As one of the leading class action litigators in the United States, Douglas R. Hart handles nationwide class action litigation and serves as national class action counsel for several Fortune 100 companies. Doug regularly counsels on all types of employment-related class action lawsuits on behalf of employers, including matters related to pay practice and wage and hour, disparate impact and intentional discrimination, and pension plans. He serves clients in diverse industries, including retail, financial services, insurance, healthcare, and construction.
Doug has a successful track record defending some of the largest class action lawsuits filed against employers both in California and nationally, with several of the cases being dismissed outright.
Doug is at the forefront of labor and employment issues, frequently assisting employers with strategies concerning labor-management relations and actively negotiating complex collective bargaining agreements. He has negotiated several groundbreaking contracts that serve as models for their respective industries.
Doug also counsels employers on personnel policies and procedures, employee discipline matters, corporate restructuring and reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation, and employment contracts.
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Doug was a partner in the labor, employment, and immigration practice of another global law firm, resident in Los Angeles.
Class Actions
Collective Bargaining
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2019)
Recommended, Labor and employment: Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense, The Legal 500 US (2020, 2021)
Recommended, Labor and employment: Labor-management relations, The Legal 500 US (2020)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Labor Law - Management, Los Angeles (2022)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, Los Angeles (2024, 2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Labor Law – Management, Los Angeles (2011–2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Labor and Employment Law, Los Angeles (2011–2025)
Labor & Employment Star, West, Benchmark Labor & Employment (2018)
Recognized, Best Lawyers in the Country, US News/Best Lawyers – Best Law Firms (2011–2018)
Recognized, Labor and Employment Law, Super Lawyers (2011, 2014–2016)
Recognized, Leading Labor and Employment Lawyer, The Daily Journal (2011–2013)
Ranked, Labor & Employment, Chambers USA (2009–2013)
Employment Law MVP, Law360 (2011)
Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
Member, State Bar of California
Member, Labor Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Former managing editor, Nebraska Law Review