Swen Prior, Partner at our Las Vegas law office
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Swen Prior

Partner
Biography

Swen Prior focuses his practice on defending employers (including Fortune 500 companies) in a wide variety of litigation arising under common law and numerous employment-related statutes. He represents and counsels clients in many industries, including hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, construction, higher education, telecommunications, waste management, transportation, warehousing and distribution, financial services, and retail.

As a labor and employment partner, Swen has been involved in individual and class/collective actions involving:

  • Race, national origin, religion and gender discrimination (including sexual harassment) and retaliation under Title VII and state statutes
  • Age discrimination and retaliation cases under Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and state statutes
  • Misclassification and overtime claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state statutes
  • Discrimination and retaliation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state statutes
  • Discrimination claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Restrictive Covenants (non-compete and non-solicitation)
  • Retaliation claims under both federal and state statutes (including whistleblower actions under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act)
  • Claims arising under the National Labor Relations Act, and a variety of other federal and state employment related laws
  • Employment torts, contractual claims, employment agreements, separations, and collective bargaining issues

Swen assists clients with revisions to employee handbooks, employee-related policies, non-competition and intellectual property ownership agreements, and other employment-related documents. He also conducts both employment investigations and training seminars for a variety of clients.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Nevada


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Nevada
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Nevada


Education

  • George Mason University School of Law (J.D.)
  • University of Utah (B.A., Political Science)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • Top Lawyer, Labor and Employment Law, Vegas Inc. (2020, 2023-2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Labor and Employment (2021-2025); Employment Law – Management (2024-2025)
  • Top 100 Lawyers of the Year, Readers’ Choice, MYVEGAS Magazine (2020)
  • Top 100 Men of the Year, Readers’ Choice, MYVEGAS Magazine (2015)
  • Distinguished Women & Men in Nevada, Distinguished Publishing (2015)

Previous Professional Experience

  • United States District Court, District of Nevada, Judicial Clerk to Hon. Robert Clive Jones
  • United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Counsel
  • Senator Orrin G. Hatch, United States Senate, Staff Assistant and Nominations Clerk
  • United States Court of Federal Claims, Judicial Extern to Hon. Lawrence J. Block
  • Senator Robert F. Bennett, United States Senate, Staff Assistant
  • Congressman Chris Cannon, Legislative Intern/Correspondent

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • “Politics and Religion in the Workplace: Best Practices for Employers in Managing Potentially Charged Discussions at Work,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada (May 16, 2024)
  • “Nevada To Implement New Solar Workforce Requirements,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (December 11, 2023)
  • “Best Practices and Tools for Managing Employee Leave,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Reno, Nevada (September 14, 2023)
  • “Best Practices and Tools for Managing Employee Leave,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada (April 20, 2023)
  • “Employment Law Priorities for In-House Counel,” Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Last Chance CLE Program (November 10, 2022)
  • “HR Essentials: Developing and Maintaining a Professional Workforce While Adapting to Transformative Changes in the Workplace,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Reno, Nevada (July 14, 2022)
  • “Training, Hiring and Managing Employees”, Co-Presenter, Nevada Business Magazine Business First Series, Las Vegas, Nevada (June 2, 2022)
  • “HR Essentials: Developing and Maintaining a Professional Workforce While Adapting to Transformative Changes in the Workplace,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada (April 21, 2022)
  • “Nevada Round Up: New Developments and What Nevada Businesses Need to Know,” Presenter, 2021 Employment Law Tool Kit Two-Part Webinar Series: Session 2: More Issues for All Employers and State-Specific Updates (November 18, 2021)
  • “Employment Law Changes Under the Biden Administration,” Presenter, 2021 Employment Law Tool Kit Two-Part Webinar Series: Session 1: Issues for All Employers (November 4, 2021)
  • “Legal Opinions: Beyond COVID-19: Important Developments That Will Impact Nevada Employers,” Author, Nevada Business Magazine (October 1, 2021)
  • “New Administration’s Impact on Labor & Employment Law,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada (September 16, 2021)
  • “What Employers Can Expect in a Post-COVID Biden Administration”, Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Virtual CLE Series (June 1, 2021)
  • State task force sets sights on multimillion-dollar problem of employee misclassification,,” Quoted, The Nevada Independent (April 14, 2021)
  • Voting Rights – Key Questions for Employers,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (November 2, 2020)
  • “Regional Roundup: A State-Focused Look at Covered Topics,” Panelist, 2020 Employment Law Tool Kit Three-Part Webinar Series: Session 1: Issues for All Employers (October 20, 2020)
  • “Reopening or Resuming Business During a Pandemic: What Employers Need to Know,” Presenter, Webinar to Financial Executives International, Las Vegas chapter (May 20, 2020)
  • Employees’ Refusal to Work Over Coronavirus Concerns”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (May 14, 2020)
  • Updated EEOC Guidance for Employers Permits Testing for COVID-19”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 30, 2020)
  • Reopening or Resuming Business During a Pandemic: What Employers Need to Know,” Presenter, Webinar to Firm Clients (April 29, 2020)
  • A Roadmap to Reopening or Resuming Business in the Midst of a Pandemic”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 22, 2020)
  • Managing Business Needs During a Pandemic (Nevada)”, Co-Presenter, Telephone Presentation to Firm Clients (March 27, 2020)
  • The DOL Updates Its Model Notice of Employee Rights Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 27, 2020)
  • Employment 101 During a Pandemic”, Co-Presenter, Telephone Presentation to Firm Clients (March 23, 2020)
  • Nevada’s New Employment Laws in 2020,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (November 26, 2019)
  • Construction Industry Update Regarding Marijuana: Arizona and Nevada Laws Continue to Evolve”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction Newsletter (July 2019)
  • “’Times They Are [Still] a-Changin'”:  The Developing Landscape of Marijuana Legalization in Nevada and What This Means for Nevada Employers,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (June 19, 2019)
  • Nevada Firms Barred from Using Marijuana Test to Reject Job Seekers,,” Quoted, Las Vegas Review-Journal (June 12, 2019)
  • “Employment Hot Topics for 2018: Legal Update and Best Practices for Preventing Bullying and Harassment,” Presenter, Nevada Medical Group Management Association, Reno, Nevada (May 3, 2018)
  • Reviewing Sexual Mores in a Time of High Sexual Impropriety,” Quoted, Vegas Legal Magazine (Spring 2018)
  • “Cannabis and the Workplace: Legal Update and Best Practices for Employers in the World of Weed,” Presenter, Las Vegas Valley Paralegal Association’s Annual CLE Seminar, Las Vegas (April 14, 2018)
  • “Cannabis and the Workplace: Legal Update and Best Practices for Employers in the World of Weed,” Presenter, American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE) Seminar, Salt Lake City, Utah (April 7, 2018)
  • ‘Times They Are a-Changin”: Recent Developments Regarding Marijuana Use by Employees in Nevada,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 2, 2018)
  • Reviewing Societal Mores in a Time of High Sexual Impropriety,” Quoted, Vegas Legal Magazine (Spring 2018)
  • “Employment Hot Topics for 2018: Legal Update and Best Practices for Preventing Bullying and Harassment,” Presenter, Henderson Chamber of Commerce’s  Roadmap to Success Seminar Series, Henderson, Nevada (March 1, 2018)
  • Business professionals offer advice on asking for a raise,” Quoted, Vegas Inc. (August 21, 2017)
  • “The Impact of Legalized Marijuana In Nevada: What Employers Need to Know,” Presenter, Nevada Contractors Association Up In Smoke Safety Forum, Las Vegas (June 15, 2017)
  • “The Impact of Legalized Marijuana in Nevada: What Employers Need to Know” Speaker, American Society of Safety Engineers Southern Nevada Chapter, Las Vegas (April 20, 2017)
  • “Labor & Employment Toolkit”, Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer seminar, Reno (March 30, 2017)
  • The Impact of Legalized Marijuana Use for Nevada’s Employers,” Author, The Silver State CPA (February 2017)
  • “Cannabis Conflict,” Panelist, Nevada Contractors Association Quarterly Luncheon, Las Vegas, Nevada (January 27, 2017)
  • Nevada Supreme Court Issues Important Opinions Concerning Nevada’s Minimum Wage”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (November 16, 2016)
  • “New DOL Overtime Rules and Employment Law Update”, Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer seminar, Las Vegas (November 1, 2016)
  • “Accommodations in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know,” Speaker, Northern Nevada Business Weekly’s Live Breakfast Series, Reno, Nevada (May 5, 2016)
  • “Medical Cannabis Employment Issues,” Speaker, Clark County Medical Society’s Medical Marijuana Symposium, Las Vegas, Nevada (April 16, 2016)
  • The New EEO-1 Pay Reporting Burdens Employers”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Workplace Word Newsletter (February 22, 2016)
  • Nevada’s Recent Minimum Wage Ruling and Best Practices for Employers”, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (October 1, 2015)
  • “e-Discovery, a Legal Perspective,” AIIM Capture Shoot Out, SWITCH Innevation Center, Las Vegas, Nevada (June 24, 2015)
  • “Legal and Medical Perspectives of Medical Marijuana,” an Ethics CME Panel Seminar, Presenter, Washoe County Medical Society, Reno, Nevada (January 15, 2015)
  • Balancing Employee Monitoring With Privacy Concerns,,” Quoted, Nevada State Bank newsletter and web posting (October 2014)
  • Employment Law: Attorneys Speak Out” Featured, Nevada Business Magazine (September 2014)
  • “2014 Employment Tool Kit: Understanding Employment Law in Nevada; Issues Affecting the Workplace Today Including Discrimination, Retaliation, FMLA, ADA, Wage and Hour Issues, Proper Classifications of Employee and Independent Contractors, Enforcing Non-Compete Agreements, Social Media and Medical Marijuana” Presenter and Panel member, Snell & Wilmer seminar (Reno, September 18, 2014; Las Vegas, September 23, 2014)
  • “Department of Labor Now Accepting Comments on Regulations Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors and Subcontractors”, Co-Author with Bryan M. Gragg, Construction Ally-Snell & Wilmer (July 1, 2014)
  • “Hiring & Terminating: The Ins and Outs of Employment Law: The Termination Process” Speaker, Sterling Education Services CLE, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 4, 2013)
  • “Ninth Circuit Joins Second and Eighth Circuits in Rejecting D.R. Horton”, Co- Author with Karl O. Riley, Legal Alert-Snell & Wilmer, (September 13, 2013)
  • “Promoting a Welcoming and Courteous Work Environment,” Presenter, Employment Seminars, Las Vegas, Nevada (May 2013)
  • “Tax Twister: How Employee Misclassification and Other Tax Fraud Distort Markets – and What Subcontractors Can Do About It” Panel Moderator, Las Vegas Nevada, American Subcontractors Association Convention (focusing on employee misclassification issues) (March 22, 2013)
  • “Recognizing, Addressing and Preventing Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation,” Presenter, Employment Seminars, Las Vegas, Nevada (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013)
  • “Promoting a Welcoming and Courteous Work Environment,” Presenter, Employment Seminars, Kaanapali, Hawaii (October 2012)
  • “FLSA/Wage and Hour Compliance,” Presenter, Labor and Employment Law 2012, Sterling Education Services, Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada (April 2012)
  • “Privacy Issues in the Workplace,” Presenter, Labor and Employment Law 2012, Sterling Education Services, Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada (April 2012)
  • “Successful Implementation of Records Management,” Presenter, AIIM Nevada Chapter and ARMA Silver State Chapter, Las Vegas, Nevada (April 2012)
  • Failure to pay wages? Now there’s an app for that”, Co-Author, Daily Journal (September 15, 2011)
  • “Prevailing Wage Law,” Presenter, Lorman Education Services, Henderson, Nevada (September 2011)
  • “Nevada Domestic Partnership Act: What Employers Should Know” In Business Las Vegas TV (Oct. 2, 2009)
  • “Electronic Document & Records Management: Lessons Learned” Panel Member, AIIM Nevada Chapter, Quarterly Chapter Meeting (August 2009)
  • “eDiscovery” AIIM Nevada Chapter, Quarterly Chapter Meeting (May 2009)
  • “Document Retention Keeping Ahead in the Digital Age,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Sedona and Scottsdale, Arizona (2009)
  • “Charges of Discrimination Based on Religion Have More Than Doubled Since 1992,” Author, Work Place Word (September 2008)
  • “Recognizing, Addressing and Preventing Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation,” Presenter, Employment Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
  • “What’s The Bottom-Line?” Author, Work Place Word, discussing damage awards in employment discrimination cases (September 2007)
  • “Nevada/Federal Minimum Wage Law” Legal Alert, Author (June 2007)
  • “Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Focus On the Workplace, Managing Litigation Risk” Las Vegas, Nevada (2007)
  • “Focus on Document Retention Keeping Ahead in the Digital Age” Panel Member, Focus On the Workplace, Managing Litigation Risk, Las Vegas, Nevada (2007)