Dorothy L. Black

Dorothy focuses her practice on a broad spectrum of employment litigation matters. She represents employers and individual defendants facing claims from harassment and wrongful termination to discrimination based on age, disability, gender, and more. Her expertise includes navigating complex legal challenges such as retaliation, breaches of employment contracts, and unfair business practices. Dorothy's strategic approach to litigation has repeatedly proven effective in both individual and class action wage and hour lawsuits, establishing her as a trusted defender in high-stakes employment disputes.

Dorothy has successfully represented many employers in strategic legal maneuvers, particularly in enforcing arbitration agreements to address individual claims while pausing broader class action lawsuits. She has successfully prevented the certification of class actions and managed disputes over unpaid wages, compliance with wage payment laws, errors in wage statements, breaks, and employee misclassification exempt from overtime.

Dorothy is skilled in negotiating favorable settlements in mediations and arbitrations and is proficient in formal and informal negotiation settings. She offers comprehensive guidance to employers on various workplace issues, including employee misconduct, leaves of absence, layoffs, and regulatory compliance. In addition to her litigation prowess, Dorothy plays a pivotal role in developing employee handbooks and policies aligned with current legal standards. Committed to fostering harassment-free workplaces, she conducts anti-sexual harassment and human resources training sessions in both English and Spanish, enhancing workplace environments and compliance for her clients.

Before joining Constangy, Dorothy sharpened her labor and employment law skills as a partner at a national Am Law 100 firm and a California-based firm. She gained valuable experience in employment law and general commercial litigation at a national general practice firm earlier in her career.

• LeBoeuf Lamb’s Pro Bono Award (2005)
• Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, “Advocate of the Year” (2004)
• Super Lawyers®, "Rising Stars" honoree (2009-2011)

• Public Counsel, Volunteer Attorney
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Building Trial Skills Program, Participant (2006)