Christine B. Hawes

Senior Counsel

Overview

Christine B. Hawes is a senior counsel in Crowell & Moring's Labor and Employment Group. Christine's practice focuses on litigation of individual and class actions arising in all areas of labor and employment law, including:

  • Wage-and-hour laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, and state and local laws
  • Title VII and state anti-discrimination laws 
  • Americans with Disabilities Act 
  • Family and Medical Leave Act and related state statutes 
  • Federal and state whistleblower statutes, including the False Claims Act 
  • Alleged wrongful termination 
  • Non-competition agreements and other employee contracts 
  • Misappropriation of trade secrets claims 

Christine also provides counseling to clients on a wide variety of employment issues, including personnel policies, non-competition/non-solicitation agreements, employee discipline, contract disputes, and alleged retaliation under the False Claims Act, Title VII, the FLSA, and state whistleblower statutes. Christine frequently advises clients on and conducts internal investigations that frequently address employment, ethics, and compliance issues.  Additionally, Christine assists clients with affirmative action compliance, preparing affirmative action plans, analyzing compensation practices, and providing counseling in connection with Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs audits. 

While in law school, Christine was a managing editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law and director of membership for the Vanderbilt Legal Aid Society.

Career & Education

|
    • Boston College, B.A., cum Laude, History and Political Science, 2008
    • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., Certificate of Specialization, Law and Business, 2011
    • Boston College, B.A., cum Laude, History and Political Science, 2008
    • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., Certificate of Specialization, Law and Business, 2011
    • District of Columbia
    • Maryland
    • District of Columbia
    • Maryland

Christine's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.24.25

Executive Order Underpinning SCA Contractors’ Right of First Refusal Rescinded By Trump Administration

On Inauguration Day, President Trump issued a flurry of executive orders.  Among the first he signed was the Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions Executive Order (the “Rescinding EO”). This directive rescinded 78 executive orders issued by the Biden Administration.  The revocation of one in particular, Executive Order 14055 of November 18, 2021 Non-displacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts (the “EO 14055”), will have an immediate impact on federal contractors performing and bidding on Service Contracts....

Representative Matters

  • Won six-day JAMS arbitration hearing, defeating former defense contractor employee’s claims of gender discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation in their entirety
  • Secured summary judgment of former university employee's 35+ race, gender, and age discrimination and retaliation claims in the Eastern District of Virginia
  • Obtained voluntary dismissal, without settlement, of $25 million complaint alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract against small government contractor and its two employees in the District of Maryland
  • Represented a telecommunications company in litigation and satisfactory settlement of hundreds of individual wage and hour claims nationwide
  • Attained summary judgment in the Eastern District of New York, defeating Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law class action/collective action challenging the independent contractor status of transportation services providers
  • Represented a major automotive parts manufacturer in litigation against former employee in Ohio state court for misappropriation of the company's trade secrets
  • Obtained summary judgment in JAMS arbitration, dismissing plaintiff's claims of discrimination based on national origin and military status against a multinational defense technology company
  • Drafted position statements and successfully received dismissal of charges filed with the EEOC, DOJ, and state-agencies related to allegations of discrimination based on race, national origin, citizenship status, gender, religious beliefs, and retaliation

Christine's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.24.25

Executive Order Underpinning SCA Contractors’ Right of First Refusal Rescinded By Trump Administration

On Inauguration Day, President Trump issued a flurry of executive orders.  Among the first he signed was the Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions Executive Order (the “Rescinding EO”). This directive rescinded 78 executive orders issued by the Biden Administration.  The revocation of one in particular, Executive Order 14055 of November 18, 2021 Non-displacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts (the “EO 14055”), will have an immediate impact on federal contractors performing and bidding on Service Contracts....

|

Christine's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.24.25

Executive Order Underpinning SCA Contractors’ Right of First Refusal Rescinded By Trump Administration

On Inauguration Day, President Trump issued a flurry of executive orders.  Among the first he signed was the Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions Executive Order (the “Rescinding EO”). This directive rescinded 78 executive orders issued by the Biden Administration.  The revocation of one in particular, Executive Order 14055 of November 18, 2021 Non-displacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts (the “EO 14055”), will have an immediate impact on federal contractors performing and bidding on Service Contracts....