Labor and employment counsel grounded in business, finance and trial experience
Hans Riede helps clients understand the potential benefits, risks and costs associated with any potential employment or trade secrets litigation. He understands that business disputes are frequently inevitable and approaches all disputes with an open-mind, whether it’s going "all-in" on bet-the-business litigation or formulating alternative solutions amenable to all parties. When litigation is warranted, Hans is a fierce advocate for his clients, who include corporations, law firms, Am Law 100 lawyers, doctors, business executives and sports professionals, including one Hall of Fame NBA coach. His diverse educational background in business and finance, combined with extensive trial experience, enables him to provide bottom-line-focused advice on a wide range of topics, including:
- Trade secrets and defamation cases
- Class actions and collective actions
- Noncompete agreements and executive compensation contracts
- Employment law counseling and employment litigation and litigation prevention
- Shareholder derivative lawsuits
- Admitted as testifying attorneys’ fees expert
Hans is Washington, D.C., chair of the Labor & Employment Group.
Successes
- Lead attorney and first-chair trial counsel for commodities brokerage firm client in its successful defense of multi-million-dollar trade secrets, tort and business conspiracy lawsuit.
- Lead attorney and first-chair trial counsel for health care consulting firm in its successful defense of multiple-six-figure breach of contract lawsuit brought by former executive.
- Lead counsel in successful defense at trial and on appeal of shareholder derivative action that sought forced corporate dissolution and over $150 million in damages with all derivative claims dismissed, and a multiple-hundred-thousand-dollar judgment procured in favor of client/defendants due to plaintiff’s “vexatious conduct.”
- Representation of well-known regional restaurant in its successful defense of hybrid FLSA/state wage and hour collective and class action claims.
- Defense of Fortune 1000 CEO in multi-million-dollar business tort lawsuit. Authored and successfully argued motion to dismiss.
- First-chair trial counsel for government contractor client in successful enforcement of employee noncompete agreements.
- Successful defense of claims brought under the False Claims Act (FCA), the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Title VII and the FLSA.
Capabilities
- Labor & Employment
- Employment Advice, Counseling and Training
- Employment Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Internal Investigations and Compliance
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Securities Litigation and Enforcement
- Sports, Entertainment and Media Industry
- Wage and Hour Compliance and Defense
Professional Recognitions
- Virginia Business Magazine "Legal Elite" (2019: Alternative Dispute Resolution)
- Virginia Business Magazine "Legal Elite Young Lawyers Under 40" (2017)
- Virginia Business Magazine "Legal Elite" (2015: Commercial Litigation)
- Virginia Super Lawyers® "Rising Stars" (2014-2019: Employment Litigation: Defense)
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers® "Rising Stars" (2015-2018, 2020: Employment Litigation: Defense)
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated Highest Level of Professional Excellence
Professional & Civic Activities
- Fairfax County Public Schools, student mentor
News & Insights
Education
- University of Richmond School of Law (J.D., 2007)
- University of Virginia (B.S., 2002)
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Virginia
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
Languages
- Conversational Spanish