education
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Northwestern University, B.A.
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Columbia Law School, J.D.
Admitted In
New York
Megan l. Gao
Associate
Megan L. Gao is an associate in the firm’s litigation and employment practices. She advises public and private companies and individuals in high-stakes complex commercial disputes and investigations, with a focus on employment litigation, counseling, and investigations.
Megan represents plaintiffs and defendants in disputes involving employment matters including restrictive covenants, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, securities, consumer protection, and other business disputes. She has represented leading companies in the finance, tech, sports, legal, nonprofit, energy and transportation industries, as well as banks and financial institutions in regulatory investigations.
Notable representations include:
Advising employees and employers on offer letters, compensation, restrictive covenants, termination, and settlement agreements.
A telehealth company in the investigation of hostile work environment claims against a senior executive.
The founder/CEO of a publicly traded sportswear company in a regulatory investigation that was terminated without any charges.
Winning a motion to dismiss a consumer protection lawsuit alleging misleading “drip pricing” practices by adding mandatory fees to advertised rates.
Part of trial team that won a defense jury verdict on all claims brought by a former employee against a major law firm in a three-week jury trial in the Southern District of New York.
A telecommunications company in lawsuits involving claims of gender discrimination, retaliation, and the enforceability of restrictive covenants, resulting in a favorable settlement on the eve of trial.
A pharmaceutical company in a securities class action alleging misrepresentations and omissions about the company’s drug used to treat rare blood disorders, which settled on favorable terms after discovery and mediation.
Advising clients on data privacy laws and regulations.
Pro Bono
Megan maintains an active pro bono practice, including housing, policy, immigration, family law, and employment matters, and has been recognized by nonprofit organizations and bar associations for her pro bono contributions. She helped the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) relaunch its award-winning pro bono clinic serving low-income and low English-proficiency individuals in 2021 following a pause due to the pandemic, and served as a vice chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee in 2022-2023.
Past Experience and Education
Megan earned her BA from Northwestern University and JD from Columbia Law School. In law school, Megan successfully represented asylum applicants in immigration court as a member of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic; interviewed and counseled asylum seekers in Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico; and was an editor of the Columbia Law Review. Before joining Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler LLP, Megan was a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
* These matters include cases handled at Ms. Gao’s prior firm.