Seth L. Neulight
Partner

Practice Areas

Experience

Seth Neulight has extensive experience representing employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters. He defends employers in individual cases, class and collective actions, and administrative enforcement actions, involving claims such as discrimination and harassment, whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, torts, and unfair competition. He advises employers on traditional labor matters including union organizing campaigns and collective bargaining, and handles cases before the National Labor Relations Board. Mr. Neulight also provides employers with strategic advice and counsel on human resources best practices, internal investigations, M&A due diligence, executive employment contracts, and personnel policies.

Representative Matters

• Represented utility in wage and hour class action alleging overtime exemption misclassification of workers in project management and engineer positions.
• Represented global consumer products company in class action alleging misclassification of truck drivers under Motor Carrier Act overtime exemption and related wage and hour claims.
• Represented start-up technology company in arbitration of wrongful termination and related tort claims by former chief technology officer.
• Represented employer and chief executive officer in multi-state litigation of unfair competition claims based on hiring of employees from competitor.
• Defended healthcare maintenance organization in civil action by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging “pattern and practice” discrimination under Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964. Successfully negotiated settlement and consent decree with EEOC.
• Advised fruit distributor on response to Teamsters organizing campaign. Represented employer in contested bargaining unit proceeding before NLRB. Defended employer against union unfair labor practice charge.

Recent Publications

• “Social Networking Sites and Blogs: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly for Employers”, The Marin Lawyer, November 2009, Volume 40, Issue 11
• “Obama Selects Hilda Solis for Secretary of Labor”, Nixon Peabody Employment Law Alert, January 6, 2009

Recent Speaking Engagements

Mr. Neulight is a frequent speaker on employment law topics:

• “Social Media and the Workplace: What Every Employer Should Know,” East Bay HR Executive Network Group, May 2010, Dublin, CA
• “Legislative and Case Update: What’s New for 2010?,” Northern California Human Resources Association, January 2010, San Francisco
• “Managing The Interplay of ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Compensation: How To Properly Designate and Allocate Leaves of Absence,” Employer Resources Institute, 2009 California Employment Law Update Seminar, November 2009, San Francisco
• “Obama Administration’s Impact on Labor & Employment Law: First Ten Months,” Nixon Peabody, October 2009, San Francisco
• “Managing Your Workforce In a Down Economy: Guidance for the Proactive Employer,” Golden Gate Restaurant Association, March 2009, San Francisco
• “Managing Employee Leaves and Absenteeism,” Nixon Peabody Retail Roundtable: HR Legal Issues for Retail and Related Industries, February 2009, San Francisco

Admissions

Seth is admitted to practice in California; the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Ninth Circuits; and the U.S. District Courts of California.

Education

DePaul University College of Law, J.D. (Article & Note Editor, DePaul Law Review)
Northwestern University, B.A.

Affiliations

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Section
Bar Association of San Francisco