Matthew H. Sorensen

Matthew H. Sorensen focuses his practice on the areas of labor and employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Sorensen has successfully defended businesses and executives in numerous employment-related disputes in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He has extensive experience defending individual and class lawsuits involving wage and hour, discrimination, retaliation, and “whistleblower” claims. He has also litigated numerous cases involving non-compete agreements and other employment-related contracts. In addition, Mr. Sorensen represents businesses and executives in employment-related investigations by state and federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”), the Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”).

Mr. Sorensen is an experienced commercial litigator. He has successfully resolved numerous cases involving commercial contracts, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, defamation, fraud, and other business torts. He has also defended businesses (particularly those in the hospitality and retail industries) in a number of cases involving claims of discrimination and denial of access under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Sorensen works with companies to find practical, cost-effective strategies to their workforce problems. He routinely advises clients and conducts management training seminars on compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws, including the FLSA, Title VII, the ADEA, the ADA, the WARN Act, and the NLRA. He also prepares employment and non-compete agreements, develops personnel policies and employee handbooks, and advises clients on best practices for hiring, firing and managing employees. Additionally, Mr. Sorensen conducts internal investigations on wage and hour issues as well as claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and other misconduct.

Practice Notes

- Successfully moved to dismiss multi-million dollar wage and hour collective action in the Eastern District of Virginia.

- Obtained dismissal by jury of multi-million dollar retaliatory discharge claim.

- Obtained dismissal of sexual harassment lawsuit against federal government contractor on demurrer.

- Obtained dismissal of retaliation and defamation claims against firearms manufacturer.

- Obtained summary judgment in favor of Telecommunications Company in wage and hour, discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by former executive.

- Obtained summary judgment in favor of Homebuilding Company in pregnancy discrimination lawsuit.

- Obtained favorable judgment following bench trial of ADA Title III lawsuit against a national restaurant chain.

- Numerous favorable settlements of disputes involving wage and hour claims, discrimination claims, commercial contracts, non-compete agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition and other business torts.

Publications and Presentations

- Matthew H. Sorensen, Deadline for Compliance with New ADA Accessibility Rules Approaching, Resort Hotel Association Newsletter.

- Matthew H. Sorensen, Tennessee Appellate Court Holds Tips Are Not Earnings Subject to Garnishment, Practical Law Company Legal Update (March 30, 2012).

- Matthew H. Sorensen, et al., Environmental Whistleblowers and the Eleventh Amendment: Employee Protection or State Immunity? Tulane Environmental Law Journal (Winter 2001).

- Speaker, Hotels and Restaurants Targeted in Government and Private Enforcement Efforts, Virginia Beach Hotel & Motel Association (May, 2012).

- Speaker, Don’t Be Caught Unprepared: What Hospitality Businesses Need To Know About The 2010 ADA Standards and Effective Labor Relations, Northern Virginia Hotel Council (April, 2012).

- Speaker, Navigating the Murky Waters of Wage and Hour Compliance, Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association (Spring Meeting, 2012).

- Speaker, Avoiding Traps for the Unwary: Top Labor and Employment Law Issues for Hotel Managers to Watch in 2012, Northern Virginia Hotel Council (February, 2012).

Professional Activities

- Virginia State Bar

- District of Columbia Bar

- Federal Bar Association

- American Staffing Association

- Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association