Lauren R. Darden

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Lauren R. Darden

Partner

540.438.5377
ldarden@wawlaw.com

“
We help mitigate risks and combat claims with experienced legal work and practical advice.

Lauren Darden’s significant experience and practical advice help to solve the legal needs of her clients. Her practice focuses on employment law compliance and litigation, as well as general civil defense and commercial litigation. She is a member of the Employment Law, Insurance Defense, Intellectual Property and Business and Corporate Litigation teams at Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver. Lauren is admitted to practice law in federal and state courts in Virginia and she represents businesses in charges brought before the EEOC and Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.

lauren darden

Meet Lauren

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Paralegals

Legal Secretary

Cindy B.
19

Years of Experience

2

Number of Kids

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

  • Appellate Practice

  • Civil Litigation

  • Commercial, Corporate, & Business Law

  • Corporate Governance

  • Employment Law

  • Insurance Defense

  • Patent & Intellectual Property


  • Personal Injury

  • Workers' Compensation Defense

    • Washington & Lee University School of Law (J.D., 2006), Order of the Coif
    • James Madison University (B.A. 2000)
    • Virginia (2006)
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia (2007)
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court (2007)
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia (2010)
    • U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (2010)
    • Successfully resolved claims of sexual harassment under Title VII and West Virginia Human Rights Act in Virginia federal and West Virginia state courts
    • Successfully resolved claims of defamation, unfair competition and tortious interference in lawsuit brought in Oregon by Virginia client’s former employee involving breach of separation agreement and non competition agreement
    • Successfully resolved claim of sexual harassment brought against professional firm by former employee against senior partner
    • Represented clients in patent litigation involving issues of invalidity and infringement in federal court
    • Obtained dismissal in federal court case for Utah based-client in patent infringement action based on lack of personal jurisdiction
    • Obtained dismissal for defendant on Motion to Strike in personal injury action based on contributory negligence as a matter of law
    • Serves as local counsel to insurers and other businesses in federal court and state court
    • Represents clients on subpoenas for employment records and compliance with laws implicated in subpoena compliance
    • Successfully defended company in workers’ compensation defense on grounds that client was not an “employer” subject to a claim under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act
    • Successfully defended insurance carrier in workers’ compensation matter on issues involving owner’s coverage under insurance policy and timely notice of claim
    • Represents companies and individuals in drafting and reviewing employment contracts, separation agreements, and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
    • Counsels companies in drafting, revising and updating employment handbooks and policies in compliance with state and federal law, including Virginia Human Rights Act, FLSA, Title VII, the ADA & ADAAA, NLRA and FMLA
    • Drafted national Drug & Alcohol Testing Policy for client in manufacturing business with both safety-sensitive and non-safety sensitive positions
    • Drafted Drug & Alcohol Testing Policies for clients with employees under Department of Transportation regulations
    • Provides general corporate and employment advice to private high school with boarding and day students

    Lauren offers presentations on a number of topics to help employers meet their legal obligations, including:

    • Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Training
    • Documenting Employment Files and Employee Separation Agreements
    • Misclassification of Employees and Independent Contractors
    • Social Media in Employment
    • FLSA Overtime and Salary Compliance
    • The NLRB & Employment Handbooks
    • I-9 Compliance
    • “Notice and Awareness of a Specific Danger and Common-Law Punitive Damages, as Confirmed by Volpe v. City of Lexington,” The Journal of Civil Litigation, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 (Fall 2012).
    • Virginia’s Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine, 2009 (Young Lawyer); 2012 – 2017, 2019 (Labor/Employment Law)
    • Virginia Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2012-2018
    • Virginia State Bar
    • Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Board of Directors, 2009-present
    • Waynesboro Family YMCA, Board of Directors, 2011-present
    • Association of Young Professionals of Augusta County, founding Board of Directors

    Lauren Customizes Employment Law Strategies For Your Business.

    Lauren believes each company is unique and tailors a plan of action for employment law compliance that complements your organization’s operations and company culture. She works with companies to create employment law policies and handbooks, address day-to-day employment law questions from hiring to firing, and advocates for her clients when a claim or charge is brought. Successful litigation experience brings credibility and power to all her projects. Lauren’s love of analytical reading and writing pushed her to study law after college. In her spare time, Lauren loves to hike, cook, and travel. She is an active member of her community, and enthusiastically supports the Virginia Cavaliers and JMU Dukes with her husband and two children.

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