Joseph R.Damato
Partner
Labor & Employment
jdamato@seyfarth.com
More About Joseph
Joseph has extensive experience in the various substantive areas of labor and employment law, with an emphasis on matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act, including collective bargaining and arbitration and National Labor Relations Board proceedings. His experience also includes employment discrimination proceedings, OFCCP and affirmative action matters, wrongful discharge litigation and wage-hour matters.
Joseph’s representation of employers has encompassed myriad types of litigation, including arbitration hearings, administrative proceedings, and court trials. In addition to litigation, his practice includes providing day-to-day counseling to a wide variety of employers. He has been recognized in The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (2011-2024), and in Chambers USA as a Leading Lawyer for Labor & Employment (2015-2025).
Joseph’s representation of employers has encompassed myriad types of litigation, including arbitration hearings, administrative proceedings, and court trials. In addition to litigation, his practice includes providing day-to-day counseling to a wide variety of employers. He has been recognized in The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (2011-2024), and in Chambers USA as a Leading Lawyer for Labor & Employment (2015-2025).
- JD, The George Washington University Law School
- BA, Providence College
Summa cum laude
- District of Columbia
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, DC Circuit
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of Maryland
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- Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" for Labor & Employment (District of Columbia) by Chambers USA (2015-2025)
- Recognized as a Top 10 Influential Labor & Employment Lawyers in DC by Business Today (2023)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor-Management Relations by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2019-2021)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (Legalese Ltd.) (2011-2023)
- Named as one of the "Leading Labor and Employment Lawyers" in Euromoney Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2004)
-
Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2020-2021, 2023)
- American Bar Association, Labor Law Section
- District of Columbia Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
- Editorial Board Member, Health Care Employment Law Letter (2002-2005)
- Editorial Advisor, Hospitality Law (2001-2005)
- Author, “Employers’ Affirmative Action Under the Family and Medical Leave Act,” Employment Discrimination Report, Vol. 2, No. 3, BNA (January 19, 1994) (with Gregory Baylor)
- Moderator and Chair, “Avoiding Multimillion Dollar Jury Verdicts,” Greater Washington Board of Trade (Sept. 23, 1993)
- Contributing author, “Fairweather’s Practice and Procedure in Labor Arbitration,” BNA (1991)
- Co author, “Labor and Employment Law Concerns and Handicap Discrimination Limitations,” Legal Guide to Handling Toxic Substance In The Workplace, Business Laws Inc. (1990)
More About Joseph
Joseph has extensive experience in the various substantive areas of labor and employment law, with an emphasis on matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act, including collective bargaining and arbitration and National Labor Relations Board proceedings. His experience also includes employment discrimination proceedings, OFCCP and affirmative action matters, wrongful discharge litigation and wage-hour matters.
Joseph’s representation of employers has encompassed myriad types of litigation, including arbitration hearings, administrative proceedings, and court trials. In addition to litigation, his practice includes providing day-to-day counseling to a wide variety of employers. He has been recognized in The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (2011-2024), and in Chambers USA as a Leading Lawyer for Labor & Employment (2015-2025).
Joseph’s representation of employers has encompassed myriad types of litigation, including arbitration hearings, administrative proceedings, and court trials. In addition to litigation, his practice includes providing day-to-day counseling to a wide variety of employers. He has been recognized in The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (2011-2024), and in Chambers USA as a Leading Lawyer for Labor & Employment (2015-2025).
- JD, The George Washington University Law School
- BA, Providence College
Summa cum laude
- District of Columbia
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, DC Circuit
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of Maryland
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
Jun 4, 2026
Seyfarth Earns Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2026
-
Recognition
08/21/2025
231 Seyfarth Lawyers Selected as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2026; 8 Seyfarth Attorneys Honored as “Lawyer of the Year” in Their Practices
-
Recognition
06/05/2025
Seyfarth Receives Strong Recognition Again in Chambers USA 2025
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Labor Law - Management (2022-2026)
- Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" for Labor & Employment (District of Columbia) by Chambers USA (2015-2025)
- Recognized as a Top 10 Influential Labor & Employment Lawyers in DC by Business Today (2023)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor-Management Relations by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2019-2021)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (Legalese Ltd.) (2011-2023)
- Named as one of the "Leading Labor and Employment Lawyers" in Euromoney Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2004)
-
Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2020-2021, 2023)
- American Bar Association, Labor Law Section
- District of Columbia Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
- Editorial Board Member, Health Care Employment Law Letter (2002-2005)
- Editorial Advisor, Hospitality Law (2001-2005)
- Author, “Employers’ Affirmative Action Under the Family and Medical Leave Act,” Employment Discrimination Report, Vol. 2, No. 3, BNA (January 19, 1994) (with Gregory Baylor)
- Moderator and Chair, “Avoiding Multimillion Dollar Jury Verdicts,” Greater Washington Board of Trade (Sept. 23, 1993)
- Contributing author, “Fairweather’s Practice and Procedure in Labor Arbitration,” BNA (1991)
- Co author, “Labor and Employment Law Concerns and Handicap Discrimination Limitations,” Legal Guide to Handling Toxic Substance In The Workplace, Business Laws Inc. (1990)