Dan Pasternak works with employers to solve workplace problems. Sometimes that involves helping develop, implement and enforce effective and business-sensible employment and traditional labor relations policies and practices. Other times, it involves representing employers in high-stakes litigation matters.
For more than two decades, Dan has advised employers in managing one of their most important assets – their human resources. From leading workplace investigations and crafting executive and non-executive employment, retention and separation contracts, to designing and supporting large-scale organizational changes and advising clients on strategic labor and employment issues arising in corporate merger and acquisition transactions, Dan’s focus is to find the right solution for employers in an increasingly complicated, highly regulated workplace environment.
But when solutions cannot be found and matters turn to litigation, Dan represents clients in the federal and state courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration and mediation proceedings, in employment matters arising under the array of federal and state employment laws, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, wage and hour collective and class action, ERISA denial of benefits, and unfair competition and restrictive covenant cases.
In addition to his employment counseling and litigation practice, Dan is an experienced traditional labor lawyer. As a former National Labor Relations Board attorney and leader of the traditional labor practice group of a large international law firm, Dan has deep experience representing employers in a broad spectrum of labor relations matters, including unfair labor practice charge and representation case proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and federal appellate courts, union organizing campaigns, formulating collective bargaining strategy and conducting at-the-table negotiations, strike and secondary boycott response and contingency planning, and grievance arbitration proceedings.
Dan also counsels on the unique legal issues specific to government contractors, including non-discrimination and compliance with affirmative action laws required by the OFCCP and compliance with obligations under the Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act and Fair Labor Standards Act.
Dan is a long-time contributing and chapter editor of The Developing Labor Lawyer, the definitive treatise on US labor law, a regular contributor to print and online legal media, and is a frequent speaker to legal and industry groups on labor and employment topics. Dan also leads Squire Patton Boggs’ effort to deliver as-they-happen updates on developments affecting US employers through its Employment Law Worldview blog.
Dan has received recognition in Chambers USA since 2010 on the strength of feedback received from clients, commenting that he is “superb in every interaction” and “tenacious,” and noting his “polished performances in the courtroom.” Chambers USA noted that “clients describe him as ‘plain-speaking, responsive and helpful’ and praise the ‘consistent high quality’ of his work,” and quoted client feedback noting Dan’s “ability to assess the situation quickly and offer sound guidance.” Dan has also been annually listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the employment law, labor law, and labor and employment litigation categories, and in the employment and labor law category of Southwest Super Lawyers.
Law Review Articles
Speaking Engagements