Dave Wachtel is a partner in the Trister Ross employment law group, representing individual employees and advising non-profits and other employers.

His work includes all types of negotiations, trial court and administrative litigation, mediation, and arbitration. He has successfully represented employees with claims of race, sex, age, national origin, and disability discrimination, as well as claims of sexual harassment, violation of civil service rights, interference with FMLA rights, and retaliation. He has helped a variety of whistleblowers, in the federal government and the nuclear, aviation, defense, and finance industries.

He and his colleagues in the employment law group give individuals suffering job loss or workplace harassment individual attention, lean, versatile strategies, and are a calming influence in (almost) every stressful situation.

The employment law group also advises dozens of non-profit organizations on employment law policy and compliance. They offer an especially informed and experienced understanding of employment policy and how to resolve workplace disputes.

A recent, former, satisfied, client said about Dave:

Dave is an exceptionally knowledgeable and highly experienced attorney. He personally handled my case for five years, and throughout the entire process he was patient, calm, and always on top of every detail. What meant the most to me, however, was the human approach he took.

Legal matters like this can be incredibly stressful and difficult, filled with ups and downs, doubts, and frustration. Through it all, there were two things I never questioned: that the case would not end well for the other side, and that Dave always had my back. He truly put my family and me before everything else.

You can’t put a price on that level of care and dedication. I truly enjoyed working with Dave, and I will always be grateful for everything he did for us.

In 2026, Dave testified before committees of the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate in support of HB1356 and SB857, legislation to protect employees against retaliation for engaging in political and civic activity outside of work.

Dave is a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He was interviewed by and peer-selected as one of Law Dragon’s Top 500 Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyers in the country and as one of Washingtonian Magazine’s best Plaintiffs Employment Lawyers and Civil Rights Lawyers. Reviews from over two dozen past clients are available on Avvo.

Education:
University of Texas School of Law, with honors, 1989
Texas Law Review Editorial Board
Washington University in St. Louis, B.A., 1984

Bar Admissions:
California
District of Columbia
Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
United States Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Fourth, Seventh Circuits
District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Prior Professional Experience:
Partner, Bernabei & Wachtel, PLLC, 2006-2016
Associate and Member, Rose & Rose, P.C., 1993-2005

Activities:
D.C. Circuit Mediation Panel
National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)
Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA)

Publications:
Amended Disabilities Act Widens Protection, Policy & Practice: The Magazine of the American Public Human Services Association

Interactive Process for Hiring the Disabled, Policy & Practice: The Magazine of the American Public Human Services Association

What Does Broad New Definition of ‘Retaliation’ Mean to You? The HR Specialist’s Employment Law

Sanctions for Deleting and Over-writing Electronic Information: Broccoli v. Echostar Communications Corp., Maryland State Bar Association, Section of Labor & Employment Law Newsletter

Perspective: Managing Your Employees’ Emotional Disability Claims, You & the Law

Spotlighting: Shop Smart for Insurance Against Employee Bias Claims, You & the Law,

Spotlighting: Sexual Harassment: Supreme Court Says You’re Safe If You Exercise “Reasonable Care.” What Does That Mean? You & the Law

Presentations:
Panelist, Employee Well-Being: What Can and Can’t Employers Ask?, October 15, 2019 American Bar Association Webinar

Panelist, Addressing Smart Technology: Ethical & Evidentiary Issues, National Employment Lawyers Association, Annual Convention

Panelist and Organizer, Smart Phone Discovery, Privacy, and Practice – A Braver Newish World, District of Columbia Bar, Labor & Employment Section

Sexual Orientation and Identity in Employment Law, Audio Conference for West Legal Education Center (with Karen Tanenbaum, Esq.)

Are You Smarter Than Your Cell Phone? Audio Conference for West Legal Education Center (with Matthew Radler, Esq.)

Seminar on Issues in the Administration of Justice for the Tribunal of Justice of Rio de Janeiro, Litigating a Civil Case –Summary Judgment & Pretrial Issues, Washington, D.C.

UAVs/Drones and Privacy Issues, Audio Conference for West Legal Education Center

EEOC’s Final ADAAA Regulations, Audio Conference for Law Seminars International

Age Discrimination–Supreme Court Spurs New Litigation (Plaintiff’s Perspective) Audio Conference