Carrie L. Urrutia’s practice includes counseling on employment policies and handbooks, training, representing employers in administrative proceedings, defending against discrimination claims and providing guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), drug testing, privacy, harassment, workers' compensation and a host of other employment law issues.

Ms. Urrutia regularly defends employers in state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies throughout Ohio.  She is a member of Eastman & Smith. 

A frequent lecturer on a range of employment law issues, Ms. Urrutia enjoys facilitating training for her clients and other industry groups.  While in law school, Ms. Urrutia served as a published member and editor of the University of Toledo Law Review.

Experience

Carrie L. Urrutia’s practice covers the range of employment issues, including:

• Appellate Practice
• Background Checks
• Disability Accommodation & Leaves of Absence
• Discrimination & Harassment
• eDiscovery
• Employee Benefits
• Employment Practice Audits & Investigations
• Grievance & Arbitration Processing
• Hiring, Performance Management & Termination
• Labor Relations
• Litigation & Trials
• Policies & Procedures (Handbooks)
• Retaliation & Whistleblowing
• Temporary Staff & Contingent Workers
• Training & Compliance
• Unfair Competition, Confidentiality & Trade Secrets
• Wage & Hour
• Workers' Compensation
• Workplace Data Privacy, Including HIPAA and GINA

Community/Professional Affiliations

Professional Involvement

• Ohio State Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
• Sandusky County Human Resources Management Association (legislative director and board member)
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• Toledo Bar Association
• Certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Labor and Employment Law Specialist (2009 - 2025)

Community Involvement

• Adelante, Inc. (past president and board member)
• ABLE/Legal Aid of Western Ohio Campaign for Equal Justice (co-chair)
• ABLE/Legal Aid of Western Ohio Access to Justice Steering Committee

Honors & Awards

• Best Lawyers in America®, 2026 - Present
• Toledo's Who's Who in Area Law, Toledo Business Journal, 2016, 2021  
• Ohio Rising Star in Super Lawyers magazine from 2011 - 2016
• Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 & Under from the Ohio State Bar Foundation, 2012. 
• 20 Under 40 Award, 2012

Spotlight

Events & Speaking Engagements

Publications & Newsletters

Articles