Debra focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling, representing employers in complex workplace and related business disputes. With nearly three decades of experience, she helps companies navigate employment laws and make practical, legally sound decisions across all stages of the employment relationship.
Clients work with Debra for:
•Defense of employment claims, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
•Strategic counseling on workplace issues, compliance, and risk management
•Handling administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies
•Non-compete, non-solicitation, and trade secret disputes
•Investigations into workplace misconduct and compliance issues
Employment Litigation and Advising
Debra works closely with employers to develop practical solutions that align legal compliance with business objectives. She regularly counsels companies on restrictive covenants, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, with a particular focus on the financial services industry and the “Protocol for Broker Recruiting.” She frequently represents clients in court seeking or opposing temporary restraining orders and injunctions.
Her practice also includes representing educational institutions-including public and private schools, charter schools, and online schools-in matters involving discrimination, contract disputes, and data privacy issues. She regularly serves as a hearing officer for expulsion matters across Minnesota and has spoken at school law conferences on employment and education-related topics.
She also advises financial professionals on transitions between firms, including compliance with the Broker Protocol, and represents clients in related non-compete and non-solicitation disputes.
Leadership and Firm Involvement
A leader within the firm, Debra serves as Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She also serves as the firm’s representative for Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, overseeing its involvement in the TCDIP First Year Summer Rotation Clerkship Program.
Debra has been consistently recognized for her work. She has been selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Super Lawyers list in the area of Employment Litigation: Defense (2021-2025), an honor awarded to only five percent of attorneys in the state. She was also selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Rising Stars list (2005-2013), a distinction awarded to no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys.
Debra is licensed to practice in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota.
Accolades
•Awarded the highest possible Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, AV Preeminent (AV is a registered certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies)
•Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America in the area of Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2022-2026
•Selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Super Lawyers list in the area of Employment Litigation: Defense, Thomson Reuters, (only five percent of the lawyers in the state were selected), 2021-2025
•Selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Rising Stars list, Thomson Reuters, (Only 2.5 percent of the Minnesota attorneys are given this honor), 2005-2013
•Hamline Law Review, member (1996-1997)
•Hamline Law Review, Managing Editor (1997-1998)
Speaking Engagements
•Co-presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Common Mistakes in Employment Law and How to Avoid Them (April 30, 2026)
•North Dakota Hospital Association Annual Convention, The FMLA: Focus on Intermittent Leave and Mental Health (October 2023)
•MRA 2020 Employment Law Update, Clearing the Smoke on Minnesota’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Requirements in Light of Medical Marijuana, CBD Oils, and Lawful Consumables in the Workplace (March 2020)
•Marsh & McLennan Agency Construction Law Update 2020, Medical Marijuana: It's High Time to Figure it Out (February 2020)
•North Dakota Hospital Association Annual Convention, The Basics of FMLA (October 2019)
•Marsh & McLennan Agency Seminar, Sexual Harassment in the Age of #MeToo (September 2019)
•Southwest Metro HR Association, Challenges and Solutions for Employers in this New Era of Workplace Harassment in Light of the #MeToo Movement (May 2019)
•MRA Employment Law Update 2019, Challenges and Solutions for Employers in this New Era of Workplace Harassment: #MeToo or #NotUs? (March 2019)
•Panelist, Advent Employment Law Seminar (February 2019)
•North Dakota Hospital Association 84th Annual Convention, Sexual Harassment in the Age of #MeToo (October 2018)
•Lockton Companies, Sexual Harassment in the Age of #MeToo, More than Just a Hashtag (September 2018)
•MRA Employment Law Update Conference, How to Employ the Best Applicant (March 2018)
•North Dakota Long Term Care Association's Annual Convention, Weeding Out the Confusion: North Dakota's Medical Marijuana Law (May 2017)
•Boulay Accounting Firm Breakfast Seminar, Medical Marijuana: It's High Time to Figure it Out (July 2015)
•Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM), Minnesota SHRM Fall Conference, 2014 Employment Law Update (October 2014)
•Human Resource Professionals (HRP) Panel Discussion, Golden Valley Country Club, 'Until Verdict Do We Part!' Creating and Fostering Strategic Partnerships Between HR Leaders and Legal Practitioners (October 2014)
•Lakes Area Human Resources Association, Addressing Mental Health Disabilities in the Workplace (March 2014)
•Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Minnesota SHRM Fall Conference, Addressing Mental Health Disabilities in the Workplace (October 2013)
•Southwest Metro Human Resources Association (SWMHRA), Dealing with Sales Representatives (October 2013)
•Human Resource Professionals (HRP), 2013 Spring Conference, Lawyer UP! Building A Successful Partnership with Outside Counsel (April 2013)
•Lightning Round Presentation on the Fair Labor Standards Act, 4th Annual Charter School Conference (August 2012)
•Southwest Metro Human Resources Association (SWMHRA), Cyberlaw 101: Get Your Head Out of the Cloud(s)! (April 2012)
•Preferred Resource Group (PRG), Understanding the FINRA Process and Tips to Help Minimize Risk (January 2012)
•Human Resource Professionals Edina Networking Group, Temps and Contractors: Reducing Legal Risks and Avoiding 'Co-Employment' Relationships (May 2011)
•Human Resource Professionals, 2011 HRP Spring Conference Sponsor (April 2011)
•Southwest Metro Human Resource Association (SWMHRA), Temps and Contractors: Reducing Legal Risks and Managing Alternative Work Relationships (January 2011)
•2010 School Law Conference, Avoiding Legal Land Mines of the FMLA (November 2010)
•Human Resource Professionals (HRP), Avoiding Legal Land Mines of the FMLA (July 2010)
•American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA), Avoiding Legal Land Mines of the FMLA (June 2010)
•Southwest Metro Human Resource Association (SWMHRA), Get Smart - Gaining Control Over the Actions of Departing Employees (January 2010)
•HR Roundtable Group, ADAA, COBRA and FMLA (March 2009)
•Meagher & Geer Breakfast Seminar, HR Do’s and Don’ts (June 2008)
•HR Roundtable Group, Hot Topics in HR (March 2008)
•Minnesota Chapter of the American Mold Builders Association, Top Ten Ways to Avoid Costly Litigation (February 2008)
Published Articles
•'How the Narrowing of the Definition of Health Care Provider Under the FFCRA Affects Health Care Providers' North Dakota Hospital Association, NDHA Informer (October 2020)
•'DHS Updates Form I-9 Review Requirements' Employment Law Update (April 2020)
•'Employer Obligations after FMLA Leave is Exhausted' Client Alert (August 2019)
•'New Wage Theft Law Affects Minnesota Employers' Client Alert (July 2019)
•'Sexual Harassment in the Age of #MeToo: What Minnesota Employers Need to Know' for MMA (April 2019)
•'Sexual Harassment in the Age of #MeToo: What North Dakota Employers Need to Know' North Dakota Medical Association, ND Physician (Winter 2019)
•'Understanding the Changes to Minnesota’s Whistleblower Act -- Not So Clean as a Whistle' For MMA (January 2019)
•“Allocation Considerations in Employment Discrimination Settlements: The Taxing Details” The Hennepin Lawyer (July 2017)
•'The Affordable Care Act's Employer Mandate: Guide to Advising Large Employers' The Hennepin Lawyer (September 2013)
•'What Every Employer Should Know About Social Media' AASPA Best Practices in School Personnel (May, June, July 2012)
•Employment Law Updates newsletter (March 2008, May 2008)
•'The Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Acts: Does Disclosure Violate an Offender’s Right to Privacy?' 20 Hamline Law Review 557 (1998)
News
•Aug 21, 2025
Meagher + Geer congratulates its 23 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in 2026
•Jul 15, 2025
Meagher + Geer congratulates its 19 attorneys named to the 2025 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list
•Mar 17, 2025
Meagher + Geer congratulates its attorneys recognized in The Annual List of Top Women Attorneys 2025 published by Minnesota Super Lawyers
Events
•Apr 30, 2026
Common Mistakes in Employment Law and How to Avoid Them Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Seminar: How to Become a Successful Employment Lawyer
•Jul
25 - 26,
2021
Federated Challenge: Supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters Meagher + Geer is a proud sponsor of 2021 The Federated Challenge
•Mar 12, 2020
MRA 2020 Employment Law Update - Minnesota and Federal Clearing the Smoke on Minnesota’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Requirements in Light of Medical Marijuana, CBD Oils, and Lawful Consumables in the Workplace, presented by Debra Weiss and Erik Rootes
Articles
•Oct 6, 2020
How the Narrowing of the Definition of Health Care Provider Under the FFCRA Affects Health Care Providers
Authored by Debra Weiss and Navita Lakhram for North Dakota Hospital Association
•Apr 2, 2020
Employment Law Update: DHS Updates Form I-9 Review Requirements
Employment Law Update by Debra Weiss and Navita Lakhram
•Aug 6, 2019
Employer Obligations after FMLA Leave is Exhausted
Employment Law Update by Debra Weiss
