David A. McManus
David A. McManus leads employers through their most consequential workplace moments—crises, high-stakes transactions, and leadership changes that shape the future of their organizations. As global leader of the firm’s labor and employment practice, he guides more than 300 lawyers worldwide in advising senior executives, boards, and other key stakeholders on complex workforce and governance challenges with clarity and resolve.
David leads strategy during significant corporate transactions, including risk assessment, executive compensation and retention planning, restrictive covenant implementation, and workforce integration for mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate enterprise restructurings. His transactional practice is global in scope with frequent focus on cross-border transactions where clients rely on his practical and business-oriented guidance.
Clients turn to David for counsel on confidential and highly sensitive C-suite matters, including the hiring and dismissal of senior executives and managers, as well as for guidance in managing crises that pose significant reputational and financial risk. These matters include sexual harassment and discrimination claims, financial impropriety and governance issues. He works globally and across industries, with particular depth in financial services, sports, and private equity.
With more than 30 years practicing at Morgan Lewis, David served in several senior leadership roles. He sits on the firm’s Advisory Board and served for years on the Compensation Committee. He is also a leader of the cross-practice Global Workforce, Workforce Change, and Crisis Management teams and contributes to other key leadership initiatives across the firm.
Under David's leadership, the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group has been recognized seven times as Law360’s Employment Practice Group of the Year and has received numerous additional industry distinctions. Individually, David has earned numerous accolades, including being ranked by Chambers USA and The Legal 500, recognized as a Go-To Lawyer in Employment by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and being inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
