker: “Professional Liability Coverage Issues.” Chicago Bar Association, January 1995.

Speaker: “Emerging Issues in Directors and Officers Liability Insurance” at Lloyd’s of London, Spring 1994.

Speaker: “Risk Management for Meeting Planning: Issues of Liability and Insurance.”  American Society of Association Executives in Orlando, Florida, March 1993.

Professional and Civic Activities

Academy of Legal Studies in Business: Steering Committee Proposed Teaching and Pedagogical Section 2019-present
Immaculate Conception Church, Jenkintown: Lector 2016-onoging
International Health Care Volunteers: Volunteer
Board of Directors (2011-13) Outstanding Community Service Award (2009). 2010 to 2015
Vanderbilt University School of Law: Class Agent
Outreach to fellow alumni in support of development efforts. 2009 to 2012
Association of Researchers in Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Associations
Vice-President Pracademic Committee. 2010 to 2012
Children’s Home & Aid Society, Chicago, IL:
Licensed Foster and adoptive parent. 2002 to 2010
Illinois Humane Society, Chicago, IL: Board of Directors
Select, award, administer and evaluate grants to nonprofit organizations for the benefit of disadvantaged children. 2000 to 2007
Archbishop Quigley High School Seminary, Chicago, IL:
Board of Directors (2001 to 2005)
Chairperson (2002 to 2005)
Appointed by Chicago Archbishop to this board overseeing operations of century-old minor seminary.
Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), Chicago, IL:
Board of Directors (1986 to 2003)
Secretary (1995 to 1997)
Devoted 17 years of service and leadership to this nonprofit organization that sponsors legal interns and fellows at public interest entities and promotes pro bono work among members of the legal community. Recipient in 1994 of the Distinguished Public Interest Law Initiative Distinguished Alumni Award.

Leadership Greater Chicago: Fellow
Participated in program of fellows competitively selected from various professional disciplines to study critical issues facing the greater Chicago metropolitan area. 1997 to 1998
HighSight: Founder and Incorporator, President, Director and Principal Benefactor
Founded and worked as volunteer executive director of this 501(C)(3) non-profit organization in service to residents of the Chicago Cabrini-Green public housing development and surrounding areas, by providing scholarship assistance, tutoring and mentoring to low income inner-city minority youths. Responsible for incorporation, programming, fundraising, board recruitment and development. Recipient of the Chicago Bar Foundation Thomas A. Demetrio “Lend a Hand” Award in 1995 and induction into the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic School Hall of Fame in 1996 for the founding of and work with HighSight. 1992 to 1997