Laura Reathaford is a partner in Venable's Labor and Employment Practice. She focuses her practice on management-side employment litigation, with an emphasis on wage and hour collective and class actions, including representative actions under the Private Attorney General Act ("PAGA"). Ms. Reathaford represents the management of public and private businesses in banking, healthcare, telecommunications and grocery retailers both in California and nationwide.

Ms. Reathaford has litigated a variety of employment disputes, including claims for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, unpaid wages, discrimination and representing management against union grievances. Ms. Reathaford is also an experienced trial attorney having received favorable judgments in FLSA and PAGA actions as well as in single plaintiff retaliation matters.

In addition to defending employers in high-stakes litigation matters, Ms. Reathaford regularly advises clients on employment issues, including terminating employees, drafting employee handbooks, and complying with California and federal wage and hour laws, as well as leave and disability rules.