Lynn E. Calkins

Lynn E. Calkins is a trial lawyer and appellate advocate, concentrating in civil enforcement actions and federal regulatory litigation. Ms. Calkins is experienced in representing clients in civil disputes involving the federal government and plaintiff advocacy groups, including defending clients against civil enforcement actions and bringing affirmative challenges to final agency actions.

Ms. Calkins is experienced in challenging an agency's regulatory authority through the defense of civil enforcement actions and affirmatively filing rulemaking challenges brought under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and in seeking nationwide restraining orders of regulations where applicable. As a result, Ms. Calkins co-leads the firm's Chevron Deference Working Team and has been quoted frequently on the impact of the Loper Bright decision.

Ms. Calkins also regularly defends selling shareholders and companies with respect to fiduciary and prohibited transaction issues related to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and other employee benefit plans arising under the Employee Retirement Security Act (ERISA). These matters are usually putative class action lawsuits filed by plaintiff firms or government investigations brought by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Ms. Calkins is a member of the ESOP Association, and many of the precedential cases she has defended have been cited during presentations during those legal forums.

With a particular focus on defending discrimination and accessibility cases, Ms. Calkins also represents public and private real estate investment trusts (REITs), developers, hotels, website operators, restaurants, local governments and financial institutions in the defense of claims under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and similar state law claims. Ms. Calkins' cases are varied and cover issues relating to alleged patterns and practices of discrimination, disparate impact, design and construction, criminal background screening and many other subsets of anti-discrimination laws. She is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA), and is regularly asked to speak on evolving enforcement issues affecting the multifamily housing industry.

Ms. Calkins is based in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., and Nashville offices, but her practice is national. She has successfully defended and affirmatively filed actions in many federal courts across the country.

Ms. Calkins serves as the deputy section leader of Holland & Knight's Litigation Section. Previously, she served as a member of the firm's Directors Committee and as the practice group leader for the firm's Washington, D.C., Litigation Group. In 2004, Ms. Calkins was selected for Holland & Knight's Rising Stars program, a dynamic and intensive program in leadership, marketing and management. In 2005, she co-chaired that program. Prior to her current roles, Ms. Calkins served as the marketing partner for the firm's three offices in the Mid-Atlantic region.

In 1995, Ms. Calkins clerked for the Honorable Deborah K. Chasanow in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, where she now serves as a member of the court's Bench-Bar Liaison Committee.