After her first few years of practice, she has focused her practice on employment matters, shareholder issues and the challenges facing the early childhood education industry. She has practiced employment law for more than 25 years, has chaired the employment groups of large law firms and is a founder of Engelmeier & Umanah. Both Sheila and the Firm pride themselves on a down-to-earth approach that achieves effective and efficient solutions for clients. She has been named a "Super Lawyer" on many occasions, a "Top 50 Woman Super Lawyer," a "Top 40 Employment Super Lawyer," and a "Top 100 Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics, and was selected by the Business Journal as a "Woman to Watch" in the Twin Cities' business community. 

 

Sheila's tenacity and attention to detail make her extremely successful in handling employment matters. She often assists both companies and executives in negotiating intricate employment agreements. She has handled the full panoply of employment litigation matters, from noncompetes to discrimination or sexual harassment cases. Sheila is a veteran both in administration tribunals and in court handling disputes about workplace worries from "soup to nuts" (sometimes literally). She's handled everything from hiring to firing, including employee theft and contract disputes; she litigates post-employment fights about unfair competition and misuse of corporate property; and she assists companies in developing effective selection and performance management programs. 

 

Sheila has developed and facilitated numerous training programs on a variety of workplace issues such as diversity, effective and respectful termination strategies, avoiding harassment and discrimination and dealing with the disabled worker. In collaboration with her colleague Sue Fischer, Sheila developed the premier training tool, RESPECT EFFECT TM. Employers regularly ask Sheila to train both managers and employees, individually and collectively. Her effectiveness in this area comes, in part, from Sheila's knowledge that different communication strategies are necessary for varying workshops and audiences. For example, after 25+ years of experience, Sheila has learned that in one-to-one boundary coaching, some executives need a strong hand, while others need an education or a sympathetic ear. And, with employee workshops, participants gain more from self-discovery than from lecture. 

 

Sheila also successfully practices in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR"). Sheila approaches dispute resolution in an insightful and flexible manner. Sheila applies her extensive employment law knowledge, business savvy and persuasion skills to help resolve disputes.