Photo of Leighton Henderson

For over a decade, Leighton Davis Henderson has specialized in providing labor and employment advice and counsel to public agencies. She advises on a wide array of complex personnel issues, including suspected employee misconduct, discipline, and compliance with the POBR, FBOR, and state and federal leave laws. Leighton has represented cities, counties, and public safety agencies at all levels of the litigation process, including administrative hearings and grievance arbitrations, trial, and appeal, and she uses her many years of experience to help clients avoid litigation.

A seasoned investigator, Leighton currently devotes much of her practice to conducting workplace investigations. She holds a certificate from the Association of Workplace Investigators and is a member of LCW’s Investigations Executive Team. Leighton has conducted investigations into allegations of harassment, retaliation, and misconduct, including those of a sensitive nature and those concerning high profile individuals.

Prior to joining Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, Leighton clerked at the Office of the District Attorney for the County of Orange. She was also a Judicial Extern for the Honorable James R. Lambden at the California Court of Appeal and the Honorable Thierry Patrick Colaw at Orange County Superior Court. Leighton was a commencement speaker at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, as well as a member of the Moot Court Board.

hourglass-small.jpgWhat is the Section 7(k) Exemption?

Unless an overtime exemption applies, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to pay their employees overtime compensation for any work performed in excess of 40 hours in a workweek, defined as seven consecutive days.  While the white collar overtime exemptions (administrative, executive and professional) set forth in