Jason M. Knott is a litigator who represents companies and executives in high-stakes disputes involving employment, insurance coverage, and health care.

Jason also counsels businesses and employees in matters involving employment terminations, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, severance negotiations, discrimination and retaliation claims, pay disputes, policy and contract breaches, and corporate culture challenges.

When advising clients, Jason draws on his past experience as Chief People Officer for a global technology company, where he provided executive leadership of the human resources function and partnered with other executives to support business growth and employee performance. He has leveraged this experience to serve a key role in an independent compliance monitorship.

Jason also has significant investigations experience, assisting clients in responding to criminal, regulatory, and congressional investigations, as well as conducting internal workplace reviews.

Practice Focus

Education
  • Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2003
    • Journal of Law and Technology
  • University of North Carolina, B.A., with distinction, 2000
    • Morehead-Cain Scholar
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • North Carolina (inactive)

Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia

Professional Leadership
  • Member, Trial and Appellate Advocacy Subcommittee, American Bar Association Labor and Employment Section Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee
  • Barrister and Board Member, William B. Bryant American Inn of Court, 2014-2020
  • Treasurer, Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit, 2014-2020

Experience
  • Negotiated numerous severance and employment agreements on behalf of individual executives, and advised executives on compliance with non-competes and other provisions.
  • Advises employers, officers, and directors concerning employment policies, terminations, whistleblower responses, and the conduct of internal investigations.
  • Served as a key team member of a DOJ monitorship to ensure that a global banking and financial services firm complies with market regulations for U.S. Treasury securities and futures contracts.
  • Represents insurance underwriters in insurance coverage and subrogation actions related to lead paint claims.
  • Represented clients in litigation alleging employment discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment.
  • Represented Matthew Lawlor, former CEO of an online banking company, against his former employer in a breach of contract dispute. After an 11-day trial in which Jason cross-examined several key witnesses, the jury awarded Mr. Lawlor a $5.3 million verdict. The case was recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as one of “Virginia’s Largest Verdicts of 2011.”
  • Represented the former partner of an investment firm in his lawsuit for breach of an agreement related to his economic participation in that firm. The jury awarded our client $1.1 million for the investment firm’s breach of contract, and the court granted our motion for summary judgment on the investment firm’s counterclaim for breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Represented patients and providers in ERISA and antitrust class actions challenging insurers’ administrative fee charges, utilization review policies, and restrictions on competition.
  • Represented a class of plaintiffs in an action involving allegations of fraud in the sale of limited-benefit insurance policies. The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed class certification, and the firm achieved a settlement for the class that was valued in excess of $40 million.
  • Represented client in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Federal Reserve.
  • Represented a member of Congress in House Ethics Committee investigations and an inquiry by the Office of Congressional Ethics.

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Recognitions