Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has a notable track record when acting for large, international corporations and financial institutions in the labor and employment space, including high-profile clients such as Amazon, Uber and Ford. The group stands out for its handling of anti-discrimination law matters, non-compete and trade secrets issues, wage and hour mandates and whistleblower disputes. It is further recognized for its involvement in topics of relevance including the #MeToo movement and the gig economy. The team is jointly led by Washington DC-based Jason Schwartz, who has notable experience in litigation and arbitration proceedings, and Los Angeles-based Katherine Smith, who focuses on large-scale class actions and executive disputes. Also recommended is wage and hour specialist Catherine Conway, who works alongside Jesse Cripps in LA; he is an experienced litigator before trial and appellate courts. Joshua Lipshutz is an expert in contractor misclassification matters and divides his time between the DC and LA offices. Notable changes to the team include DC-based Molly Senger making partner in early 2021 and Eugene Scalia rejoining the firm in April 2021 after his time as US Secretary of Labor. In late 2021, the practice also welcomed Harris Mufson and Danielle Moss from Proskauer Rose LLP.

Jones Day exhibits an expert approach with regard to an extensive range of labor and employment disputes, acting for clients in a variety of industries. The group is recognized for having a strong track record when dealing with wage and hour cases; disability, age, race and gender discrimination actions; trade secrets; and employee mobility issues. New York-based Matthew Lampe, who is well versed in class actions, leads the practice alongside Chicago-based discrimination expert Elizabeth McRee. With experience in a range of employment matters, Michael Gray supports the team in Chicago, handling class actions and discrimination cases. Aaron Agenbroad fulfills a similar role by specializing in a range of wage and hour class actions in San Francisco. In Washington DC, Thomas Chiavetta is an experienced litigator focusing on the transportation industry. Reinforcing the practice’s efforts is Eric Dreiband, who rejoined the team in February 2021 from the Department of Justice. In similar fashion, Kate O’Scannlain joined the firm from the Department of Labor in May 2021. Further changes to the team include Allison Crow and Kelsey Israel-Trummel making partner in January 2021.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP continues to impress with its strong track record in defending large financial institutions and companies in significant labor and employment disputes. The group handles a busy caseload covering the whole gamut of employment litigation, including class, collective and single-plaintiff actions as well as wage and hour claims and discrimination lawsuits. The practice is jointly led by Washington DC-based Grace Speights, who is well regarded for her work investigating workplace misconduct claims, and David McManus, who divides his time between New York and Boston. He also is knowledgeable in the restructuring and redeployment of workforces. In Philadelphia, Michael Banks handles a wide range of litigations involving employment, benefits, IP and personal injury matters. Sarah Bouchard, also in Philadelphia, is particularly known for conducting internal investigations related to sexual harassment and other misconduct allegations. Anne Marie Estevez in Miami focuses on complex class and collective actions, while Samuel Shaulson, who spends his time between New York and Miami, specializes in issues arising from the FLSA, wage and hour claims, and collective actions. Other key names include Lincoln Bisbee in New York and Washington DC and Melissa Rodriguez in New York. New additions to the San Francisco team include Michael Weil in June 2021, formerly at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and Brian Berry in October 2021, formerly at Ogletree Deakins.

Paul Hastings LLP has a notable track record in class actions, trials, arbitration proceedings and complex litigation, often acting for a range of clients in the technology, banking and retail industries. The team, which is led by Los Angeles-based Elena Baca, acts on discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower and wage and hour matters. Also in LA, Leslie Abbott acts as co-chair for the firm’s wage and hour nationwide practice, while Cameron Fox, who focuses on employment relations in the technology industry, chairs the employment department. In Washington DC, Barbara Brown handles cases relating to pay equity and discrimination, working alongside the experienced Kenneth Willner. New York-based Patrick Shea has nearly 40 years of expertise in employment-related litigation, while associate Sara Tomezsko is noted for her work on discrimination and sexual harassment cases. In LA, Felicia Davis represents employers in the media, entertainment and technology industries. Also based in San Francisco, Jeffrey Wohl deals with class actions as the chair of the firm’s San Francisco practice. Other key contacts include San Francisco-based Ryan Derry and LA-based associate Chris Jalian.

Proskauer Rose LLP stands out for its excellent reputation when acting for universities, professional sports leagues and companies in the financial services, media and healthcare sectors. It is involved in litigation and arbitration, with a recurring focus on class and collective actions, wage and hour disputes, labor management and employment counselling. The group is jointly led by New-York based Neil Abramson, who has expertise in complex collective bargaining disputes, and California-based Anthony Oncidi; he is well versed in acting as lead counsel for clients in the media and entertainment industries. In Boston, Mark Batten is recognized for his work in class actions, although he often acts as counsel for employment-related issues too. Elise Bloom in New York has over 30 years of experience and is noted as a key contact for wage and hour disputes and class and collective actions, while Keisha-Ann Gray in the same office focuses on discrimination and harassment matters. Also in New York, senior counsel Michelle Annese has experience representing clients before relevant courts in connection with discrimination and retaliation issues.

Praised for the ‘great partnership between its general litigators and the employment experts‘, O’Melveny & Myers LLP is active in a broad range of sectors, including the media and entertainment, transportation, financial services and education. The group handles a busy caseload spanning discrimination lawsuits, non-competition litigation, wage and hour claims and investigations into workplace misconduct. Los Angeles-based Apalla Chopra is especially sought after to conduct internal investigations into allegations of workplace harassment and sexual misconduct. She leads the practice together with Eric Amdursky in Silicon Valley, who focuses on compensation disputes, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants and breach of fiduciary duty. Discrimination and wage and hour disputes expert Susannah Howard in San Francisco is another key name.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s ‘expertise is invaluable’ when handling an array of class action, harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination matters. Led by Julie Totten, who divides her time between Sacramento and San Francisco, the firm acts for clients in the financial, professional services and TMT sectors. Lynne Hermle, who has 40 years of experience as an employment litigator and trial lawyer, works out of Silicon Valley, while New York-based Mike Delikat is regarded for his work in connection with whistleblower claims and internal investigations. Also in New York, Jill Rosenberg handles sensitive sexual harassment and discrimination claims, and Lisa Lupion is noted as a key contact for internal investigations as well as litigation and arbitration proceedings. Senior associate Mark Thompson supports the team in New York by acting on litigation and counseling matters. In Silicon Valley, the practice also features Julia Riechert, ‘a stand-out attorney’ with a focus on harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower claims. Erin Connell is a further key contact in San Francisco, acting for Oracle in a high profile pay equity case. Changes to the team include the departure of Michael Weil in June 2021, who joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

The labor and employment team at Seyfarth Shaw LLP is highly regarded for its ‘knowledge of the law, briefing skills, courtroom skills, due diligence, case preparation and commitment to winning the case’. The practice is particularly known for its strong track record of defeating class certification while also housing capabilities in complex wage and hour disputes and discrimination lawsuits. It benefits from its ability to leverage the firm’s national team of trial lawyers. Working in close collaboration with the firm’s eDiscovery and information governance team, it also assists clients with the statistical analysis and data visualization of issues such as equity pay analysis and exemption classifications. Discrimination lawsuit expert Laura Maechtlen leads the practice from San Francisco. Supporting the group in Chicago is Gerald Maatman, Jr., who is well versed in class action litigation, and Camille Olson, who has experience in wage and hour claims, independent contractor issues and discrimination lawsuits. Class and collective action expert Coby Turner in Sacramento is also recommended. Atlanta-based Annette Idalski, ‘an amazing lawyer and leader’, joined the firm in May 2021 from Chamberlain Hrdlicka.

Based in New York, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is appreciated for having a ‘good understanding of client needs and nuances’ when acting for financial institutions, and public and private corporations, with notable experience handling discrimination, wage and hour, and restrictive covenant actions. Leading the practice is John Barry, who joined the team from Proskauer Rose LLP in September 2021. With over 30 years of experience, Gary Friedman is noted for his expertise in ‘complex employment related legal matters.’ Counsel Ami Zweig is recognized as an integral team member. In April 2021, Jeffrey Klein departed the firm to join Clarick Gueron Reisbaum LLP. 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has notable experience in class and collective actions, often representing large corporations from the retail, food and drink, sports and services industries. The team, which is led by Washington DC-based Bob Lian, acts in wage and hour class actions, labor issues and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) disputes. Supporting these efforts is Daniel L Nash, a recognized litigation lawyer, with arbitration and litigation specialists Stacey Eisenstein and Esther G Lander also noted in Washington DC. In charge of the Los Angeles office is Gregory W. Knopp, who has experience in PAGA claims. Donna Mezias in San Francisco is a key contact for California labor and employment matters. Gary McLaughlin departed in September 2021 to Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.

BakerHostetler is well versed in class and collective as well as single-plaintiff claims. With its specialist expertise in discrimination lawsuits, wage and hour claims and issues related to the FSLA and employee misclassification, the group is often retained by clients from a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, insurance, hospitality and telecommunications. Based in New York, Amy Traub heads up the practice. In Cleveland, Gregory Mersol focuses on discrimination, benefits and wage and hour matters. Supporting the team in Los Angeles is Margaret Rosenthal, whose expertise spans PAGA cases and wrongful termination. Kevin Shaughnessy in Orlando and Scott McIntyre in Cincinnati are also noted for their expertise.

DLA Piper LLP (US)‘ employment team’s expertise spans wage and hour claims, discrimination lawsuits, non-compete and trade secret matters, and misclassification issues. Equipped in class, collective and single plaintiff actions, the group is noted for representing clients in complex disputes before trial and appellate courts. Splitting his time between New York and Short Hills, litigation and arbitration expert Brian Kaplan directs the practice. In San Diego, Mary Dollarhide focuses on wage and hour class actions brought under state and federal laws, including PAGA cases. Dallas-based Marc Katz has extensive experience in trade secret and unfair competition litigation. Supporting the team in New York is Joseph Piesco, who focuses on discrimination and wage and hour lawsuits. Daniel Fazio, formerly at Winston & Strawn LLP,  joined the Chicago office in September 2021. Other new additions include former Littler Mendelson, P.C. practitioner Richard Rahm and former Goodwin lawyer Sarah Tauman, who joined the Los Angeles office in January and July 2021, respectively.

Greenberg Traurig LLP is frequently sought after to act on discrimination lawsuits, wage and hour, whistleblower and harassment claims as well as issues related to the FLSA. Skilled in collective, class and single-plaintiff action, the practice takes advantage of the ability to leverage the firm’s interstate capabilities and strong expertise in litigation. Philadelphia-based James Boudreau, who also covers employer-sponsored arbitration programs, heads the practice alongside Naomi Beer in Denver; she is well versed in multi-district litigation. In New York, Jonathan Sulds regularly handles ERISA litigation and wage and hour matters. Other key names include Charles Thompson in San Francisco, Natasha Wilson in Atlanta and Wendy Johnson Lario in New Jersey.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is regularly engaged in wage and hour claims, discrimination and harassment allegations, trade secret matters and issues related to the ERISA. Representing clients from the the financial services, manufacturing and retail sectors, among others, the group is well versed in class and collective as well as single-plaintiff claims. The practice’s leadership is split between Los Angeles-based Emily Burkhardt Vicente is experienced in high-stakes litigation proceedings. She jointly heads the practice with Kevin White in Washington DC, who often handles wage and hour and discrimination cases. Also in Washington DC is Ryan Bates, who is skilled in class and collective actions. In Houston, Scott Nelson deals with most employment matters, including ERISA class actions and trade secret disputes. Other key names include Michael Brett Burns and Roland Juarez in Los Angeles and Christopher Pardo in Boston.

Led by experienced trial lawyers, the team at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP acts for a diverse range of clients, including individuals and businesses in the financial services, real estate, retail, and health care spaces, and is able to handle discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wages and hour class actions, enforcement of non-compete clauses, and the full range of enforcement matters before key agencies. The practice is led by Mark W. Lerner , an experienced employment litigator who acts for a number of high-profile clients across wage and hour actions, employee raiding, termination, and harassment claims, among others, while Jessica Taub Rosenberg , a consistent litigator on behalf of senior executives and employers facing a variety of labor claims, is another key senior team member. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP offers a diverse range of services in the labor and employment space, dealing with complex class actions and single-plaintiff litigation. With a presence on both coasts, it acts for national and international companies from the TMT, financial services and healthcare sectors. The team is led by Los Angeles-based Esra Hudson, a high-stakes litigator with experience in wage and hour class and collective actions. Andrew Satenberg, who is also in LA, is noted for his track record when representing clients in the retail industry, while San Francisco-based Sharon Bauman advises management on discrimination, harassment and discharge issues. Deborah Kelly, who divides her time between Washington DC and New York, is also regarded for her work on retaliation matters.

The employment team at Mayer Brown often handles complex and high-profile disputes and litigation on behalf of domestic and global companies from the financial services, insurance, and TMT sectors, among others. Leveraging the firm’s international network and strong cross-practice capabilities, the group is skilled in the whole gamut of employment matters as well as cross-border issues. Based in Chicago, Andrew Rosenman, who is well versed in trials, class and collective actions, and appellate cases in state and federal courts, directs the practice. Marcia Goodman in the same office deals with cross-border matters and discrimination lawsuits. Leading the group alongside Rosenman is Los Angeles-based Ruth Zadikany, a ‘prominent’ and ‘superb’ litigator with extensive experience in PAGA cases, wage and hour claims and class actions.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP handles a range of employment litigation and compliance work for its corporate management and media industry clients. Led by Chicago-based Michael Sheehan, the group specializes in trade secret and non-compete litigation, but also deals with accessibility cases, wage and hour claims and class and collective actions. In San Francisco, the practice features Ellen Bronchetti, with experience standing before relevant courts in trade secret, whistleblower and wrongful termination disputes. Also in San Francisco, Ron Holland handles wage and hour class actions, whistleblower cases and harassment disputes, while Chicago-based Rachel Cowen has experience dealing with discrimination and wrongful termination matters. Maria Rodriguez in Los Angeles acts for domestic and international clients in single plaintiff and wage and hour class actions.

McGuireWoods LLP is noted for its ability to act on a range of labor and employment issues for its clients in the health, energy and technology sectors. The practice represents these clients in wage and hour disputes, discrimination matters, and transitional arrangements for senior executives. The practice is led by Los Angeles-based Sabrina Beldner, with experience in discrimination and wage and hour litigation. Also featured in the team are IP-specialist Rodney Satterwhite and Dana Rust in Virginia; the latter has over 30 years of experience in litigation and labor negotiations. Also in Virginia, associate John Thomas focuses on trade secrets and restrictive covenant disputes.

The employment team at Dentons is particularly known for its ability to leverage the firm’s international network to assist clients with cross-border issues. The group handles a busy caseload of discrimination lawsuits, harassment allegations, accessibility and accommodation claims as well as non-compete matters. In San Francisco, Sandra McCandless advises on all aspects of employment matters, including class actions, litigation, arbitration and mediation. Los Angeles-based Nick Pujji is skilled in wage and hour claims and trade secrets. The practice is jointly led by Daniel Beale in Atlanta, Robert Cottington in Pittsburgh, Andrew Gruber in Indianapolis, Richard Hymas in Salt Lake City and Jo Ellen Whitney in Des Moines; Hymas and Whitney joined the team following the merger of now-defunct Durham Jones & Pinegar and Davis Brown with the firm in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Dickinson Wright PLLC is regularly retained by companies from the education, hospitality, manufacturing and transportation sectors, among others, to advise on the full range of employment matters. Skilled in both advisory and contentious work, the group frequently handles wage and hour claims, discrimination lawsuits and non-compete matters. The practice’s leadership is split between class and collective action specialist Reid Estes and litigation expert Jeffrey Beemer in Nashville, and Detroit-based Kathryn Wood and Timothy Howlett, who are regularly involved in disputes involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation allegations.  William Thacker in Ann Arbor and Christina McDonald in Grand Rapids are also prominent practitioners.

Boutique law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. is noted for defending clients before trial and appellate courts as well as arbitration proceedings involving wage and hour claims, discrimination and harassment allegations as well as trade secret and antitrust cases. Skilled in class, collective and single-plaintiff cases, the team benefits from the ability to leverage the firm’s e-discovery capabilities when handling complex litigation. It is managed by Orange County-based Samantha Hoffman and chaired by Kevin Lauri in New York. The class action and complex litigation practice group is jointly led by wage and hour experts Mia Farber in Los Angeles, David Golder in Hartford and Eric Magnus in Atlanta. Nadine Abrahams in Chicago directs the general employment litigation practice group alongside Orlando-based litigator Stephanie Adler-Paindiris. Other key names include Stephen Silvestri in Baltimore, Debra Weiss Ford in Portsmouth and Katherine Van Dyke in Detroit. Reynaldo Velazquez, formerly at Ford & Harrison LLP,  joined the Miami office in November 2021 and Garen Dodge, formerly at Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., joined the Washington DC office in July 2021. Las Vegas-based Lisa McClane left the firm in June 2021 for Fisher & Phillips.

Vedder Price represents employers in single plaintiff and class actions before all relevant courts. The team is led by Chicago-based Elizabeth Hall, with experience in allegations of employment discrimination and retaliatory discharge. Supporting the team in Chicago is Nicholas Anaclerio, an experienced trial and appellate attorney with expertise in wage and hour, discrimination and class actions. In Los Angeles, Thomas Petrides and Candice Zee are noted, covering Occupational Safety and Health Administration matters, and traditional labor issues such as unfair labor practice charges, respectively. Cara Ottenweller is also noted as a key contact in Chicago.

Winston & Strawn LLP is noted for dealing with a range of employment disputes in connection with discrimination, whistleblower, wrongful termination and trade secret matters. The practice is led by Chicago-based Michael Roche, who handles wage and hour class actions and pay equity claims. Working alongside him is Rex Sessions, with over 30 years of experience in strategic counseling. The team also features San-Francisco-based Joan Fife, with expertise in class actions, and Monique Ngo-Bonnici, who divides her time between Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, and handles a wide spectrum of employment related claims. Changes to the team include Ben Ostrander making partner in December 2020, and Daniel Fazio departing for DLA Piper LLP (US) in September 2021.