Leigh M. Nason

Shareholder | Columbia

Leigh Nason is a shareholder in the Columbia, South Carolina office of Ogletree Deakins and co-chairs the firm’s OFCCP Compliance, Government Contracting, and Reporting Practice Group, whose experienced attorneys counsel and defend federal contractors and subcontractors throughout the United States on jurisdictional, compliance, and enforcement issues involving the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Leigh provides advice to in-house counsel and human resources professionals in all industries on the preparation, management, and defense of their affirmative action programs and related matters, including jurisdictional analyses, preventative strategies, complaint investigations, and compliance evaluations. She is often retained to assist with OFCCP systemic discrimination cases stemming from statistical disparities in hiring, pay, and testing and has successfully defended allegations of significant monetary liability and other sanctions in every OFCCP region. She advises small and large employers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands on proactive pay equity analyses, defensible diversity and inclusion strategies and data analytics, and strategic EEO-1/VETS reporting. An experienced litigator, Leigh has defended discrimination claims before federal and state courts as well as administrative tribunals.

Leigh has been included in The Best Lawyers in America for many years. She received the 2018 Distinguished Lawyer Award from the South Carolina Bar’s Employment and Labor Law Section and was selected as the 2017 Employment Law-Management Lawyer of the Year for Columbia, SC. She is listed in Chambers USA as one of the country’s leading attorneys in the affirmative action compliance arena, has been designated as a South Carolina “Super Lawyer,” is AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recommended in the United States edition of The Legal 500 in the category of Workplace and Employment Counseling. Leigh has authored and edited numerous publications on affirmative action compliance issues and is an editor of and contributing author to all five editions of Labor and Employment Law for South Carolina Lawyers, published by the South Carolina Bar. Leigh is often asked by national media for her insights on new developments affecting federal contractors and is a frequent speaker at national, regional, and local conferences on affirmative action compliance and employment discrimination.

Leigh is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, and is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in the area of employment and labor law. She served as Chair of the South Carolina Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Committee and its Employment and Labor Law Specialization Advisory Board.

More About Leigh M. Nason

Education & Admission

Professional Activities

Speeches

Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OFCCP’s New Audit List and Scheduling Letter Increase the Burdens on Federal Contractors” – October 3, 2023
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “AAPs and Voluntary Affirmative Action/DEI Programs—Similar But Not the Same” – Colorado Springs – September 23, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “OFCCP’s Revised Compensation Directive” – September 22, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OFCCP and the Never-Ending Saga of Compensation Analyses” – September 14, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Workplace Strategies Watercooler: New OFCCP Regulatory and Compliance Initiatives for Federal Contractors in 2022” – May 18, 2022
Workplace Strategies Seminar – “OFCCP Goes On the Offensive: Federal Contractors (and You May Be One Without Knowing It) Beware!” – Phoenix – May 6, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Unpacking OFCCP’s “Pay Equity Audits” Directive – Considerations in Preparing Non-Privileged Pay Analyses” – April 26, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “The Curtain Parts! OFCCP Reveals Certification Details on Its Contractor Portal” – April 20, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OFCCP’s New Contractor Portal: Diving Into the Contractor Registration Process” – February 24, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “At Last: OFCCP’s Contractor Portal Is Here” – December 8, 2021
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “OSHA’s New COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard, and the Federal Contractor and CMS Vaccine Mandates: What In-House Counsel Need to Know” – Amelia Island – November 11, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “The Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate: How Will It Affect Your Organization?” – October 14, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Employers, Uncle Sam Wants You to Step Up Your Efforts with Mandatory Vaccination and Testing!” – September 17, 2021
Workplace Strategies Virtual Seminar – “Hot Topics and New Developments for Federal Contractors: Preparing for the New OFCCP” – June 24, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Executive Order 13950 and Diversity and Inclusion Training: What Employers Need to Know Moving Forward” – October 13, 2020
Practising Law Institute – “Evaluation of Pay Systems, Pay Audits and Privilege” – New York City – February 12, 2020
South Carolina Industry Liaison Group – “The Intersection of Affirmative Action and Diversity and Inclusion” – Clemson – December 5, 2019
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “OFCCP Enforcement—Check Your Assumptions at the Door” – New Orleans – November 15, 2019
National Industry Liaison Group Conference – “Ethical Considerations in OFCCP Compliance Evaluations (Audits)” – Milwaukee – August 1, 2019
National Industry Liaison Group Conference – “Navigating OFCCP Compliance in Higher Education” – Milwaukee – July 31, 2019
South Carolina Industry Liaison Group – “Navigating Your Way Through Section 503 Disability Audits” – Columbia – May 23, 2019
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “OFCCP Enforcement During the Trump Administration – What Federal Contractors Need to Know” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
Institute for Workplace Equality Higher Education Symposium – “OFCCP Audit Trends in Higher Education” – Washington, D.C. – March 27, 2019
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “An Insider’s View of OFCCP Enforcement Trends and Initiatives” – La Quinta – November 8, 2018
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OFCCP on a Roll: What Contractors Need to Know About the Nine New Directives” – October 2, 2018
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “What’s the Deal with Federal Contractors and the OFCCP? The Basics” – September 11, 2018
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Fast-Paced World of Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors” – Phoenix – May 9, 2018
Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “AAPs? OFCCP? Disparity Analyses? What In-House Counsel Need to Know to Navigate the Minefield of Federal Contract Compliance” – Boca Raton – November 10, 2017
33rd Annual NC/SC Labor & Employment Law Conference – “Fundamentals of Pay Equity Analyses” – Isle of Palms – October 20, 2017
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance in a New Administration” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
SC Industry Liaison Group Quarterly Meeting – “OFCCP Update: The GAO Report, Pay Equity, EEO-1s, and More” – Charleston – March 29, 2017
Triangle Industry Liaison Group Quarterly Meeting – “OFCCP Update: The GAO Report, Pay Transparency, Executive Order Requirements, and More” – Raleigh – March 3, 2017
40th Annual AZilg Conference – “Executive Orders Everywhere: What’s Up with These” – Phoenix – November 12, 2015
2015 National Conference – American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity – “Executive Orders Everywhere – All the New Rules in One Place” – New Orleans – June 4, 2015
OFCCP Institute Annual Summit – “Adverse Impact Analysis” – Washington – April 2015
OFCCP Institute Annual Summit – “Panel of Experts Share Strategies for Successful OFCCP Compensation Compliance” – Washington – April 2015
OFCCP Institute Annual Summit – “Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing Part I: Successful Audit Strategies for 2015” – Washington – April 2015
OFCCP Institute Annual Summit – “Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing Part II: Successful Audit Strategies for 2015” – Washington – April 2015
2015 AZilg – “OFCCP’s New Scheduling Letter: Are You Ready for All the New Data Requests?” – Phoenix – January 13, 2015
American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) Webinar – “OFCCP Compliance Reviews – Metrics and Analysis” – December 10, 2014
BLR® — Business & Legal Resources Webinar – “EEO-1 Reporting Deadline: HR’s Step-by-Step Guide to Ensuring Compliance” – August 11, 2014
2014 ILG National Conference – “Practical ADA and FMLA Solutions & ADA Reasonable Accommodation” – Washington, D.C. – August 7, 2014
2014 ILG National Conference – “Equal Pay Enforcement: Minimizing the Risks” – Washington, D.C. – August 6, 2014
NC/SC ILG 2014 Annual Conference – Panelist – “Leveraging OFCCP Compliance Resources and Solutions” – Columbia – June 10, 2014
2014 SWARM Regional ILG Conference – “Screening Practices Under Attack” – Denver – May 1, 2014
Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing – “Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance Update: A Survey of the New Veterans and Disability Regulations for Federal Contractors” – Birmingham – February 27, 2014
Federal Contractors & Section 503: Are you ‘READI’ & ‘ABLE’ to include disability? – “Measuring Up…The Numbers for 503” – Birmingham – February 26 – 27, 2014
University System of Georgia Human Resource Association and AA/EEO/Title IX Joint Fall Conference – “Adverse Impact – What Is It and Why Do I Care?” – Savannah – September 26, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Hot Topics in OFCCP: Important Changes in the FCCM, Veterans Regulations, and Disability Regulations” – September 25, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Lunch and Learn – “Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance Trends in 2013: What Every Federal Contractor or Subcontractor Should Know” – Dallas – September 12, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Lunch and Learn – “Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance Trends in 2013: What Every Federal Contractor or Subcontractor Should Know” – San Antonio – September 5, 2013
2013 SAHRMA Employment Law Conference – “Who is OFCCP and Why Should I Care?” – San Antonio – September 4, 2013
Midlands Technical College – “The OFCCP and Affirmative Action – What Every Federal Contractor Must Know and Do” – Columbia – August 8, 2013
ILG National Conference – “Screening Practices: Are You at Risk” – Indianapolis – July 30 – August 2, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Lunch and Learn – “Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance Trends in 2013: What Every Federal Contractor or Subcontractor Should Know” – Boston – June 13, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OFCCP’s New Directives: Increased Contractor Scrutiny on the Horizon” – March 28, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Lunch and Learn – “Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance Trends in 2013 – What Every Federal Contractor or Subcontractor Should Know” – Detroit – February 13, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Webinar (moderator) – “Defense of Employment Testing Claims” – January 23, 2013
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Best Practices For Preparing EEO-1 Reports And Vets-100A Forms” – August 28, 2012
2012 Southeastern Industry Liaison Conference – “Applicant Tracking Systems – The Highs and the Lows” – Charlotte – June 6, 2012

Media Quotes

April 11, 2024 – Bloomberg Law – “Legal Sieges on President’s Power Threaten Contractor Watchdog”
February 1, 2024 – Bloomberg Law – “New Biden Equal Pay Measures Prompt Federal Contractor Confusion”
January 31, 2024 – Law360 – “Contractors In GOP States To Face Brunt Of Pay Equity Plan”
January 16, 2024 – Bloomberg Law – “Labor Department Emerges as New Venue for Corporate DEI Attacks”
August 30, 2022 – Bloomberg Law – “Contractors in ‘Uncharted Water’ With Narrowed Vaccine Mandate”
March 23, 2022 – Bloomberg Law – “Bias Claim Notice Rule Revamp Issued by Contractor Watchdog”
March 15, 2022 – Bloomberg Law – “Pay Audits Get Closer Look From Federal Contractor Watchdog”
February 14, 2022 – Law360 – “5 Questions Surrounding New DOL Affirmative Action Tool”
January 24, 2022 – Yahoo Finance – “Biden’s vaccine mandate for federal workers faces an uncertain future”
December 9, 2021 – Bloomberg Law – “U.S. Contractors Scramble After Court Halts Biden’s Shot Mandate”
November 15, 2021 – SHRM Online – “Federal Contractor Employees Must Be ‘Fully Vaccinated’ by Jan. 18, 2022”
April 2, 2021 – Bloomberg Law – “DOL Intensifies Anti-Bias Enforcement of Government Contractors”
October 8, 2020 – The National Law Journal – “Big Law Should be Mindful of Labor Department Compliance, Experts Warn”
March 18, 2020 – Bloomberg Law – “Labor Agency Eases Mandates for Virus-Response Contractors”
May 10, 2019 – Bloomberg Law – “Military Spouses Protected From Bias, DOL Reminds Contractors”
January 23, 2019 – Bloomberg Law – “Oracle Case Highlights Double Whammy Facing Tech Contractors”
September 17, 2018 – Industry Week – “Federal Contractors Face Closer Scrutiny”
April 13, 2018 – Bloomberg Law – “Federal Contractor Auditing Office Rolling Out Changes”
November 6, 2017 – Daily Labor Report – “Could Oracle Pay Bias Fight Affect Labor Dept. Transparency?”
November 9, 2016 – Bloomberg BNA – “Trump Could Ease Contractor Regulatory Requirements”
February 2, 2016 – Westlaw – “Confidential wage information in EEOC proposal could be vulnerable – lawyers”
February 2, 2016 – Employment Law Daily – “FEDERAL REGULATIONS—EEO-1 data collection proposal won’t advance EEOC’s efforts to find compensation bias, attorney asserts”
February 1, 2016 – SHRM.org – “EEO-1 Pay Data May Be Garbage In”
January 29, 2016 – Law360 – “3 Reasons Employers Fear The EEOC Pay Data Rule”
October 3, 2014 – Law360 – “Increased Access to Pay Data Will Boost OFCCP Enforcement”
October 2, 2014 – Human Resource Executive – “Clearing Up Pay Transparency”
September 30, 2014 – Law 360 – “Burden of DOL Rules May Send Contractors Packing”
August 6, 2014 – Law360 – “DOL Data Collection Push Fans Flames Of Contractor Concern”
August 4, 2014 – BNA's Daily Labor Report – “Attorneys Offer Practice Advice, Expect Litigation Regarding New Contracting Order”
July 31, 2014 – Law360 – “Obama's Labor Violation Order May Drive Contractors Away”
July 18, 2014 – Law360 – “Employment Regs To Watch In The 2nd Half of 2014”
May 29, 2014 – Law360 – “DOL Shifts Strategy In Contractor Pay Disparity Crackdown”
April 8, 2014 – Law360 – “Devil In Details For Contractors In New Equal Pay Data Rule”
April 7, 2014 – Bloomberg BNA's Daily Labor Report – “Obama to Bar Wage-Disclosure Retaliation, Direct DOL to Collect Contractor Pay Data”
April 7, 2014 – Law360 – “Obama Set To Use Contractors As Test Cases On Equal Pay”
March 21, 2014 – Bloomberg BNA's Daily Labor Report – “Judge Nixes Construction Association's Challenge to OFCCP's Disabilities Rules”
March 26, 2013 – Human Resource Executive – “Casting a Wider Net”
March 4, 2013 – Law360 – “OFCCP Nixes Pay Standards For More Open-Ended Approach”