Overview
Carson Sullivan is chair of Paul Hastings’ Washington, D.C. Office and chair of the Washington, D.C. Employment Law Department. She represents employers in all aspects of employment law, with an emphasis on the defense of class and collective action suits.
As one of the leaders of the firm’s Pay Equity Practice Group, Carson provides sophisticated litigation defense and works with clients to review and analyze their compensation practices for pay equity and legal compliance. She is particularly skilled in developing strategies for the use of complex data in large-scale class litigation and investigation matters.
Carson also has a particular focus on litigation involving trade secrets and restrictive covenants and is a member of the firm’s Employee Mobility and Trade Secrets Practice Group. In addition to litigation, she regularly provides employment advice and counseling to leading clients, including advice related to pay equity practices, employment policies and procedures, government investigations, and regulatory compliance.
Her client results are recognized by the market. Carson is Chambers-ranked for Labor and Employment law and recognized by The Legal 500 for Workplace and Employment counseling. Clients note to Chambers that she is “an outstanding partner,” and “incredibly responsive and her writing is impeccable.” To Legal 500, they note she is “quite simply phenomenal,” and her “knowledge of employment laws, both in theory and in practice is something we were very lucky to have on our side.”
Accolades
- Chambers USA, Top Labor & Employment Lawyer (2021-2024)
- The Legal 500, Workplace and Employment Counseling (2021-2023)
- The Legal 500, Labor & Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2021)
- The Legal 500, Intellectual Property - Trade Secrets (Litigation and Non-Contentious Matters) (2021)
- Best Lawyers, Litigation - Labor and Employment (2023)
- Listed as one of Washington, D.C.’s "Super Lawyers" in Employment Litigation (Annually since 2013)
Education
- George Mason University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2000
- University of Virginia, B.A. (with distinction), 1997
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Roger L. Gregory
Representations
- Numerous clients against Title VII pay and promotion class claims, including defeating certification in multiple pay equity putative class actions
- Clients in collective actions alleging violations of the FLSA and the Equal Pay Act
- Clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and local human rights agencies, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Clients against individual claims under the ADA, ADEA, and FMLA
- Conducted numerous employment compliance reviews and provided strategic advice on diversity programs and pay equity
Accolades
Insights
- New Executive Order Attacks ‘Disparate Impact’ Liability - April 30th, 2025
- Illinois District Court Blocks Portions of Anti-DEI Executive Order - April 1st, 2025
- Virginia Expands Noncompete Ban for Low-Wage Employees - March 28th, 2025
- EEOC and DOJ Issue Guidance on 'DEI-Related Discrimination' - March 21st, 2025
- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Stays Preliminary Injunction of Anti-DEI Executive Order - March 18th, 2025
- Maryland District Court Enjoins Portions of Anti-DEI Executive Order: What Does This Mean? - February 25th, 2025
- DOJ Antitrust Division Continues Focus on Conduct in Labor Markets - January 23rd, 2025
- OFCCP Enforcement Action Against Federal Contractor Enjoined by U.S. District Court - November 6th, 2024
- Recent Developments Affecting Non-Competes and Employee Mobility - October 31st, 2024
- Federal Court Strikes Down FTC’s Non-Compete Ban - August 21st, 2024
- Pennsylvania Federal Judge Denies Motion Challenging FTC Non-Compete Ban - July 24th, 2024
- Does the Use of AI in the Hiring Process Expand Who Can Be Sued for Discrimination?: One Federal Court in California Says Yes - July 19th, 2024
- First Federal Court Issues Order on Preliminary Injunction As To FTC’s Non compete Ban - July 3rd, 2024
- New Pay Transparency Law: Maryland Follows Growing Trend - May 2nd, 2024
- FTC Announces Publication Date for Expansive and Unprecedented Non-compete Ban - April 30th, 2024
- FTC Announces Expansive and Unprecedented Non-compete Ban - April 24th, 2024
- SCOTUS Removes ‘Significant Harm’ Requirement for Title VII Transfer Suits - April 23rd, 2024
- Pay Transparency Laws: Washington D.C. Is Next - January 31st, 2024
- Developments in Employee Mobility: California’s SB 699, New York’s 203-f and FTC/DOL Collaboration - October 5th, 2023
- What Employers Need to Know about the SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision - July 5th, 2023
Engagement & Publications
- Regular speaker on employment law topics, including related to pay equity, the #metoo movement and recent continuing legal education presentations such as “Social Media in the Workplace: Employer Interests vs. Employee Rights,” “FLSA Update: Overtime and Other Developments in the Workplace,” “Essential Components and Practical Drafting Tips for Employee Handbooks,” “Implementing Global IP Solutions,” and “Pre-litigation EEO Investigations”
Involvement
- Member, Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association
- President, Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference (VSB YLC), 2010-2011 bar year
- Member, Virginia and District of Columbia Bars
- Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and numerous district and federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, and District of Columbia Circuits