Amy R. Patton

Amy Patton represents employers in state and federal courts in a broad range of labor and employment law matters, including claims for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, trade secret misappropriation, and wage-and-hour violations. She handles both single-plaintiff litigation and class actions in state and federal court and has appeared before various administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Patton assists management in the development of sound workplace practices and policies. She counsels employers on compliance with family and medical leave laws, wage-and-hour compliance, and employee discipline issues. Ms. Patton also advises clients on the creation and implementation of leave programs; conducts wage-hour and pay practices audits; analyzes exemption status under state and federal law; and drafts and updates employee handbooks and other personnel policies.

Ms. Patton earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from University of Houston Law Center. Before joining Payne & Fears, she was an associate for five years with Latham & Watkins, where she obtained significant experience in all areas of employment law and business litigation. Ms. Patton started her legal career in the labor and employment department of a regional law firm in Texas. She also practiced in the commercial litigation department of a regional law firm in Arizona.

Ms. Patton is a member of the Payne & Fear’s five-person Management Committee, which is the firm’s primary governance committee. She also is the co-chair of the firm’s Employment Law Group, as well as the firm’s Marketing & Business Development Committee. From 2019 to 2020, Ms. Patton was co-chair of Women in Compliance Affinity Group of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL).