Emily Sauer

Emily Sauer is a litigation associate in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, class actions, and appeals in state and federal courts, with experience spanning commercial disputes, constitutional law, labor and employment matters, and arbitration. Emily has argued multiple appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and motions in federal and state trial courts, and she regularly represents clients through all stages of litigation.

Recent highlights from her practice include:

• Obtaining a rare complete grant of summary judgment in a California harassment and discrimination action;
• Successfully arguing before the federal courts of appeals that gig-economy drivers and delivery workers are not exempt from arbitration under Section 1 of the Federal Arbitration Act;
• Obtaining orders compelling individual arbitration in putative class actions involving a wide range of substantive claims;
• Obtaining dismissal with prejudice of claims arising from the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal on standing grounds;
• Advising clients on the design and implementation of arbitration agreements with consumers and employees;
• Advising clients regarding constitutional challenges to newly enacted California laws;
• Defending clients in government enforcement actions; and
• Negotiating favorable resolutions in matters ranging from mass arbitrations and class actions to high-stakes individual disputes.

Emily also maintains a robust pro bono practice. Recent highlights include:

• Obtaining a nearly $1 million settlement on behalf of a client who was wrongfully placed in solitary confinement, following a victory before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit;
• Leading a cross-office team representing a young woman who was wrongfully incarcerated under Louisiana’s material witness statute despite having voluntarily agreed to testify, in litigation alleging violations of her Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights;
• Representing clients in immigration matters, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas, asylum, and requests for prosecutorial discretion;
• Authoring amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, and the California Supreme Court on reproductive rights and immigration issues; and
• Developing new partnerships with nonprofit organizations through the firm's Justice for Women and Girls Initiative.

In 2024, Kids in Need of Defense honored Emily with its KINDness Matters Award for her innovative representation of a minor seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, in which she helped her client obtain lawful status without having to contact a previously abusive parent. In 2022, Gibson Dunn awarded Emily the Frank Wheat Memorial Award for outstanding pro bono representation in securing a nearly $1 million settlement for a client who suffered years in solitary confinement.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Emily served as a law clerk to the Honorable Carlos Bea of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She graduated summa cum laude as Salutatorian from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2018, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. While in law school, Emily served as Associate Editor of the Pepperdine Law Review, Co-Chair of the International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Team, and as an extern for the Honorable Sandra S. Ikuta of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.

Emily is admitted to practice in California and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Capabilities

• Litigation
• Appellate and Constitutional Law
• Class Actions

Credentials

Education:

• Pepperdine University - 2018 Juris Doctor
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas - 2015 Bachelor of Science

Admissions:

• California Bar

Clerkships:

• US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, Hon. Carlos Bea, 2018 - 2019