Laura J. Maechtlen is a partner in the San Francisco office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP and serves as a Co-Chair of the Firm’s Diversity Action Team Executive Committee.  Ms. Maechtlen’s practice is focused on employment litigation and includes the defense of class, collective and multi-plaintiff actions arising out of alleged violations of Title VII, California Labor Code, the Fair Labor Standards Act and state statutes prohibiting discrimination and harassment in employment.  Ms. Maechtlen also has experience litigating against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), both at the early charge stage and in large-scale EEOC pattern-and-practice litigation. In addition, Ms. Maechtlen focuses on litigation of discrimination and harassment cases brought as single plaintiff claims under federal and state statutory laws.

Ms. Maechtlen has California state court trial experience.  She has been a member of multiple trial teams that have secured defense verdicts in the California Superior Courts in the counties of San Francisco, Alameda and Santa Clara.  She also routinely handles binding labor arbitrations arising under collective bargaining agreements, often securing favorable rulings from labor arbitrators.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Maechtlen also provides day-to-day counseling and advice to clients about the various laws affecting the employment relationship, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, California Labor Code and other state and federal statutes.  Ms. Maechtlen also routinely counsels employers regarding workplace issues including employee complaints, workplace investigations, leaves of absence and the interactive process.  She also regularly reviews employer policies for compliance under state and federal law.

Ms. Maechtlen is a member of Seyfarth Shaw's Retail and Hospitality Industry Practice Groups.  She also handles litigation for, and provides counseling to clients, in a variety of industries, including logistics and transportation, airline transportation, construction, financial and professional services, restaurant, temporary staffing and technology.

Ms. Maechtlen speaks and publishes regularly on a variety of employment law and litigation topics, and issues regarding diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and has been quoted on those topics by the San Francisco Chronicle, Reuters, CIO.com, Recorder, Daily Journal and the Insurance Journal.  She has also served as a contributing editor to multiple editions of The Fair Labor Standards Act (ABA) and The Developing Labor Law (BNA).

Ms. Maechtlen also has an extensive pro bono practice and in 2010 was named Seyfarth Shaw’s Pro Bono Partner of the Year.  She was honored in 2011 as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine in Employment Litigation, and as one of the country's “Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40” by the National LGBT Bar Association. 

Laura J. Maechtlen is a partner in the San Francisco office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP and serves as a Co-Chair of the Firm’s Diversity Action Team Executive Committee.  Ms. Maechtlen’s practice is focused on employment litigation and includes the defense of class, collective and multi-plaintiff actions arising out of alleged violations of Title VII, California Labor Code, the Fair Labor Standards Act and state statutes prohibiting discrimination and harassment in employment.  Ms. Maechtlen also has experience litigating against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), both at the early charge stage and in large-scale EEOC pattern-and-practice litigation. In addition, Ms. Maechtlen focuses on litigation of discrimination and harassment cases brought as single plaintiff claims under federal and state statutory laws.

Ms. Maechtlen has California state court trial experience.  She has been a member of multiple trial teams that have secured defense verdicts in the California Superior Courts in the counties of San Francisco, Alameda and Santa Clara.  She also routinely handles binding labor arbitrations arising under collective bargaining agreements, often securing favorable rulings from labor arbitrators.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Maechtlen also provides day-to-day counseling and advice to clients about the various laws affecting the employment relationship, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, California Labor Code and other state and federal statutes.  Ms. Maechtlen also routinely counsels employers regarding workplace issues including employee complaints, workplace investigations, leaves of absence and the interactive process.  She also regularly reviews employer policies for compliance under state and federal law.

Ms. Maechtlen is a member of Seyfarth Shaw's Retail and Hospitality Industry Practice Groups.  She also handles litigation for, and provides counseling to clients, in a variety of industries, including logistics and transportation, airline transportation, construction, financial and professional services, restaurant, temporary staffing and technology.

Ms. Maechtlen speaks and publishes regularly on a variety of employment law and litigation topics, and issues regarding diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and has been quoted on those topics by the San Francisco Chronicle, Reuters, CIO.com, Recorder, Daily Journal and the Insurance Journal.  She has also served as a contributing editor to multiple editions of The Fair Labor Standards Act (ABA) and The Developing Labor Law (BNA).

Ms. Maechtlen also has an extensive pro bono practice and in 2010 was named Seyfarth Shaw’s Pro Bono Partner of the Year.  She was honored in 2011 as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine in Employment Litigation, and as one of the country's “Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40” by the National LGBT Bar Association.