Lauren Blas is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where her practice focuses on class actions, labor and employment litigation, and complex commercial litigation in the trial courts and on appeal.  Ms. Blas was named a “Rising Star” in Class Actions/Mass Torts and Appellate Litigation in Southern California by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2018, 2019, and 2020.  She was also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 Ones to Watch in Labor and Employment.

Ms. Blas represents clients in class actions in state and federal court and has litigated a wide range of appellate matters as well.  She has special expertise in California employment class actions, discrimination actions, and actions under California’s consumer protection statutes, including the Unfair Competition Law, the False Advertising Law, and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act.  She has briefed over a dozen appeals in the state and federal courts, and has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the California Court of Appeal, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  Ms. Blas was also a core member of the appellate team in New Jersey’s successful challenge to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.  After nearly four years of litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Act violated the Tenth Amendment and invalidated it in full.

Selected Class Action/Employment Matters:

• Successfully obtained decertification of an 11,000-member class in employment action on the eve of trial.
• Obtained complete grant of summary judgment in an arbitration involving defamation and related claims.
• Defeated motion for $80 million in penalties and liquidated damages following a jury trial in a wage-and-hour class action and obtained affirmance on appeal.
• Representing online retailer in multiple putative class actions raising employment claims under California law.
• Representing online advertising company in putative class action challenging accuracy of ad delivery.
• Representing healthcare company in multiple putative class actions challenging coverage and reimbursement decisions.
• Represented internet communications company in opposing class certification in one of the largest data breach cases in history.
• Represented beverage manufacturer in separate putative class actions involving false advertising claims.

Selected Appellate Matters:

• Obtained reversal from the Ninth Circuit of an order granting class certification in an employment class action against a retailer.
• Obtained Ninth Circuit decision on an issue of first impression regarding the scope of a California statute relating to business and professional relationships.
• Secured multi-million dollar reduction of a punitive damages award on appeal following a jury verdict in an employment discrimination action.
• Obtained reversal on appeal of a $50 million summary judgment award against an individual client.
• Obtained affirmance on appeal of judgment of dismissal in putative class action against a leading accounting firm.
• Persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari in a matter involving the statute of limitations for the federal False Claims Act.
• Represented retailer in a closely watched employment class action before the California Supreme Court on the question whether security screenings constitute compensable work.

Ms. Blas also maintains an active pro bono practice, including filing amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court and representing immigration clients in removal proceedings both in the immigration courts and on appeal.  She serves on the Firm’s Hiring and Community Affairs Committees, as well as on the Board of Directors for the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation, and on the Los Angeles advisory committee for the ABA’s Judicial Internship Opportunity Program.

Before joining the firm, Ms. Blas served as a law clerk to the Honorable Sandra S. Ikuta of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Ms. Blas graduated from Yale Law School, where she served as a first-year writing instructor, a teaching assistant in civil procedure, and managing editor of the Yale Journal on Regulation.  She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and History from Yale, where she graduated with honors and distinction in both majors.

Ms. Blas is a member of the California and New York bars, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California.