Our employment lawyers are devoted to providing effective and efficient representation of employers in litigation and through practical training and advice on complying with employment laws in an increasingly diverse workplace. Our lawyers represent a broad range of clients throughout the United States, including government contractors, financial services providers, retailers, technology companies, trade associations and multi-national corporations with significant operations abroad.

Patton Boggs’ employment lawyers are skilled and experienced litigators.  We have defended employers in federal and state courts against class action and single-plaintiff claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, workplace torts, violation of the FMLA and FLSA, and enforcement of trade secrets and agreements not to compete.  We assist clients in determining the appropriateness of mediation, arbitration and other alternative methods to resolve employment disputes quickly and cost-effectively outside of the courtroom.  We also represent clients in audits and investigations by the OFCCP, the Wage and Hour Division, the EEOC and other federal and local government agencies.

Our employment lawyers are committed to reducing our clients’ risks associated with litigation.  As counselors, we draft and review personnel policies and procedures, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, affirmative action plans and diversity policies.  We advise clients through potentially difficult employment situations such as hirings, terminations, workplace violence, disability and religious accommodations, investigating employee misconduct, downsizings and reorganizations.

Patton Boggs’ employment lawyers are nationally known for our training programs.  In public and in-house programs, we have trained thousands of human resource professionals, managers, supervisors and in-house counsel on employment law essentials in the workplace and on investigating employee misconduct.

Through our participation in Labourlink, an international organization of employment law firms, our lawyers are able to assist clients worldwide with the complexities of employment laws that vary by nation.

To provide comprehensive employment counsel, the Patton Boggs Employment Practice also works closely with other firm practice groups, including:

• Employee Benefits and ERISA
• Litigation
• Tax

Representative Matters:

• Jury verdict for trade association of defense contractors in multi-defendant age and gender discrimination lawsuit.  The court circulated our brief to all D.C. Superior Court judges to inform them of our discovery of an error in the publication of the D.C. human rights statute, which had erroneously resulted in individual liability under the statute.
• Summary judgment for U.S. corporation under contract with foreign consulate in gender discrimination case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.  We made new law by successfully arguing that the contractor should have derivative immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act as a common law agent of the foreign sovereign.  Affirmed by Fourth Circuit.
• Defeated plaintiffs’ motion to give notice to nationwide class in FLSA case against a government contractor in U.S. District Court for District of Columbia.
• Summary judgment for national builder in same sex sexual harassment case in U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Virginia.  Affirmed by Fourth Circuit.
• Dismissal of former executive’s $75 million breach of contract claim against international telecommunications company in Cook County Circuit Court, Illinois.  Affirmed by Appellate Court of Illinois.
• Injunction in U.S. District Court for Northern District of California against San Francisco ordinance requiring employers doing business at the airport to agree that unions could organize their employees using a card check procedure, instead of a secret ballot election.
• Voluntary dismissal of race discrimination case in U.S. District Court for District of Columbia after our investigation uncovered false statements made to the government.