Lauren R. Davis

Corporate & Employer Representation

(Representation of companies, employers, and organizations managing litigation risk, workforce disputes, and commercial exposure)

Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenant Defense

• Achieved stipulated “no-talk” injunction which was so-ordered by a New York federal court in a defamation, tortious interference, and breach contract dispute
• Eliminated more than seven figures in alleged exposure by obtaining summary judgment dismissing all trade secrets and wiretapping claims and defeating reconsideration in a high-profile New York federal case
• Prevented opposing party from gaining early leverage by defeating expedited discovery in a corporate recruiting dispute involving alleged nine-figure damages in New York federal court
• Shifted more than $50,000 in discovery costs to the opposing party and obtained critical electronic evidence through a court-ordered forensic examination in a New York federal trade secrets action
• Reduced litigation burden and expense by appearing pro hac vice and consolidating parallel state and federal proceedings involving trade secret misappropriation and restrictive covenant claims exceeding seven figures into Virginia federal court
• Recovered six figures for an employer in commercial restrictive covenant dispute from a direct competitor

Employment and Workplace Defense

• Achieved a complete defense victory with no liability in a New York paid family leave discrimination and retaliation trial involving nearly seven figures in claimed damages
• Won summary judgment resulting in dismissal of a hostile work environment claim based on sex/gender in New York state court
• Preserved prior victories and avoided further appellate litigation by defeating a petition for certification before the New Jersey Supreme Court in an independent contractor sexual harassment case

Wage & Hour / Class & Collective Actions Defense

• Avoided expensive trial through early dismissal by prevailing on summary judgment in a multi-plaintiff wage and hour action
• Prevented costly class proceedings from advancing by securing two stays pending appeal in wage and hour class actions
• Strengthened the employer’s litigation posture by securing leave to amend pleadings and seek sanctions in a New York state court wage and hour class action
• Successfully resolved wage and hour investigations, appeal, hearing, and settlement processes with the U.S. Department of Labor, New York Department of Labor, and New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

ERISA & Employee Benefits Defense

• Secured a more favorable litigation forum by defeating a motion to remand in a first-impression ERISA preemption dispute involving multimillion‑dollar benefit claims arising from an alleged general contractor/subcontractor relationship
• Eliminated millions in alleged liabilities by winning summary judgment in ERISA benefits fund audit litigation
• Overturned nearly half million liability assessment by vacating an arbitration award through summary judgment in an ERISA withdrawal liability action

Executive Representation

(Representation of senior executives, officers, and other high-ranking individuals facing employment, restrictive covenant, or high-stakes disputes)

• Preserved a former executive’s ability to continue working by defeating a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction application in a non-compete dispute brought by an international corporation in New York state court
• Obtained a six-figure award in litigation expenses for a former corporate officer through a successful indemnification and advancement arbitration and subsequent confirmation proceedings in federal court
• Served as lead counsel in a nationally covered executive whistleblower matter, managing complex legal and reputational risks through high visibility litigation
• Negotiated efficient, business-focused resolutions through first-chair mediations involving executive departures, restrictive covenant disputes, and related commercial conflicts

Other Commercial Litigation Matters

• Protected millions in secured government contracts for a corporate client by prevailing in an administrative appeal for a Minority and/or Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification after the government conceded mid-hearing based on adduced testimony and evidence
• Achieved full dismissal before trial by obtaining summary judgment in complex commercial litigation involving disputed insurance coverage for injured employee of a third party contractor
• Negotiated efficient, business-focused resolutions by brokering through counsel or through first-chair mediations across commercial disputes in New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia