Claire B. Deason’s practice focuses on litigation, compliance, and consulting on all aspects of wage and hour law under federal and state law.
In her wage and hour compliance and consulting work, Claire advises clients on all aspects of current wage and hour law and works closely with clients to develop incentive compensation programs, create practical and manageable remote work compliance, navigate remote employee expense reimbursement, revise payroll practices and calculation methods, review position classifications, and coordinate messaging and training to communicate changes to the workforce. Claire works closely with her clients to develop wage and hour compliance strategies that are practical, creative, and can integrate into the real-world operations and goals of an organization.
Claire is a thought leader and partner to her clients on all aspects of the post-pandemic shift to remote work and compliance challenges related to remote worker relocation (the “Wandering Worker”). Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Claire has guided clients in wage and hour compliance with respect to compensable time, expense reimbursement, new developments in state law related to paid time off, changes to employee wages and duties, and incentive compensation planning and strategies. Claire advises on the unique wage and hour challenges of incentives for COVID-19 vaccination, as well.
Claire's presentations, including 2023's "Finding Your Voice Between a Red Rock and a Hard Blue Place," and 2022's "Finding Beauty in Change: The Metamorphosis of Work" (now available for purchase), have been featured at Littler's signature Executive Employer Conference.
In her wage and hour litigation practice, Claire develops creative, cutting-edge strategies for early resolution and dismissal of collective actions and has efficiently resolved collective actions for clients in the hospitality, service, and oil and gas industries. Claire has significant experience with all stages of wage and hour litigation, including:
- Early and representative discovery
- Conditional certification
- Decertification
- Individual and collective settlements
- Trial
Claire is a member of Littler’s Wage and Hour Practice Group Core Team, Audit Services Practice Group Core Team, and leads Littler’s Wandering Worker team.
In addition to her wage and hour practice, Claire represents clients in traditional discrimination suits and agency charges under both federal and state laws. She advises clients on all aspects of day-to-day personnel matters, including leave and disability issues, employee discipline, and termination.
In her pro bono practice, Claire has successfully obtained asylum, Permanent Resident status, and humanitarian parole for clients in individual immigration matters before U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services and U.S. Department of State.
