Laura Hayward

I advise and represent a wide variety of employers, from start-ups to established Fortune 500 corporations, in employment law matters in state and federal courts and before state and federal agencies, including the Department of Labor and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. I specialize in defending clients in wage and hour matters, both individual actions and statewide and nationwide class actions, most commonly cases alleging misclassification of exempt status, missed rest and meal periods, unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, rounding, and other wage and hour-related matters. In 2011, I second-chaired a four week class action meal period trial in Santa Clara County which resulted in a total defense verdict. I have also successfully decertified several nationwide and statewide class actions, and in several cases, have negotiated with plaintiffs to drop their class claims and resolve their cases on an individual basis. I have also assisted numerous employers who are subject to DOL audits, or in DLSE hearings.Additionally, a large part of my practice is dedicated to providing counseling and advice to employers on a wide variety of wage and hour topics, including: exemption analyses, overtime calculations, meal and rest period issues, review of wage and hour policies. I perform wage and hour audits for both large and small employers to help reduce the risks of litigation.In addition to wage and hour work, I have also defended harassment and discrimination cases, including a class action filed by the U.S. EEOC. I also advise clients on termination and leave issues. If there are issues that clients need assistance with outside of my area of expertise, Littler Mendelson has subject matter experts in just about every area of labor and employment laws that I can consult with.