Barbara B Brown

Partner, Employment Law Department

Washington, D.C.

T 1(202) 551-1717

F 1(202) 551-0117

Barbara Brown is the senior partner in the Employment Law practice in the Washington, D.C. office of Paul Hastings. She represents employers in the entire range of employment law matters, including:

Employment discrimination class actions challenging pay, promotion, hiring, and other personnel decisions.
Compliance evaluations involving the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, particularly those focusing on compensation analysis.
Whistleblower retaliation cases under SOX, Dodd-Frank, discrimination laws, and other federal and state statutes.
Wage and hour class actions.
Sexual harassment investigations.
Executive terminations and other personnel actions in the C suite.
Employment compliance diagnostics and strategic advice on diversity programs.

Recent Representations

Chen-Oster et al. v. Goldman Sachs (S.D.N.Y. 2018) (monetary relief under Rule 23(b)(3), available in a nationwide gender class action; class certification motion for injunctive relief pending)
Knott et al. v. Dollar Tree Stores (N.D. Ala. 2012) (collective action of store managers challenging their classification as exempt decertified)
Remien v. EMC (N.D. Ill. and Seventh Circuit 2010) (denial of class certification affirmed in nationwide gender class action)
Grosz v. The Boeing Company (C.D. Cal. and Ninth Circuit 2005) (denial of class certification affirmed in multi-facility gender class action)
Antiga-Bovio v. Inter-American Development Bank (2014)(whistleblower retaliation claim rejected by the Administrative Tribunal of the Bank)
Gaskins v. Williams & Connolly (D.D.C. 2011)(summary judgment in race and retaliation case against law firm)

Accolades and Recognitions

Ranked in Chambers USA 2020 for Labor & Employment in Washington, D.C., star individual recognition
Ranked in The Legal 500 2020 for Labor and Employment Disputes and Leading Lawyer recognition
Ranked in Chambers Global 2020 USA, Labor & Employment, Band 1
Ranked in Chambers USA Business Lawyers 2017, star recognition in the top tier of employment lawyers in Washington, D.C.
Named as one of the 50 best lawyers in Washington, D.C. and one of the top 50 female lawyers in Washington, D.C. by Washingtonian Magazine (2018)
Named twice as BTI Client Service All-Star
Named a leading employment lawyer and litigator for many years by:
- International Who’s Who of Management Labor and Employment Lawyers
- The Best Lawyers in America
- DC Super Lawyers
- The Washington Post Best Lawyers
- The Legal Times
- Human Resources Executive
Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Speaking Engagements and Publications

Written and spoken extensively on employment law
Co-authored seven editions of Equal Employment Law Update (BNA 7th ed., Fall 1999)
Co-author, The Legal Guide to Human Resources (Thomson/West, Supp. 2019)

Professional and Community Involvement

Chair, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law (2008-2009)
Liaison, ABA Commission on the Status of Women in the Profession (2010-2012, 2015-16)
Member, Board of Trustees, The Phillips Collection (2020-2023)
Member, Board of Directors, D.C. Legal Aid Society (2006-2012)
Member, Board of Directors, Jewish Foundation for Group Homes (2012-present; President,2018-2020)
Member, Board of Directors, Imagination Stage (2000-2006)
Member, Panel of Mediators, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Clerked for the Honorable J. Joseph Smith, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Education

Yale Law School, J.D.
Radcliffe College Harvard University, B.A.

Rankings & Awards

Recognized by Chambers USA 2020
Chambers USA 2020: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business listed the firm in 37 research areas and named 104 firm lawyers to its rankings of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
May 01, 2020

Ranked by Chambers USA 2019
Chambers USA 2019: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business listed the firm in 44 practice areas and named 107 firm lawyers to its rankings of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
April 26, 2019

Recognized by Chambers Global 2019
Chambers Global 2019: The World’s Leading Lawyers listed the firm in 37 research areas and named 59 firm lawyers to its rankings of leading lawyers and law firms adept in complex international work and with strong cross-border capabilities.
February 14, 2019

Lawyer of the Year among DC-based Employment Lawyers
Barbara Brown was recognized by peers as the 2018 Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year among Washington D.C. Employment lawyers.
August 15, 2018

Recognized by Chambers USA 2018
Chambers USA 2018: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business listed the firm in 45 research areas and named 112 firm lawyers to its rankings of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
May 15, 2018

Recognized by Chambers USA 2017
Chambers USA 2017: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business named 46 of the firm’s practice areas and 112 individuals to its ranking of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
June 05, 2017

Recognized by Chambers USA 2016
Chambers USA 2016: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business named 47 of the firm’s practice areas and 112 individuals to its ranking of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
June 08, 2016

Recognized with an Award for Excellence by Chambers and Partners
The Firm’s Employment practice was honored with an Award for Excellence by Chambers and Partners.
May 24, 2013

Law360 Awards - Top Practice Groups of the Year
Paul Hastings' Employment Law practice was recognized as one of Law360s "Top Practice Groups of The Year."
January 02, 2013

Recognized by the Chambers USA Women in Law Awards
Chambers USA 2012 has named Paul Hastings Barbara Brown to the "Employment Lawyer of the Year" shortlist and Katherine Bell to the "Up & Coming Finance Lawyer of the Year" shortlist, which are part of its upcoming Women in Law Awards to honor outstanding female stars of the US legal community.
December 19, 2011

The Washingtonian, 2011 Stars of the Bar
Kirby Behre, Barbara Brown, V. Gerard Comizio, and Barbara Johnson were included in The Washingtonians Stars of the Bar list for 2011.
December 09, 2011

BTI Consulting Group
Barbara Brown, Kirby Wilcox and Ken Willner were recognized for their commitment to client service excellence by BTI Consulting Group in the 2011 Client Service All-Stars Awards.
February 16, 2011

Legal Media Group II
Nancy Abell, Stephen Berry, Barbara Brown, Paul Cane, Jr., Paul Grossman, Geoff Weirich, Kirby Wilcox , and Jeffrey Wohl have been recognized by Legal Media Group as leading experts in the Labor and Employment field.
May 23, 2010

Legal Media Group
Legal Media Group recognized Nancy Abell, Barbara Brown, Paul Cane, Jr., Marty Edelman, Paul Grossman, Geoff Weirich, and John Wymer, III as The Best of the Best USA in 2009.
May 19, 2010

Who's Who Legal
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a leading global law firm, announced today that Who's Who Legal has named 16 of the firm's lawyers to The International Who's Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers 2010 list. The lawyers include:

Nancy Abell
Barbara Brown
Paul Cane, Jr.
Kenneth Gage
Paul Grossman
Barbara Johnson
Lesli Ligorner
Neal Mollen
Deborah Sankowicz
Setsuko Ueno
Christopher Walter
Geoff Weirich
Kirby Wilcox
John Wymer III
May 06, 2010

Human Resource Executive Magazine
Nancy Abell, Barbara Brown, Paul Grossman, and John Wymer have been recognized as five of the Most Powerful Employment Attorneys for 2010 by Human Resource Executive Magazine. Jack Gallagher also made the 2010 Top Ten List for Labor in Human Resource Executive Magazine.

April 01, 2010

BTI Consulting Group
Barbara Brown, a partner in the D.C. office, named to BTI Consulting Groups Client Service All-Star Team 2010. BTI All-Stars are indentified for the award solely and exclusively by corporate counsel. Barbara is recognized for her client focus, exceptional legal skills and understanding of clients businesses and her ability to deliver efficient, value-driven service as well as outstanding results.

January 25, 2010

Professionals

Barbara B Brown

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Recent Representations

Accolades and Recognitions

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Professional and Community Involvement

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Rankings & Awards