Jennifer Gottschalk Lepentis

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JENNIFER GOTTSCHALK LEPENTIS

With 25 years of legal experience in the consumer services, retail, and financial services sectors, I offer a unique background in both corporate leadership and private practice. I have diverse experience across multiple practice areas, including enterprise risk management, employment law, payments and prepaid instruments, regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, Board and investor relations, business law, M&A, and commercial, securities, and employment individual and class action litigation. I am excited to bring this experience, as well as my business-first approach, to clients in my practice at Rouse Frets, where my primary practice areas are employment law, payments & prepaid instruments, general business law, and offering general counsel services. During my tenure at Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc, a publicly traded financial services company, I played a pivotal role in leading the enterprise through legal challenges, partnering with executives and leaders across the organization to create long-term business growth, developing legal talent, creating an inclusive and high-performing culture, and building consensus with stakeholders to move the organization forward. I am skilled at coordinating resources to mitigate risk, crafting strategic plans, as well as leading in times of crisis to achieve the right solutions for the best business outcomes. Prior to joining W&R, I managed business and labor/employment litigation for Blackwell Sanders (now Husch Blackwell) and served as in-house counsel at Hallmark Cards, providing employment law counsel to Hallmark leaders. I also served as a federal law clerk for an Article judge at the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.In addition to my legal work, I served as a member of the Board of Directors and Joint Underwriting and Risk Management Committees for ICI Mutual Insurance Company, collaborating with senior executives and fund independent directors, gaining valuable insights into governance and the risk management industry.I thrive on working strategically with my clients, helping them to navigate the legal landscape in a manner that positions them to achieve their business and strategic objectives. Executive Leadership | Employment Law | Payments & Prepaid Instruments | Regulatory Compliance | General Counsel Services | Crisis Management | Legal Department Management & Operations | Litigation – Employment, Commercial, Class Action & Securities | Executive Compensation