Insights

Washington – June 4, 2026: Crowell & Moring earned 92 individual rankings for 81 attorneys, as well as 48 national and statewide practice area rankings, in the Chambers USA 2026 guide. The Chambers guide ranks the country’s top law firms and lawyers through in-depth research, client interviews, and feedback from attorneys at peer firms. 

Washington – November 5, 2025: Crowell & Moring ranked nationally in 20 practice areas in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms." In addition, the firm was ranked in 38 metropolitan categories. 

Washington – August 20, 2025: The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized 44 Crowell & Moring lawyers as "Best Lawyers." 

In Clark v. A&L Homecare and Training Center, LLC, Nos. 22-3101/3102, a split three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that notice to potential plaintiffs should only be issued if lead plaintiffs show a “strong likelihood” that such absent employees are “‘similarly situated’ to the plaintiffs themselves.” In so holding, the Sixth Circuit joined the Fifth Circuit in rejecting the long-standing “lenient” two-step collective action certification process.  The Sixth Circuit declined, however, to apply the Fifth Circuit’s approach and adopted a “strong likelihood” standard.  The Clark decision, issued on May 19, 2023, will significantly impact FLSA collective action litigation in favor of employers in federal district courts in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee.  The widening Circuit split ripens this issue for review by the Supreme Court of the United States.

On February 15, 2023, the Ninth Circuit held that AB 51 is preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) and consequently California employers are free to require employees to sign arbitration agreements as a condition of employment. See Chamber of Com. of the United States of Am. v. Bonta, No. 20-15291, 2023 WL 2013326 (9th Cir. Feb. 15, 2023). AB 51 made it a criminal offense for an employer to do so, whether for applicants or existing employees.

The Supreme Court gave employers some good news this week in deciding that time spent by workers going through a theft-prevention security screening at the end of their shifts need not be compensated under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In a 9-0 ruling, the Court sided with the employer, determining that post-shift security screening procedures were not "integral and indispensable" to the workers' principal duties. The Court also clarified the standard to determine whether pre- and post-shift activities must be compensated under the FLSA.

Class actions are alive and well in the world of employment law. Much is happening, and there’s plenty more to come, says Rebecca Springer, a Crowell & Moring partner who serves as talent and inclusion lead in the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice.

Please join us for the next edition of Third Thursday – Crowell & Moring’s Labor and Employment Update, a webinar series dedicated to helping our clients stay on top of developing law and emerging compliance issues.

Please join us for the next edition of Third Thursday – Crowell & Moring’s Labor and Employment Update, a webinar series dedicated to helping our clients stay on top of developing law and emerging compliance issues.

Please join us for the next edition of Third Thursday – Crowell & Moring’s Labor and Employment Update, a webinar series dedicated to helping our clients stay on top of developing law and emerging compliance issues.

In this episode, Crowell's Rebecca Springer, Sadina Montani, and Stephon Howie discuss some of the more significant recent changes to state and local employment laws, trends in this area, and how Crowell can help you keep up to date with the panoply of ever-evolving obligations. The Lightning Round podcast is Crowell's monthly rundown on developments and trends in the Labor and Employment space.

Click below to listen or access from one of these links:

Crowell's Rebecca Springer and Glenn Grant discuss the requirements of Washington state's new mini-WARN Act. The Lightning Round podcast is Crowell’s biweekly rundown on developments and trends in the Labor and Employment space.