Yvette V. Gatling

Yvette V. Gatling is a trusted advisor to management in a variety of employment matters. She has deep knowledge of and assists clients nationwide with reductions-in force and other downsizing issues. She has also assisted clients with nationwide wage and hour audits and represented clients in front of the Department of Labor. Yvette represents employers in a number of different industries including healthcare, financial services, oil and gas, technology and retail. 

Yvette has successfully handled trials and arbitrations for several clients.  Her jury trials and arbitrations include:

• A defamation case against an individual supervisor and a company
• A case alleging race discrimination and FMLA retaliation
• A case involving FMLA retaliation  

Select examples of Yvette’s experience include the following:

• Obtained summary judgment in the Eastern District of Virginia that was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in a race discrimination case
• Secured summary judgment in the Southern District of Texas that was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a wage and hour misclassification case
• Obtained summary judgment in the Southern District of Texas that was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a case alleging race, color and gender discrimination in violation of Title VII and a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Led a team in conducting a nationwide audit of over 1000 exempt positions of a major oil and gas company
• Led a team conducting an audit of the nationwide pay practices of a leading oil and gas company

She has represented companies in appeals before the Fourth and Fifth Circuit. 

In addition to her robust legal practice, Yvette serves as co-chair of the firm’s Healthcare Practice Group and is involved in a number of initiatives both within and outside of Littler dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal industry. 

Previously, Yvette served as law clerk to the Hon. Tucker L. Melançon, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. In law school, she was a member of and served as a senior editor of the Louisiana Law Review.