
Overview
Nancy Abell is a partner in the Employment Law Department of Paul Hastings. She previously served as the global chair of the firm's Employment Law Department. Resident in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Ms. Abell is a trial lawyer who works exclusively in the representation of private and public employers in all aspects of employment law and litigation, including discrimination, fair pay and wage and hour class actions; trials of statutory and common law claims; Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs systemic cases and affirmative action compliance reviews; unfair labor practice charges and other proceedings before the NLRB; organizing campaigns; labor negotiations; arbitrations; systemic charges and complaints before the EEOC, state anti-discrimination agencies, the Department of Labor and state wage and hour compliance agencies; and disability access cases under Title III and state laws.
Her clients include major technology companies, defense contractors, manufacturing companies, law and other professional firms, entertainment companies, financial institutions, and retailers. She has successfully defeated numerous high-profile discrimination and wage-hour class actions, represented numerous leading national law firms in partner and glass ceiling cases and defended members of the judiciary.
Recognitions
- The Legal 500, Hall of Fame for Labor & Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2021)
- The Legal 500, Hall of Fame for Labor & Employment - Workplace and Employment Counseling (2021)
- The Lawdragon Hall of Fame
- Long recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Labor and Employment Disputes and one of America’s top Workplace and Employment Counseling attorneys by The Legal 500 US
- Consistently recognized as one of the top employment defense lawyers in California by Chambers USA
- One of 50 lawyers recognized on The National Law Journal’s inaugural "Litigation Trailblazers & Pioneers" list of professionals who have changed the practice of litigation through the use of innovative legal strategies
- Named as one of the decade’s 40 most influential lawyers (one of three employment lawyers) by The National Law Journal
- Recipient of the Learned Hand Award for professional achievement and contributions to the community and human rights
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America for more than 35 years and for many years by Lawdragon as one of America’s 500 leading lawyers
- Named in Who’s Who Legal: Labour Employment & Benefits 2022
Education
- UCLA School of Law, (Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers), 1979
- Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges, 1972
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
- Nine Paul Hastings Lawyers Recognized as Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers - December 16th, 2020
- Benchmark Litigation Recognizes Paul Hastings’ Employment Law Practice - October 15th, 2020
- Paul Hastings Recognized for Legal Excellence in Legal 500 US 2020 - July 24th, 2020
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2020 - May 1st, 2020
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2019 - May 1st, 2019
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2018 - May 11th, 2018
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2017 - June 5th, 2017
- Nancy Abell Honored with AJC’s Learned Hand Award - September 27th, 2016
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2016 - June 8th, 2016
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2015 - May 20th, 2015
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2014 - May 27th, 2014
- Paul Hastings Extensive Practice Strength Highlighted in The Legal 500 United States 2013 - June 5th, 2013
- Paul Hastings Employment Practice Honored with Chambers ''Award for Excellence'' and Firms Leading Practices and Lawyers Ranked in Chambers USA 2013 - May 27th, 2013
- Paul Hastings Soars in 2012 Edition of Legal 500 US - June 14th, 2012
- Paul Hastings Excels in Chambers USA 2012 Guide - June 7th, 2012
- Paul Hastings Excels in Chambers USA 2011 Guide - June 10th, 2011
- Paul Hastings Soars in 2011 Edition of Legal 500 US - June 1st, 2011
- Paul Hastings Garners Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2010 Guide - June 14th, 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
- Paul Hastings Recognized for Legal Excellence in Legal 500 2021 - June 15th, 2021
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2020 - May 1st, 2020
- Ranked by Chambers USA 2019 - April 26th, 2019
- Recognized by Chambers Global 2019 - February 14th, 2019
- Recognized by the Daily Journal as Top Labor & Employment Lawyers for 2018 - July 18th, 2018
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2018 - May 15th, 2018
- Recognized by the Daily Journal as Top Labor & Employment Lawyers for 2017 - July 19th, 2017
- Human Resource Executive Magazine - Most Powerful Employment Attorneys - June 16th, 2017
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2017 - June 5th, 2017
- Recognized by the Daily Journal as Top Women Lawyers for 2017 - May 24th, 2017
- AJC's Learned Hand Award - September 27th, 2016
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2016 - June 8th, 2016
- Recognized by the Daily Journal as Top Women Lawyers for 2016 - April 21st, 2016
- Recognized by the Daily Journal’s as Top Labor and Employment Lawyers for 2015 - June 3rd, 2015
- Recognized by the Daily Journal as Top Women Lawyers for 2015 - May 13th, 2015
- National Law Journal Recognizes Nancy Abell in Litigation Trailblazers & Pioneers List - January 9th, 2015
insights
- Prior Salary in Employment Decisions: California Changes and Attempts to Clarify Recent Salary History Ban and Fair Pay Act Legislation - August 1st, 2018
- Rizo v. Yovino: En Banc Ninth Circuit Holds That Salary History Is Not a Justification for Gender Wage Gap - April 12th, 2018
- EEO-1 Pay Data Collection Tool: Still Alive and Well with a Deadline of March 31, 2018 for First Report - August 4th, 2017
- New Privacy Training Requirements for Covered Federal Contractor Employees - April 3rd, 2017
- Going Out with a Roar: Final Regulations and Guidance Issued Under Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order - September 8th, 2016
- EEOC Announces Proposed Revisions to EEO-1 Pay Data Collection Tool - July 19th, 2016
- OFCCP Issues Final Rule on Sex Discrimination Guidelines - June 27th, 2016
- Understanding The DOL’s Proposed Regulations On Paid Sick Leave For Federal Contractors - March 7th, 2016
- EEOC Proposes New Pay Data Collection Tool: All Employers to Share Pain With Federal Contractors - February 8th, 2016
- But Wait, There’s More: Pay Transparency Rules and New Sick Leave Executive Order Add Challenges For Federal Contractors - September 21st, 2015
- Proposed Amendments to the Federal Acquisition Regulations Pose Substantial New Burdens and Risks for Federal Contractors - June 4th, 2015
- EEOC Reverses Course in Proposed Wellness Program Regulations - April 21st, 2015
- OFCCP Issues Final Rule: Federal Contractors Face New Record-Keeping Challenges Dealing with Internet Applicants - October 11th, 2005
- Affirmative Action Compliance in 2005: OFCCP Issues Proposed Standards Governing Compensation Discrimination Analyses - December 6th, 2004
- Supreme Court Raises Bar For Dismissing Discrimination Complaints - February 27th, 2002
- California Supreme Court Ruling On Arbitration Agreements May Require Revision Of Existing Agreements Used In California - September 1st, 2000
Engagement & Publications
- Author of "An Employer’s Guide for Preparing Affirmative Action Programs"
- Author of the Federal Contractor Affirmative Action Compliance chapter of Employment Discrimination Law
- Lectures extensively on a variety of employment matters for a wide range of professional associations
- Writes for several legal and personnel publications
- Regularly presents training sessions for justices and judges, including the Council of Chief Judges, representatives of the United States Courts and the Justices of the California Supreme Court, California Courts of Appeals, and the Connecticut and Washington judiciaries on employment issues
- Co-author of An Employer’s Guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act (1991)
Involvement
- Co-Founder and Co-Chair of UCLA Law Women LEAD
- Member and past chair, Board of Governors of the Institute for Corporate Counsel
- Board of Advisors Member, UCLA School of Law
- Board of Advisors Member, National Employment Law Institute and American Employment Law Council
- Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers