"I aggressively defend employers and guide them through the complexities of ever-evolving labor and employment laws. With years of experience supporting Management, HR, and Legal, I provide fast, responsive, and practical solutions that keep your business moving forward."
Scott Huffstetler delivers a personalized and highly strategic approach to helping employers navigate the opportunities and challenges of managing their workforce today. He is committed to realizing each employer's unique human resource objectives that also reflects the organization’s overarching commercial imperatives. An intuitive, smart, and accessible strategic employment law counselor and formidable litigator, Scott delivers powerful advocacy and practical day-to-day legal solutions to employers across Louisiana, Texas, and beyond.
Scott advises, represents, and defends employers faced with the full range of labor and employment law matters. His experience is broad and deep and includes the resolution of acrimony and litigation claims involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. He also defends business owners in public accommodation claims in state and federal courts across the country.
Scott advocates for employers across a wide variety of administrative proceedings. This includes representation before the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Louisiana Commission on Human Rights, Texas Commission on Human Rights, National Labor Relations Board, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Scott also assists employers with investigations, having experience acting as an advisor in the background or as a lead investigator. Scott also utilizes his experience with OSHA to support the firm’s incident response, having been “boots on the ground” in the aftermath of major industrial accidents.
Scott guides employers through traditional labor arbitration and litigation and advises on issues involving the ADA, FLSA, FMLA, NLRA, OSHA, Title VII, and state employment laws pertaining to employment discrimination, wage payment, worker’s compensation, and unemployment compensation. He also negotiates and documents employment contracts, covenants not to compete and other restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements, as well as provides corporate training programs on discrimination, traditional labor matters, and diversity and inclusion.
Scott has proven his ability to identify and resolve employer pressure points and disputes in both favorable and adverse economic settings alike. He continues to earn his stellar reputation for being a fierce litigator in court and before government and civil rights agencies and other forums. His approach to problem-solving is decidedly customized, actionable, and grounded in the ability to listen to client needs and concerns. Scott remains considerate of even the most specific employer requirements and sensitive to the human element of the employer/employee relationship.
Notably, Scott has been listed as a “Rising Star” in Louisiana Super Lawyers over multiple years of practice and is also listed among the top labor and employment lawyers in the State of Louisiana by Chambers USA 2023-2024. Scott is a Board Certified Employment Law Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.
Prior to joining Kean Miller, Scott served as a Law Clerk to United States District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola of the Middle District of Louisiana.
- Representation of national industrial construction services providers, healthcare and companionship services providers, commercial cleaning services providers, and technology services providers in collective action lawsuits brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Representation of a national industrial construction services provider in federal court race harassment and constructive discharge claims brought by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of three former and/or current employees; the litigation was favorably resolved with the EEOC abandoning its claims on behalf of two of the three employees, and the third employee's claims were settled for a nominal amount.
- Obtained a motion for summary judgment for a global integrated energy company; in the underlying suit, an employee of the company’s industrial facility claimed his employment had been terminated because of his race and after an earlier partial dispositive motion victory, six depositions, and extensive written discovery and document production, the court granted our motion and dismissed the plaintiff’s case three weeks before the scheduled jury trial.
- Representation/oral argument on behalf of a global manufacturer in an appeal of a favorable summary judgment ruling in an ADEA discrimination case that was successfully affirmed in the employer’s favor before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Representation of global manufacturer in Title VII race discrimination suit based on a work-rule violation termination that was successfully dismissed on motion for summary judgment.
- Representation of a global manufacturer in an ADEA discrimination suit based on a reduction-in-force that was successfully dismissed on motion for summary judgment.
- Representation of a global energy company in a suit for retroactive benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act that was successfully dismissed on a motion for summary judgment.
- Representation of an international convenience store company in an ADEA discrimination suit that was successfully dismissed on a motion for summary judgment.
- Representation of numerous employers (including industrial contractors and manufacturers, a global claims management services provider, a national provider of billboards, a national prison contractor, and a regional marine tankerman services provider) in defending numerous EEOC charges of discrimination, most of which resulted in no cause findings.
- Representation of a medical services provider in a suit to enforce a non-competition clause with a former employee and partner that was successfully adjudicated in favor of the employer on motion for summary judgment.
- Representation of a global rubber manufacturer during the negotiation of a favorable informal settlement agreement after the issuance of a citation with several Process Safety Management related items and fines, troublesome classifications, and onerous abatement deadlines.
- Representation of an industrial construction contractor during the negotiation of a favorable informal settlement agreement after the issuance of a citation with several items related to OSHA recordkeeping violations.
- Provided OSHA training for supervisors and managers in anticipation of inspections under OSHA’s National Emphasis Program.
- Representation of a chemical facility in CSB and OSHA investigations involving an explosion and fire.
- Representation of a chemical facility during extensive plant-wide OSHA NEP investigation.
- Representation of a medical services provider in a Department of Labor, Wage and Hour investigation of alleged Family Medical Leave Act violations.
- Representation of a municipality during a Department of Justice investigation of alleged systemic race discrimination which resulted in the department deciding not to pursue allegations.
- LSU Law Center, J.D., 2003
- Board of Editors, Louisiana Law Review
- Member, Order of the Coif
- Member, Phi Delta Phi
- LSU, B.A., 2000
- Louisiana
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- Member, Baton Rouge Bar Association
- Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
- Member, Federal Bar Association (Baton Rouge Chapter; Treasurer, 2009-2019; Secretary, 2008-2009; Chairman, Young Lawyers Division, 2006-2008)
- Board Member, Louisiana Association of Non-Profit Organizations, 2015-2020
- Member, Greater Baton Rouge Society for Human Resource Management
- Member, Society for Human Resource Management
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- "Managing Leave Requests," Louisiana SHRM 2025 Conference for Human Resources, April 10, 2025
- "Treading Water: Legal Considerations for Employee Leave in Texas and Louisiana," Stay Out of Hot Water, A Kean Miller CLE, April 3, 2025
- "Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Navigating the New Frontier," Kean Miller Labor and Employment Seminar, Baton Rouge, LA, November 1, 2024
- "Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Navigating the New Frontier," Co-Presenter, Louisiana SHRM 2024 Conference for Human Resources, April 18, 2024
- "Not Becoming #YouToo in a #MeToo World," Kean Miller Breakfast Briefing, August 25, 2022
- "New Phasing Plan Requirements from LA State Fire Marshal," Louisiana Law Blog, May 15, 2020
- "Navigating the Uncharted Employment Realities of COVID-19," Kean Miller Webinar, April 2020
- "Return to Work, Are You Ready?," Louisiana Law Blog, April 26, 2020
- "New CDC Guidance About Essential Employees Exposed to COVID-19," Louisiana Law Blog, April 9, 2020
- "DOL Rolls Out Leave Act Regulations and Changes Course on Some Issues," Louisiana Law Blog, April 2, 2020
- "DOL Issues Third Set of Leave FAQs," Louisiana Law Blog, March 30, 2020
- "DOL Issues Additional Leave FAQs," Louisiana Law Blog, March 27, 2020
- "Families First Coronavirus Response Act: The Model Notices Are Here," Louisiana Law Blog, March 26, 2020
- "Leave Act Takes Effect April 1 and Other New DOL Guidance," Louisiana Law Blog, March 25, 2020
- "Updated Guidance from the EEOC: "What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19"," Louisiana Law Blog, March 20, 2020
- "Coronavirus Leave Bill Signed Into Law," Louisiana Law Blog, March 19, 2020
- "COBRA and Coronavirus," Louisiana Law Blog, March 18, 2020
- "Coronavirus Paid Leave Bill Still in House," Louisiana Law Blog, March 16, 2020
- "Coronavirus Paid Leave Bill Passes House," Louisiana Law Blog, March 14, 2020
- "Congress Responds to the Coronavirus," Louisiana Law Blog, March 13, 2020
- "Labor Law Updates for Union and Non-Union Lawyers," APLLA Conference, 2019
- "Emerging Topics in ADA Reasonable Accommodation," Stay Out of Hot Water, A Kean Miller CLE, March 28, 2019
- "New OSHA Memorandum Clarifies That May 2016 Rule Does Not Prohibit Post-Incident Drug Testing," Louisiana Law Blog, October 14, 2018
- "Emerging Topics in ADA Reasonable Accommodation," 2018 APLLA Conference, October 11, 2018
- "Practice Panel: Effective Mediation and Settlement Techniques – What Works and What Doesn’t," LSBA Employment Law Update 2018, August 17, 2018
- "FMLA & Return to Work Roundtable," Kean Miller – Gallagher FMLA Roundtable, August 15, 2018
- "Hot Topics and Ethical Issues in Employment and Agency Investigations," Stay Out of Hot Water, A Kean Miller CLE, April 19, 2018
- "Harassment in the Workplace," Ascension Parish Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn, February 28, 2018
- "Conducting Internal Investigations Regarding Employee Conduct," Kean Miller Labor and Employment Seminar, October 20, 2017
- "Employment Law Updates," 2017 LCAA Fall Conference & CLE, October 20, 2017
- "Judge Strikes Down OT Rules," Louisiana Law Blog, September 5, 2017
- "Class Action Waivers Are Enforceable Even Without an Arbitration Agreement, Says the Fifth Circuit," Louisiana Law Blog, August 9, 2017
- "Title VII Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Says the Seventh Circuit," Louisiana Law Blog, April 5, 2017
- "Transgender Employee Restroom Access Rights Remain in Flux," Louisiana Law Blog, March 10, 2017
- "U.S. Supreme Court To Consider Class-Action Waivers," Louisiana Law Blog, January 13, 2017
- "What Now? FLSA Overtime Regulations Continue to Evolve," Louisiana Law Blog, November 23, 2016
- "OSHA Announces Final Rule Making Information on Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Available Online," Louisiana Law Blog, May 10, 2016
- "Website Accessibility and ADA Litigation," Louisiana Law Blog, February 19, 2016
- "Common Workplace Issues Under The ADA," Louisiana Assisted Living Association, November 12, 2015
- "Common Workplace Issues Under The ADA," Kean Miller Labor and Employment Seminar, October 9, 2015
- "The Basics of Louisiana Employment Law, Nuts and Bolts CLE," Baton Rouge Bar Association, May 8, 2015
- Board Member, Capital Area United Way, 2020-Present
- Board of Trustees, LSU Law Center, 2003-2004
- Belly-Up with the Bar Committee, Baton Rouge Bar Association, 2006-2007 (Law Day Committee, 2004; Volunteer Committee, 2004-2006; Law Expo Committee, 2006-2007)
- Board Member, Hospice of Baton Rouge, 2006-2012 (Secretary/Treasurer, 2008-2012)
- Board Member, Livingston Parish Parks and Recreation Board, 2014-2020
- Board Member, Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge, 2016-2019