Overview
Carson Sullivan is a partner in the Employment Law practice of Paul Hastings and is the chair of the Washington, D.C. Employment Law Department. Ms. Sullivan represents employers in all aspects of employment law, with an emphasis on the defense of class and collective action suits. She also has a particular focus on litigation involving trade secrets and restrictive covenants. She is a member of the firm’s Employee Mobility and Trade Secrets practice group as well as the Pay Equity practice group. She focuses on legal issues and cutting-edge trends relating to pay equity, social media and electronic discovery. She uses her electronic discovery expertise and experience with employee data to counsel clients and lead teams as they identify, locate, collect and produce electronically stored information in complex cases.
Ms. Sullivan is particularly skilled at developing strategies for the efficient review and production of data from all sources, including e-mail systems, document management systems, and human resources databases. She has also conducted numerous investigations involving allegations against executives, and she works with clients to develop and deliver anti-harassment training to employees at all levels.
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers, Litigation - Labor and Employment (2023)
- The Legal 500 USA, Workplace and Employment Counseling (2021-2022)
- Chambers USA, Top Labor & Employment Lawyer (2021-2022)
- The Legal 500's Labor & Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2021)
- The Legal 500's Labor & Employment - Workplace and Employment Counseling (2021)
- The Legal 500's Intellectual Property - Trade Secrets (Litigation and Non-contentious Matters) (2021)
- Washingtonian Magazine, One of Washington, D.C.'s Best Lawyers in Employment Defense (Annually since 2017)
- 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
- Defended numerous clients against Title VII pay and promotion class claims
- Defended clients in collective actions alleging violations of the FLSA and the Equal Pay Act
- Defended clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and local human rights agencies, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Defended 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
news
- Paul Hastings Honored by Chambers USA as Labor & Employment Firm of the Year - May 27th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Ranked as Top Three Firm for New Rankings and Recognized for Numerous Practice Strength and Growth in Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
- Paul Hastings Achieves Jury Win for Dollar Tree - March 15th, 2013
- Paul Hastings Selected as The American Lawyers Labor & Employment Litigation Firm of the Year - January 6th, 2010
Recognitions
- Paul Hastings Recognized for Legal Excellence in the Legal 500 2022 - June 13th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Employment Practice Receives Top Rankings by Chambers USA 2022 - June 1st, 2022
- Paul Hastings Labor & Employment Practice Recognized as Top Tier by the 2021 Legal 500 United States Guide - June 18th, 2021
- 2021 Legal 500 United States Guide Ranks More Than Fifteen Paul Hastings’ Intellectual Property Practice Lawyers - June 17th, 2021
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
insights
- Non-Compete Agreements Declared Unlawful By NLRB General Counsel - June 2nd, 2023
- “AI” in Employment Law: EEOC Issues Title VII Guidance - May 25th, 2023
- EEOC Draft Strategic Enforcement Plan Reflects Focus on Employers’ Use of Artificial Intelligence - January 20th, 2023
- FTC Proposes Ban on Non-Competes: What Employers Need to Know - January 6th, 2023
- California Legislature Votes to Dramatically Expand Pay Transparency and Reporting Requirements - September 1st, 2022
- OFCCP Clarifies Stance on Evaluation of Federal Contractor Analysis of Pay - August 29th, 2022
- D.C. Reverses Course: Final Amendment Allows Non-Compete Agreements for Highly Compensated Employees - August 22nd, 2022
- Federal Contractors Face Increased Scrutiny on Pay - March 21st, 2022
- Sixth Circuit Lifts Stay of OSHA Vaccine / Testing Mandate; Justice Kavanaugh May Rule or Refer to Full Supreme Court - December 21st, 2021
- OSHA Releases Emergency Temporary Standard Implementing Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers - November 5th, 2021
- Task Force Issues Guidance on President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors - September 29th, 2021
- Employers Take Note: D.C. Non-Compete Applicability Act Delayed until April 2022 - August 18th, 2021
- President Biden Signs Executive Order Seeking to Ban or Limit Non-Compete Agreements - July 14th, 2021
- D.C. Considering Conflict of Interest Exception to Sweeping Ban on Non-Compete Agreements - June 10th, 2021
- New Executive Order Requires Federal Contractors to Increase Minimum Wage - May 4th, 2021
- Employers Take Note: Washington D.C. Is Poised to Enact the Nation’s Broadest Prohibition on Employee Non-Compete Agreements - February 9th, 2021
- EEOC Weighs in on Workplace COVID-19 Vaccination Programs - December 18th, 2020
- Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccines: Can U.S. Employers Require Vaccination? - December 10th, 2020
- Executive Order on “Combatting Race and Sex Stereotyping” - September 28th, 2020
- Recent Clarification from the DOL Regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act - September 14th, 2020
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 of the Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference (VSB YLC) for the 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