Ariel D.Fenster
Associate
Labor & Employment
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Time over time, Ariel partners with employers to mitigate employee pay-related risks and effectively respond to wage and hour claims should they arise.
More About Ariel
Ariel’s wage and hour practice focuses on five major sub-areas: day-to-day counseling; wage and hour audits; due diligence reviews; Department of Labor investigations; and litigation (both single-plaintiff and large complex class actions).
Counseling: In her counseling practice, Ariel guides employers on legal compliance issues including employee classification issues, workplace policies, and pay practices. Ariel possesses a particular knowledge of the Motor Carrier Act Exemption and the Companionship Exemption, frequently advising companies within the transportation, healthcare, and homecare industries.
Wage and Hour Audits: Ariel has handled dozens of wage and hour audits for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Drawing upon Seyfarth’s artificial intelligence and technology resources, Ariel can deliver comprehensive reviews of hundreds of thousands of job profiles and assess and mitigate employee pay-related risks before litigation may come to fruition.
Due Diligence: When it comes time to close a deal, Ariel frequently lends a hand advising companies and investment firms on potential wage and hour liabilities. Drawing upon her deep understanding of the Fair Labor Standards Act and related-state wage and hour laws, Ariel is able to identify potential causes for concern and how to best tackle them to ensure a smooth acquisition.
DOL Investigations: A Department of Labor audit can hit a business at any time and without prior notice. Should the DOL come knocking, Ariel has handled numerous DOL investigations and has successfully navigated employers through the process, frequently negotiating much better outcomes than a company would on its own.
Litigation: Ariel has experience litigating wage and hour lawsuits, from single-plaintiff cases to complex, large scale collective actions. In addition to her wage and hour experience, Ariel has defended employers against discrimination claims, including claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ariel also has substantive experience litigating cases brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act (Title III), as well as noncompete and restrictive covenants.
Ariel is active in the Atlanta community, both with nonprofits and within the legal sphere. Ariel is a longstanding board member of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section, and sits on the junior board of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Ariel keeps an active pro bono practice, frequently defending tenants in landlord-tenant disputes, many of which go to trial. Ariel also regularly delivers employment law presentations and employee handbooks to not-for-profit entities through her work with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. For the work that she has done for the community, Ariel was named Seyfarth’s 2018 Pro Bono Associate of the Year.
Prior to joining the firm, Ariel practiced with another national L&E firm and also worked with a boutique L&E firm in Atlanta. Ariel attended Emory University School of Law. There, she served as managing editor of the Emory's Business Law Review and competed in the National Wagner L&E Moot Court Competition. For her success, Ariel was inducted into the Order of Barristers. During her time at Emory, Ariel clerked for several Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in-house.
Counseling: In her counseling practice, Ariel guides employers on legal compliance issues including employee classification issues, workplace policies, and pay practices. Ariel possesses a particular knowledge of the Motor Carrier Act Exemption and the Companionship Exemption, frequently advising companies within the transportation, healthcare, and homecare industries.
Wage and Hour Audits: Ariel has handled dozens of wage and hour audits for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Drawing upon Seyfarth’s artificial intelligence and technology resources, Ariel can deliver comprehensive reviews of hundreds of thousands of job profiles and assess and mitigate employee pay-related risks before litigation may come to fruition.
Due Diligence: When it comes time to close a deal, Ariel frequently lends a hand advising companies and investment firms on potential wage and hour liabilities. Drawing upon her deep understanding of the Fair Labor Standards Act and related-state wage and hour laws, Ariel is able to identify potential causes for concern and how to best tackle them to ensure a smooth acquisition.
DOL Investigations: A Department of Labor audit can hit a business at any time and without prior notice. Should the DOL come knocking, Ariel has handled numerous DOL investigations and has successfully navigated employers through the process, frequently negotiating much better outcomes than a company would on its own.
Litigation: Ariel has experience litigating wage and hour lawsuits, from single-plaintiff cases to complex, large scale collective actions. In addition to her wage and hour experience, Ariel has defended employers against discrimination claims, including claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ariel also has substantive experience litigating cases brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act (Title III), as well as noncompete and restrictive covenants.
Ariel is active in the Atlanta community, both with nonprofits and within the legal sphere. Ariel is a longstanding board member of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section, and sits on the junior board of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Ariel keeps an active pro bono practice, frequently defending tenants in landlord-tenant disputes, many of which go to trial. Ariel also regularly delivers employment law presentations and employee handbooks to not-for-profit entities through her work with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. For the work that she has done for the community, Ariel was named Seyfarth’s 2018 Pro Bono Associate of the Year.
Prior to joining the firm, Ariel practiced with another national L&E firm and also worked with a boutique L&E firm in Atlanta. Ariel attended Emory University School of Law. There, she served as managing editor of the Emory's Business Law Review and competed in the National Wagner L&E Moot Court Competition. For her success, Ariel was inducted into the Order of Barristers. During her time at Emory, Ariel clerked for several Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in-house.
- JD, Emory University School of Law
Emory's Corporate Governance and Accountability Law Review managing editor
Moot Court Executive Board, Wagner Labor and Employment Court Competition
Elarbee Family Scholarship Recipient, Awarded for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law
Order of Barristers - BA, BS, University of Georgia
- Georgia
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- US District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
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- Listed in Georgia Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2021)
- Selected to Georgia’s Legal Elite by Georgia Trend magazine for Employment & Labor (Morris Publishing Group) (2020)
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Atlanta Council of Young Lawyers board member
- Co-Author, "Part II: Emergency Childcare: State-Specific Measures," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Party On! The 11th Circuit Holds Filing a Written Consent is Enough For Opt-in Plaintiffs To Achieve Party Status," Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 25, 2018)
- Co-Author, "Fixed Salaries, Fluctuating Hours, and Beyond: A Federal Court Addresses Common Questions About the Fluctuating Work Week Method of Compensation," Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 7, 2018)
- Author, "’A Telecommute Dispute’ – What is a Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA?," Employment Law Lookout, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 1, 2018)
- Author, " Texts From Your Ex? Not So Fast- Make Sure to Preserve your Evidence," Employment Law Lookout, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 13, 2018)
- “How are Georgia noncompetes impacted by mergers?,” Georgia Employment Law Letter (October 2014)
- “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise: EEOC third party subpoenas,” Georgia Employment Law Letter (May 2014)
- “EEOC takes aim at non disparagement,” HR Insights (February 2014)
Time over time, Ariel partners with employers to mitigate employee pay-related risks and effectively respond to wage and hour claims should they arise.
More About Ariel
Ariel’s wage and hour practice focuses on five major sub-areas: day-to-day counseling; wage and hour audits; due diligence reviews; Department of Labor investigations; and litigation (both single-plaintiff and large complex class actions).
Counseling: In her counseling practice, Ariel guides employers on legal compliance issues including employee classification issues, workplace policies, and pay practices. Ariel possesses a particular knowledge of the Motor Carrier Act Exemption and the Companionship Exemption, frequently advising companies within the transportation, healthcare, and homecare industries.
Wage and Hour Audits: Ariel has handled dozens of wage and hour audits for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Drawing upon Seyfarth’s artificial intelligence and technology resources, Ariel can deliver comprehensive reviews of hundreds of thousands of job profiles and assess and mitigate employee pay-related risks before litigation may come to fruition.
Due Diligence: When it comes time to close a deal, Ariel frequently lends a hand advising companies and investment firms on potential wage and hour liabilities. Drawing upon her deep understanding of the Fair Labor Standards Act and related-state wage and hour laws, Ariel is able to identify potential causes for concern and how to best tackle them to ensure a smooth acquisition.
DOL Investigations: A Department of Labor audit can hit a business at any time and without prior notice. Should the DOL come knocking, Ariel has handled numerous DOL investigations and has successfully navigated employers through the process, frequently negotiating much better outcomes than a company would on its own.
Litigation: Ariel has experience litigating wage and hour lawsuits, from single-plaintiff cases to complex, large scale collective actions. In addition to her wage and hour experience, Ariel has defended employers against discrimination claims, including claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ariel also has substantive experience litigating cases brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act (Title III), as well as noncompete and restrictive covenants.
Ariel is active in the Atlanta community, both with nonprofits and within the legal sphere. Ariel is a longstanding board member of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section, and sits on the junior board of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Ariel keeps an active pro bono practice, frequently defending tenants in landlord-tenant disputes, many of which go to trial. Ariel also regularly delivers employment law presentations and employee handbooks to not-for-profit entities through her work with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. For the work that she has done for the community, Ariel was named Seyfarth’s 2018 Pro Bono Associate of the Year.
Prior to joining the firm, Ariel practiced with another national L&E firm and also worked with a boutique L&E firm in Atlanta. Ariel attended Emory University School of Law. There, she served as managing editor of the Emory's Business Law Review and competed in the National Wagner L&E Moot Court Competition. For her success, Ariel was inducted into the Order of Barristers. During her time at Emory, Ariel clerked for several Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in-house.
Counseling: In her counseling practice, Ariel guides employers on legal compliance issues including employee classification issues, workplace policies, and pay practices. Ariel possesses a particular knowledge of the Motor Carrier Act Exemption and the Companionship Exemption, frequently advising companies within the transportation, healthcare, and homecare industries.
Wage and Hour Audits: Ariel has handled dozens of wage and hour audits for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Drawing upon Seyfarth’s artificial intelligence and technology resources, Ariel can deliver comprehensive reviews of hundreds of thousands of job profiles and assess and mitigate employee pay-related risks before litigation may come to fruition.
Due Diligence: When it comes time to close a deal, Ariel frequently lends a hand advising companies and investment firms on potential wage and hour liabilities. Drawing upon her deep understanding of the Fair Labor Standards Act and related-state wage and hour laws, Ariel is able to identify potential causes for concern and how to best tackle them to ensure a smooth acquisition.
DOL Investigations: A Department of Labor audit can hit a business at any time and without prior notice. Should the DOL come knocking, Ariel has handled numerous DOL investigations and has successfully navigated employers through the process, frequently negotiating much better outcomes than a company would on its own.
Litigation: Ariel has experience litigating wage and hour lawsuits, from single-plaintiff cases to complex, large scale collective actions. In addition to her wage and hour experience, Ariel has defended employers against discrimination claims, including claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ariel also has substantive experience litigating cases brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act (Title III), as well as noncompete and restrictive covenants.
Ariel is active in the Atlanta community, both with nonprofits and within the legal sphere. Ariel is a longstanding board member of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section, and sits on the junior board of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Ariel keeps an active pro bono practice, frequently defending tenants in landlord-tenant disputes, many of which go to trial. Ariel also regularly delivers employment law presentations and employee handbooks to not-for-profit entities through her work with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. For the work that she has done for the community, Ariel was named Seyfarth’s 2018 Pro Bono Associate of the Year.
Prior to joining the firm, Ariel practiced with another national L&E firm and also worked with a boutique L&E firm in Atlanta. Ariel attended Emory University School of Law. There, she served as managing editor of the Emory's Business Law Review and competed in the National Wagner L&E Moot Court Competition. For her success, Ariel was inducted into the Order of Barristers. During her time at Emory, Ariel clerked for several Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in-house.
- JD, Emory University School of Law
Emory's Corporate Governance and Accountability Law Review managing editor
Moot Court Executive Board, Wagner Labor and Employment Court Competition
Elarbee Family Scholarship Recipient, Awarded for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law
Order of Barristers - BA, BS, University of Georgia
- Georgia
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- US District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
Related News & Insights
-
Blog Post
Jan 5, 2021
New Year’s Gift From WHD: Guidance on Continuous Workday Rule in the WFH Era
-
Legal Update
Mar 24, 2020
Part II: Emergency Childcare: State-Specific Measures
-
Blog Post
May 23, 2019
Holy Smoke! Health Care Employers Must Abate Surgical Smoke Hazards in the Operating Room
-
Blog Post
May 22, 2019
Holy Smoke! Health Care Employers Must Abate Surgical Smoke Hazards in the Operating Room
- Listed in Georgia Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2021)
- Selected to Georgia’s Legal Elite by Georgia Trend magazine for Employment & Labor (Morris Publishing Group) (2020)
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Atlanta Council of Young Lawyers board member
- Co-Author, "Part II: Emergency Childcare: State-Specific Measures," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Party On! The 11th Circuit Holds Filing a Written Consent is Enough For Opt-in Plaintiffs To Achieve Party Status," Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 25, 2018)
- Co-Author, "Fixed Salaries, Fluctuating Hours, and Beyond: A Federal Court Addresses Common Questions About the Fluctuating Work Week Method of Compensation," Wage & Hour Litigation Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 7, 2018)
- Author, "’A Telecommute Dispute’ – What is a Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA?," Employment Law Lookout, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 1, 2018)
- Author, " Texts From Your Ex? Not So Fast- Make Sure to Preserve your Evidence," Employment Law Lookout, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 13, 2018)
- “How are Georgia noncompetes impacted by mergers?,” Georgia Employment Law Letter (October 2014)
- “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise: EEOC third party subpoenas,” Georgia Employment Law Letter (May 2014)
- “EEOC takes aim at non disparagement,” HR Insights (February 2014)