Joel O'Malley is an Associate in Dorsey's Labor & Employment practice group. He represents large and small corporations in employment litigation involving federal and state wage-and-hour claims; race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, and age retaliation, harassment, and discrimination; and federal and state workplace leave laws. His practice includes extensive experience representing clients in class actions under Rule 23 and collective actions under the FLSA. He frequently represents employers and employees in claims involving enforcement of post-employment restrictive covenants (non-competition, non-disclosure, and non-solicitation). He also represents and advises management in labor arbitrations and traditional labor law issues.

Joel regularly counsels a wide range of corporate clients and HR professionals on complying with employment and labor laws and avoiding litigation. He helps clients work through discipline and discharge decisions; create and implement policies; draft employment, independent contractor, and separation agreements; and investigate wage-and-hour issues under California, Minnesota, and Federal laws.

Joel also has extensive appellate experience, having argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Minnesota Court of Appeals, and the Minnesota Supreme Court. He also regularly provides pro bono representation to defendants in criminal appeals, and secured a unanimous victory for a client before the Minnesota Supreme Court. SeeState v. Lopez, 778 N.W.2d 700 (Minn. 2010). Before joining the firm, Joel served as a law clerk to the Honorable William J. Riley, Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; the Honorable David R. Thompson, Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and the Honorable Robert A. McQuaid, Jr., Magistrate Judge for the District of Nevada.

Joel is licensed to practice in Minnesota, California, and Oregon.