Overview
Ryan Derry’s practice includes various aspects of employment litigation and counseling, including employment discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wage and hour issues. He has represented employers in multiple jurisdictions in state and federal courts as well as in administrative proceedings against individual and class claims across industries, including retail, transportation, finance, healthcare, and technology fields.
A talented litigator, Mr. Derry is adept at handling complex single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, collective, class, and representative matters from inception through trial. He has successfully defended clients in over ten trials and arbitrations, including individual and multi-plaintiff claims for retaliation, gender discrimination, disability discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, defamation, and class claims for violations of the California Labor Code.
He has litigated matters before the National Labor Relations Board and has also managed large multi-unit investigations and settlements with the U.S. Department of Labor. He also maintains an active counseling practice and enjoys developing unique solutions and arguments for novel legal issues.
Mr. Derry is a frequent presenter and panelist on a variety of subject matters. Recent presentations have included trial and discovery strategy, the California Family Rights Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the California Consumer Privacy Act.
Mr. Derry has been named as a California Super Lawyer Rising Star for multiple years.
Education
Mr. Derry received his B.S. in Resource Economics, summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2003. Mr. Derry received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, with honors, in 2006 where he served as Senior Managing Editor of the Public Contract Law Journal and as a Dean’s Fellow. His note on public contracting False Claims Act liability was published in the Summer 2006 edition of the Public Contract Law Journal and republished in the fall 2006 edition of The False Claims Act & Qui Tam Quarterly Review.
Representations
- Successfully defended clients in both trial and arbitration forums against single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class action claims of disability, gender, and religious discrimination, breach of contract, retaliation, and wage and hour violations.
- Handled putative class action wage and hour litigation from inception and factual investigation through favorable resolution and class settlement.
- Conducted various wage and hour audits across industry, including areas of exempt-status classification and compliance with requirements under the California Labor Code.
- Coordinated client responses to California and Federal administrative and law enforcement agencies.
- Enforced and compelled arbitration under various agreements.
- Served as outside employment counsel for clients, providing advice and counseling regarding personnel and policy decisions and corresponding risk.
news
insights
- California Establishes New Disclosure Requirements for Employers Conducting Social Compliance Audits on Child Labor - October 22nd, 2024
- SCOTUS to Review Standard for Pursuit of Title VII Reverse Discrimination Cases - October 10th, 2024
- Does the Use of AI in the Hiring Process Expand Who Can Be Sued for Discrimination?: One Federal Court in California Says Yes - July 19th, 2024
- Get Ready California Employers! A Wave Of New Employment Laws Set To Kick In Next Year. - November 2nd, 2023
- California Supreme Court In Adolph v. Uber Has “Last Word” On PAGA Standing - July 18th, 2023
- Supreme Court Holds That First Amendment Free Speech Right Trumps State Antidiscrimination Law - July 5th, 2023
- What Employers Need to Know about the SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision - July 5th, 2023
- California Expands Employee Protections: A Dozen New Employment Laws Impacting Employers - October 10th, 2022
- California Legislature Votes to Dramatically Expand Pay Transparency and Reporting Requirements - September 1st, 2022
- California’s Attack on Arbitration Will Survive in Part, According to the Ninth Circuit - September 16th, 2021
- Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Standards Now Aligned to Public Health Guidance - June 18th, 2021
- Federal Court in California Sidesteps Employer Take-Home Liability for COVID-19 Exposure in Light of Workers’ Compensation Exclusivity Rule - March 5th, 2021
- EEOC Weighs in on Workplace COVID-19 Vaccination Programs - December 18th, 2020
- Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccines: Can U.S. Employers Require Vaccination? - December 10th, 2020
- The Delay Continues – California Passes Prop 24 And Employers Must “Wait and See - November 9th, 2020
- Looking Beyond 2020: Eighteen New Employment Laws Employers With Operations In California Need To Know For 2021 - October 12th, 2020
- AB 1867: California Enacts Supplemental COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law - September 14th, 2020
- Supreme Court: Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Because of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity - June 16th, 2020
- San Francisco Enacts Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance to Assist Employees Impacted by COVID-19 - April 20th, 2020
- PH COVID-19 Client Alert Series: EEOC Webinar Provides Guidance for Employers - March 30th, 2020