Laurianne Balkum is a Partner specializing in employment law, with more than a decade of experience advising businesses, government entities, and corporate leadership on complex workplace and compliance matters. Her experience spans civil litigation, in-house counsel and federal government service. At RRS, her practice focuses on employment counseling and litigation, including workplace policies, employee relations, hiring and termination matters, wage and hour compliance, discrimination and retaliation claims, restrictive covenants, and risk management strategies.
Prior to joining the firm, Laurianne served as counsel with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of General Counsel, where she advised federal agencies on a broad range of legal and regulatory matters. She also served as in-house counsel and corporate director for a national technology franchisor, providing guidance on employment law, corporate governance, contracts, privacy, and litigation management. Earlier in her career, Laurianne practiced labor and employment law at a national defense firm, representing employers in litigation, administrative proceedings, mediations, and workplace compliance matters.
Laurianne is a frequent presenter on legal and regulatory topics and is known for her practical, business-minded approach to solving complex legal issues. She earned her J.D. from Baylor Law School, where she was awarded a Dean’s Academic Full Tuition Scholarship and was a member of the Order of the Barristers. Laurianne lives out in the country with her family, where she enjoys training her German Shepherd dogs and running them through their Schutzhund course.