Salvador Simao
Partner
27th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Sal is a seasoned litigator with over 25 years of experience in labor and employment law with an emphasis on wage and hour compliance and litigation. As part of his practice, he handles multilayered misclassification class actions, counsels Fortune 500 companies and trade associations on complex wage hour matters, defends government contractors in...
Sal is a seasoned litigator with over 25 years of experience in labor and employment law with an emphasis on wage and hour compliance and litigation. As part of his practice, he handles multilayered misclassification class actions, counsels Fortune 500 companies and trade associations on complex wage hour matters, defends government contractors in debarment proceedings, and defends employers against allegations of discrimination, sexual and racial harassment, whistle blowing and retaliation. Sal also conducts cost-effective audits that provide practical business-oriented solutions to assist companies in avoiding substantial liability while still achieving their business goals.
Early in his career he was a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor where he won several Secretary exceptional achievement awards for successfully litigating complex wage hour matters and was the youngest attorney at that time to win attorney of the year.
debarment proceedings, and defends employers against allegations of discrimination, sexual and racial harassment, whistle blowing and retaliation. Sal also conducts cost-effective audits that provide practical business-oriented solutions to assist companies in avoiding substantial liability while still achieving their business goals.
Early in his career he was a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor where he won several Secretary exceptional achievement awards for successfully litigating complex wage hour matters and was the youngest attorney at that time to win attorney of the year.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Lead trial counsel for a national motor carrier in a FLSA collective action involving the misclassification of owner operators as independent contractors.
- Oversaw a full wage hour audit for a Fortune 100 company that included reviewing classifications of exempt employees and independent contractors; time and attendance /payroll systems; and policies and training materials.
- Defended a client in a complex pay equity class action alleging discrimination against certain protected classes.
- Represented a corporation in a reverse discrimination matter based on the company's diversity and inclusion policies.
Education
- Rutgers University School of Law, JD (1997)
- Seton Hall University, BA (1994)
Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Practice Areas
Industries
Representative Matters
- Lead trial counsel for a national motor carrier in a FLSA collective action involving the misclassification of owner operators as independent contractors.
- Oversaw a full wage hour audit for a Fortune 100 company that included reviewing classifications of exempt employees and independent contractors; time and attendance /payroll systems; and policies and training materials.
- Defended a client in a complex pay equity class action alleging discrimination against certain protected classes.
- Represented a corporation in a reverse discrimination matter based on the company's diversity and inclusion policies.
Media
Recognitions
- Chambers USA Guide (2018-2025)
- Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law; Management and Litigation; Labor and Employment (2020–2025)
- New Jersey Super Lawyers (2016-2025)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers (2021-2025)
- Lawdragon 40 Up and Comers in Corporate Employment Law (2017-2018)
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, member, Labor & Employment Section, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee
- New Jersey State Bar Association, former member, Amicus Committee
- Somerset County Bar Foundation, former Board member
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Benjamin Aranda Lifetime Member
- New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury, former appointee, Model Civil Jury Charges Committee
- New Jersey Supreme Court Ethics Committee, former appointee, District VC Ethics Committee
- New Jersey State Bar Foundation, former member, Program Development Committee
- New Jersey Supreme Court Model Civil Jury Charge Committee, Employment Law Subcommittee (2011-2012)
Sal is a seasoned litigator with over 25 years of experience in labor and employment law with an emphasis on wage and hour compliance and litigation. As part of his practice, he handles multilayered misclassification class actions, counsels Fortune 500 companies and trade associations on complex wage hour matters, defends government contractors in... debarment proceedings, and defends employers against allegations of discrimination, sexual and racial harassment, whistle blowing and retaliation. Sal also conducts cost-effective audits that provide practical business-oriented solutions to assist companies in avoiding substantial liability while still achieving their business goals.
Early in his career he was a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor where he won several Secretary exceptional achievement awards for successfully litigating complex wage hour matters and was the youngest attorney at that time to win attorney of the year.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Representative Matters
- Lead trial counsel for a national motor carrier in a FLSA collective action involving the misclassification of owner operators as independent contractors.
- Oversaw a full wage hour audit for a Fortune 100 company that included reviewing classifications of exempt employees and independent contractors; time and attendance /payroll systems; and policies and training materials.
- Defended a client in a complex pay equity class action alleging discrimination against certain protected classes.
- Represented a corporation in a reverse discrimination matter based on the company's diversity and inclusion policies.
Education
- Rutgers University School of Law, JD (1997)
- Seton Hall University, BA (1994)
Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Practice Areas
Industries
- Chambers USA Guide (2018-2025)
- Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law; Management and Litigation; Labor and Employment (2020–2025)
- New Jersey Super Lawyers (2016-2025)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers (2021-2025)
- Lawdragon 40 Up and Comers in Corporate Employment Law (2017-2018)
- American Bar Association, member, Labor & Employment Section, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee
- New Jersey State Bar Association, former member, Amicus Committee
- Somerset County Bar Foundation, former Board member
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Benjamin Aranda Lifetime Member
- New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury, former appointee, Model Civil Jury Charges Committee
- New Jersey Supreme Court Ethics Committee, former appointee, District VC Ethics Committee
- New Jersey State Bar Foundation, former member, Program Development Committee
- New Jersey Supreme Court Model Civil Jury Charge Committee, Employment Law Subcommittee (2011-2012)
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