Education
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 1984
San Diego State University, B.S. Finance, 1981
Bar Admissions
State
California (1984)
District of Columbia (1988)
Virginia (1991)
Maryland (1997)
Federal
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals
— 4th Circuit
— D.C. Circuit
U.S. District Courts
— Eastern District of Virginia
— Western District of Virginia
— District of Columbia
— Northern District of California
— Eastern District of California
— District of Maryland
Partner
Email: sray@islerdare.com
Steven W. Ray is a founding partner of IslerDare PC (formerly Ray & Isler, PC and Isler Dare Ray Radcliffe & Connolly, PC). Prior to establishing the Firm in 1997, Steve represented employers in the Washington, D.C. area for ten years as an attorney with local firms, Kruchko & Fries in McLean, and Epstein, Becker & Green in Washington, D.C.
Steve advises employers and speaks on subjects such as employment discrimination, workplace harassment, non-competition and intellectual property agreements, union organizing and collective bargaining, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, and employee theft relating to electronic data. He has represented employers in the manufacturing, health care, government contracting and non-profit sectors in courts throughout the country, in particular California where he practiced for several years, in cases arising under federal and state laws.
Steve resides with his wife in Sperryville, Virginia.
Professional and Community Involvement
Bar Associations
Fairfax County Bar Association
— President (2006-2007); Member, Board of Directors (2000-08)
— Chair (1996-98), Continuing Legal Education Committee
— Chair (1999-00); Vice Chair (1998-99), Revenue Development Committee
— Chair (1999), Employment Law Section (charter member)
— Pro Se Task Force (1997) (member)
— Recipient, President’s Award (1998)
District of Columbia Bar
Northern Virginia Asian American Bar Association
— (1997 – present) (founding member)
Honors
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© – 2007 to 2023
Named a “Virginia Super Lawyer” by Richmond Magazine and Law & Politics – 2006 to 2022
AV® rated by Martindale Hubbell
Publications
Employment Law in Virginia, Virginia Law Foundation (6th edition) (available at www.vacle.org)
Virginia Employment Practices and Forms, Virginia Law Foundation (3d ed. 2015) (available at www.vacle.org)
Virginia Business Torts, Virginia Law Foundation (3d ed. 2014) (available at www.vacle.org)
Virginia Wage and Hour Handbook, Virginia Chamber of Commerce Legal Reference Series (2010) (available at www.vachamber.com)
Covenants Not to Compete and the Duty of Loyalty in Virginia Seminar Materials (available at www.vacle.org)
35 Questions about Employment law Every Practitioner Should Know Seminar Materials (available at www.vacle.org)
Information Security and Regulations, Employee Monitoring: A Legal Discussion of Employer’s and Employee’s Rights.(1999)
National Information Systems Security Conference, Monitoring Your Employees: How Much Can You Do and What Should You Do When You Uncover Wrongdoing? (1996)
Contributing Editor, Advanced Management Journal, Society for Advancement of Management (1996-2002)
Comment, The California Initiative Process: The Demise of the Single Subject Rule, 14 Pac. L.J. 1095 (1983)
Professional / Continuing Legal Education Presentations
Winchester Area SHRM Employment Law Update 2017: Ten Common Employment Law Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
(Middletown, Virginia; September 27, 2017)
Kobe Government Contracting Alliance: Overview and Pitfalls of the Fair Labor and Standards Act for the Small Business and Government Contractor
(Tysons Corner, Virginia; August 2017)
IslerDare Breakfast Briefing: The Service Contract Act: Labor and Benefits Compliance for Federal Contractors (with USI Insurance)
(Tysons Corner, Virginia; June 8, 2017)
HR Alliance: FLSA Update: New Salary Level Regulations
(Washington, DC; October 19, 2016)
Society for Human Resource Management: Employment Law Update - FLSA Update: New Salary Level Regulations
(Winchester, Virginia; September 2016)
Washington Area Compensation and Benefits Association: Advanced Topics in Wage and Hour Litigation and Compliance: New Overtime Regulations and More
(Washington, DC; September 15, 2016)
IslerDare Breakfast Briefing: Pay Now or Pay Later: Ensuring Comprehensive Wage and Hour Compliance
(Tysons Corner, Virginia; 2015)
Society for Human Resource Management: 35 Questions About Virginia Employment Law Every HR Professional Should Know
(Winchester, Virginia; 2014)
Society for Human Resource Management: Legal Update
(Warrenton, Virginia; 2012)
Lord Fairfax Community College: Fair Labor Standards Act
(Middleton, Virginia; 2011, 2012)
Society for Human Resource Management: Workplace Investigations
(Warrenton, Virginia; 2011)
Fairfax Bar Association: Employment Law Update
(Irvington, Virginia; 2010)
Lord Fairfax Community College: Virginia Employment Practices and Forms
(Middleton, Virginia; 2010)
Society for Human Resource Management: The Family and Medical Leave Act New Regulations
(Warrenton, Virginia; 2009)
Society for Human Resource Management: Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later, The Fair Labor Standards Act
(Warrenton, Virginia; 2008)
Society for Human Resource Management: Advising Businesses on Virginia Employment Practices and Forms
(Warrenton, Virginia; April 2007)
Washington Metro Industry Liaison Group: Responding to Charges of Discrimination Under Federal, State and Local Anti-Discrimination Laws
(Tysons Corner, Virginia; September 2004)
Sterling Education Services: Practical Applications of Employment Law in Virginia
(Arlington, Virginia; February 2004)
Society for Human Resource Management: Employment Law from A to Z: Forms and Best Practices in Hiring, Managing, and Firing Employees
(Tysons Corner, Virginia; June 2003)
Lorman Education Services: Covenants Time Off in Virginia: State and Federal Laws on Employee Leave, Vacations and Holidays
(Arlington, Virginia; February, 2003)
Virginia CLE: Advising Business on Employment Practices and Forms
(Richmond and McLean, Virginia; December, 1996, October, 1999, October, 2002, February, 2005)
Council on Education in Management: Current Developments on Employment Law in Virginia
(Arlington, Virginia; November, 2002)
Virginia Bar Association (VBA), Labor & Employment Section, 32nd Annual Conference: Does Virginia Need a Whistleblower Statute?
(Williamsburg, Virginia; September 2002)
Council on Education in Management: Personnel Law Update ’98-Discipline and Termination for Poor Attitude or Personality Conflict: Making Essential Business Decisions Without Fear of Lawsuits
(Falls Church, Virginia; November 1998)
Council on Education in Management: FMLA, ADA and Virginia Laws: Determining Which Portions of Which Laws Must be Followed
(Falls Church, Virginia; February 1998)
Virginia CLE: Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later: What You Need to Know About the Wage and Hour Laws
(Richmond and Alexandria, Virginia; December 1997)
Lorman Education Services: Covenants Not to Compete in Virginia
(McLean, Virginia; September 1997)
Virginia CLE: Avoiding and Handling Wrongful Discharge Cases in Virginia
(statewide telephonic presentation; May 1997)
19th National Information Systems Security Conference: Electronic Data: Privacy, Security, Confidentiality Issues in the Workplace
(Baltimore, Maryland; paper published; October 1996)
Virginia CLE: Issues in Workplace Security: Monitoring Employees in the Workplace
(Richmond, Virginia; April 1996)
Fairfax Bar Association CLE: Pitfalls to Avoid in Small Business Practice (Labor Issues for the Small Business)
(Fairfax, Virginia; April 1996)
Fairfax Bar Association CLE: 5th Annual Employment Law Update (Negligent Hiring and Workplace Violence)
(Fairfax, Virginia; February 1995)
Fairfax Bar Association CLE: Pitfalls to Avoid in Small Business Practice (How to Hire an Employee)
(March 1994)
Community Activities
Leadership Fairfax, Class of 1998
— Board of Directors (2000-2001)
— Membership and Development Committees (member)
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
— Employment Relations Committee (member)
Virginia Career Works - Piedmont
— Member (Business Representative for Rappahannock County)
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