National labor and employment law firm Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP is pleased to announce John F. Doyle, Jason Friedman, Darrick McDuffie, Sarah Phaff, Aaron Rutschman and Matthew Scholl were voted to the firm’s partnership ranks by the executive committee, effective January 1, 2024.
“We congratulate this outstanding group of lawyers on their new roles,” said Neil Wasser, executive chair of Constangy. “Their dedication, hard work, and outstanding legal expertise truly embody the core values of our firm.”
John F. Doyle, a member of the firm’s Kansas City office, represents and advises employers in all aspects of employment law matters. He is experienced in litigating cases before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. He has successfully represented clients in matters involving claims of discrimination; harassment and retaliation in the workplace; whistleblower retaliation; wage and hour violations; breach of employment contracts; and other employment-related claims. John is well-versed in single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class/collective litigation. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers (2017-2021) and The Best Lawyers in America® "Ones to Watch" guide for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2022-2024).
Jason Friedman is an experienced litigator in employment and wage and hour laws. He litigates federal and state minimum wage and overtime claims across the country. Much of his practice involves class and collective actions and his experience with wage and hour issues runs the gamut from off-the-clock work to employee misclassification. Jason also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where he teaches an advanced writing course, “Writing in Law Practice: Fair Labor Standards Act Pretrial Litigation.” He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® "Ones to Watch" guide for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024). Jason works in the firm’s Washington D.C. offices.
Darrick McDuffie’s practice focuses primarily on workplace investigations of discrimination and harassment allegations, investigations by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, discrimination lawsuits, including EEOC lawsuits alleging systemic discrimination, collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, litigation involving trade secrets and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and other employment litigation. Darrick also provides client counseling to limit exposure to litigation in these and other areas of employment law, such as issues arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. He has been recognized as a Top 40 Litigation Lawyer Under 40 in the State of Georgia by the American Society of Legal Advocates (2013-2014) and the Lawyers of Color’s Second Annual Hot List (2014). Darrick is associated with the firm’s Atlanta office.
Sarah Phaff practices in all areas of employment and labor law, including defending employers in actions brought in state and federal court under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and other state and federal laws. Sarah regularly counsels and guides clients on employee relations issues, seeking practical legal solutions that are the best fit for a particular client. Sarah also conducts training on a variety of topics, including litigation prevention, harassment, discrimination, leave issues, employment policies, investigations, documentation, and best practices for employers. She is located in the firm’s Atlanta office. Sarah has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® "Ones to Watch" guide for Labor and Employment Law – Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2021-2024) and as a “Rising Star” by Georgia Super Lawyers® (2023).
Aaron Rutschman represents employers in all aspects of single-plaintiff and class-action litigation. His practice focuses on defending claims of retaliation, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and leave of absence violations. His labor and employment experience also includes wage and hour matters involving misclassification claims, off-the-clock work, meal and rest period violations and PAGA claims. Aaron has litigated cases in both state and federal courts, as well as arbitration forums. Aaron has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® "Ones to Watch" guide for Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2021-2024) and as a Southern California “Rising Star” Super Lawyers® honoree (2020-2023). Aaron works in the firm’s Los Angeles office.
Matthew Scholl focuses his practice on wage and hour compliance and litigation, having represented employers in dozens of complex class, collective, and representative lawsuits in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration and before administrative agencies. He also collaborates with employers to update and implement wage and hour policies consistent with business operations and goals. Matthew’s representation has involved companies ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small family-owned businesses, with an emphasis on companies operating in the staffing, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® "Ones to Watch" guide for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024). Matthew is a member of the Los Angeles office of the firm.