DevinSmith
Partner
Labor & Employment
devinsmith@seyfarth.com
Known for his effectiveness, sound judgment, and strategic approach, Devin is widely viewed as a go-to employment litigator in Washington.
More About Devin
Devin is a seasoned employment litigator with deep experience defending employers in complex, high-stakes matters, with a particular focus on wage and hour class actions, including alleged meal period and rest break violations, anti-moonlighting/noncompetition claims, off-the-clock work, and FLSA collective actions. For years, Devin has been at the forefront of developing new and creative defenses to class action lawsuits in Washington, including strategies to substantially reduce alleged damages. He represents a wide range of clients, from Fortune 100 companies to smaller employers, across industries including health care, retail, transportation, security, food service, hospitality, and technology.
Devin’s practice spans the full range of employment litigation, including class actions, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, accommodations, and restrictive covenant disputes. He regularly handles noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and trade secrets matters, resolving disputes through both negotiated outcomes and court intervention when necessary. His approach is practical and results-oriented, shaped by a strong command of both the law and business realities.
In addition to private practice, Devin has served as in-house counsel at one of the largest software companies, where he advised on employment, compliance, and risk management issues at a global enterprise level. That experience allows him to deliver guidance grounded in the realities of HR decision-making and enterprise risk.
Earlier in his career, Devin clerked at the Washington State Supreme Court and served as an extern to the Honorable John C. Coughenour of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. He brings that perspective, along with his prior experience as a journalist and Pentagon correspondent, to every matters.
Devin’s practice spans the full range of employment litigation, including class actions, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, accommodations, and restrictive covenant disputes. He regularly handles noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and trade secrets matters, resolving disputes through both negotiated outcomes and court intervention when necessary. His approach is practical and results-oriented, shaped by a strong command of both the law and business realities.
In addition to private practice, Devin has served as in-house counsel at one of the largest software companies, where he advised on employment, compliance, and risk management issues at a global enterprise level. That experience allows him to deliver guidance grounded in the realities of HR decision-making and enterprise risk.
Earlier in his career, Devin clerked at the Washington State Supreme Court and served as an extern to the Honorable John C. Coughenour of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. He brings that perspective, along with his prior experience as a journalist and Pentagon correspondent, to every matters.
- JD, University of Washington School of Law
Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal, Associate Editor-in-Chief - BS, Cornell University
Magna cum laude - MS, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
- Washington
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- US District Court, Western District of Washington
Related Key Industries
- Defense of putative wage and hour class action alleging violations of the Washington Minimum Wage Act, rest break and meal period requirements, and off-the-clock work.
- Defense of hospital and related entities in putative wage and hour class action alleging violations of Washington rest break and meal period requirements, time rounding, overtime practices, and unpaid time.
- Defense of national Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action alleging unpaid overtime and misclassification of employees.
- Defense of retailer at SeaTac airport in complex putative class action alleging failure to accommodate religious practices and violations of Washington rest break and meal period requirements.
- Resolved Minimum Wage Act claims against regional transportation employer. Putative class action settled for a fraction of alleged damages.
- Negotiated favorable settlement and obtained final approval of wage and hour class action alleging violations of rest break and piece-rate pay practices against trucking company.
- Defending national technology company against allegations of gender discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment brought by former employee.
- Defended Seattle-area business against allegations of Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) interference and retaliation, as well as Minimum Wage Act and race discrimination claims.
- Representing major home improvement entity in employment litigation and arbitration. Regularly obtain favorable resolution of alleged discrimination, ADA, FMLA, retaliation, harassment, constructive discharge, wrongful termination, and other claims. Conduct efficient, cost-effective discovery and often obtain early dismissal.
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024-present)
- King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, board of directors (2017-2022)
- "Thin Shields Pierce Easily: A Case for Fortifying the Journalists’ Privilege in New Zealand," Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal (January 1, 2009)
Known for his effectiveness, sound judgment, and strategic approach, Devin is widely viewed as a go-to employment litigator in Washington.
More About Devin
Devin is a seasoned employment litigator with deep experience defending employers in complex, high-stakes matters, with a particular focus on wage and hour class actions, including alleged meal period and rest break violations, anti-moonlighting/noncompetition claims, off-the-clock work, and FLSA collective actions. For years, Devin has been at the forefront of developing new and creative defenses to class action lawsuits in Washington, including strategies to substantially reduce alleged damages. He represents a wide range of clients, from Fortune 100 companies to smaller employers, across industries including health care, retail, transportation, security, food service, hospitality, and technology.
Devin’s practice spans the full range of employment litigation, including class actions, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, accommodations, and restrictive covenant disputes. He regularly handles noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and trade secrets matters, resolving disputes through both negotiated outcomes and court intervention when necessary. His approach is practical and results-oriented, shaped by a strong command of both the law and business realities.
In addition to private practice, Devin has served as in-house counsel at one of the largest software companies, where he advised on employment, compliance, and risk management issues at a global enterprise level. That experience allows him to deliver guidance grounded in the realities of HR decision-making and enterprise risk.
Earlier in his career, Devin clerked at the Washington State Supreme Court and served as an extern to the Honorable John C. Coughenour of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. He brings that perspective, along with his prior experience as a journalist and Pentagon correspondent, to every matters.
Devin’s practice spans the full range of employment litigation, including class actions, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, accommodations, and restrictive covenant disputes. He regularly handles noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and trade secrets matters, resolving disputes through both negotiated outcomes and court intervention when necessary. His approach is practical and results-oriented, shaped by a strong command of both the law and business realities.
In addition to private practice, Devin has served as in-house counsel at one of the largest software companies, where he advised on employment, compliance, and risk management issues at a global enterprise level. That experience allows him to deliver guidance grounded in the realities of HR decision-making and enterprise risk.
Earlier in his career, Devin clerked at the Washington State Supreme Court and served as an extern to the Honorable John C. Coughenour of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. He brings that perspective, along with his prior experience as a journalist and Pentagon correspondent, to every matters.
- JD, University of Washington School of Law
Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal, Associate Editor-in-Chief - BS, Cornell University
Magna cum laude - MS, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
- Washington
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- US District Court, Western District of Washington
Related Key Industries
- Defense of putative wage and hour class action alleging violations of the Washington Minimum Wage Act, rest break and meal period requirements, and off-the-clock work.
- Defense of hospital and related entities in putative wage and hour class action alleging violations of Washington rest break and meal period requirements, time rounding, overtime practices, and unpaid time.
- Defense of national Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action alleging unpaid overtime and misclassification of employees.
- Defense of retailer at SeaTac airport in complex putative class action alleging failure to accommodate religious practices and violations of Washington rest break and meal period requirements.
- Resolved Minimum Wage Act claims against regional transportation employer. Putative class action settled for a fraction of alleged damages.
- Negotiated favorable settlement and obtained final approval of wage and hour class action alleging violations of rest break and piece-rate pay practices against trucking company.
- Defending national technology company against allegations of gender discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment brought by former employee.
- Defended Seattle-area business against allegations of Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) interference and retaliation, as well as Minimum Wage Act and race discrimination claims.
- Representing major home improvement entity in employment litigation and arbitration. Regularly obtain favorable resolution of alleged discrimination, ADA, FMLA, retaliation, harassment, constructive discharge, wrongful termination, and other claims. Conduct efficient, cost-effective discovery and often obtain early dismissal.
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024-present)
- King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, board of directors (2017-2022)
- "Thin Shields Pierce Easily: A Case for Fortifying the Journalists’ Privilege in New Zealand," Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal (January 1, 2009)