Susan Desmond

Practice Areas

- Labor & Employment

- ADA Compliance & Defense

- Employment Advice & Counseling

- Traditional Labor

- Wage & Hour Class Actions

Career

Susan Fahey Desmond is a partner in the New Orleans office of Lewis Brisbois. She represents employers in a broad spectrum of employment litigation matters, including claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, non‑compete disputes, and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues. Her clients range from closely held businesses to Fortune 100 companies.

With more than 35 years of experience, Susan has advised and defended employers across diverse industries, including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, energy, and education. She regularly handles cases involving allegations of age, sex, disability, race, religion, and sexual harassment discrimination, as well as class and collective actions. She also represents employers in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other federal and state agencies, guiding clients through each stage of the administrative and judicial process.

In addition to her litigation practice, Susan provides day‑to‑day counseling on a full range of employment issues. She advises on employment agreements, employee leave matters, workplace investigations, reductions in force, and compliance with state and federal regulations. She frequently assists employers with drafting and updating employee handbooks and developing effective policies tailored to their operational needs.

A seasoned speaker, Susan regularly conducts management and employee training programs on topics such as FMLA and FLSA compliance, employee speech, workplace investigations, records retention, and best practices during layoffs and organizational changes.

Susan brings a deep understanding of her clients’ businesses to every engagement. She is known for immersing herself in their operations, often touring facilities at the outset of a new engagement to understand workplace culture, processes, and risk areas firsthand. Whether advising on sensitive terminations, defending complex discrimination claims, or helping employers proactively avoid disputes, clients rely on her practical judgment, strategic insight, and strong advocacy both inside and outside the courtroom.

Professional Memberships

- Mississippi Bar Association

- Louisiana Bar Association

- Gulf Coast SHRM Association (governmental chair 2000-present)

- New Orleans SHRM Association

- Society for Human Resource Management

Publications

- IRS Issues Guidance on "No Tax on Tips" & "No Tax on Overtime" -- JD Supra

- Fifth Circuit Says No to NLRB's Authority to Award Compensatory Damages -- JD Supra

- DOL Clarifies How to Calculate 12 Weeks of FMLA Leave -- JD Supra

- Are Employers Liable in Tort for Employees' Sexual Assaults -- JD Supra

- Fifth Circuit Clarifies Highly Compensated Employee Exemption -- JD Supra

- SCOTUS Ames Decision: Everyone Is in a Protected Class -- JD Supra

Education

Awards