Find Lawyers in California, United States for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Practice Area Overview
Often, these employment disputes culminate in a lawsuit, which can be costly, time-consuming, and damaging to employee relations. The number of employment-related litigation filings has been steadily increasing over the last decade, ranging from large-scale class actions to individual complaints. Employers are facing greater challenges and financial exposure from both current and former employees than ever before.
Employment litigation covers many types of claims, including discrimination; harassment; wage-hour pay, classification, and overtime violations; wrongful discharge; entitlement to employee benefits; misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information; unfair competition; enforcement or avoidance of restrictive covenants; labor union disputes; workplace safety violations; defamation and other employment-related torts. These claims often involve the many laws governing employee relations, which are often referred to as “employment law alphabet soup.” These include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), whistleblower claims under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) or Dodd-Frank Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Resolving employment litigation requires knowledge of these laws and regulations, the applicable case law, and a careful case analysis and strategy. More so than in other less personal litigation, a perceptive understanding of the people involved is essential for success. Often, suits will be settled among parties or ended before trial through summary judgment based on the facts of the case. When early resolution is not achieved, however, the case will go to trial in court or before an agency tribunal. Verdicts in employment-related cases can be enormous, especially in wage-hour and other class actions, creating a high-stakes situation for employers.
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Leslie Abbott is a partner in the Los Angeles Employment Law Department of Paul Hastings LLP, where she has practiced since 1991. She previously served as Global Employment Law Department Vice Chair-West Coast, and Chair of the Los Angeles Employment Law Department. Her practice includes the representation of employers in all aspects of employment law. Ms. Abbott is Chair of the firm’s PAGA Practice Group. She focuses her practice on defending complex class, collective and representativ...
Mark S. Askanas is a principal in the San Francisco, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He joined the firm in 1988 and is a senior employment law litigator who has served as lead counsel for cases in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration forums, throughout the western United States. Mark practices all forms of complex litigation, including class actions and cases involving trade secrets and confidential information. He also counsels employers on all facets of employment law i...
Nathan W. Austin is a principal in the Sacramento, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He joined the firm in 2006. Nathan's practice consists of defending employment matters in state and federal courts, arbitrations and administrative proceedings. He also defends management in litigation involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, wage and hour, benefits and other employment-related actions. In addition, Nathan provides training for managers and employ...
Elena Baca is the Global Chair of the Paul Hastings Employment Law Department and leads a diverse group of more than 80 lawyers in 10 offices around the world. Ms. Baca is a first-chair litigator who regularly navigates high-stakes litigation, conducts sensitive investigations and advises C-suite executives and corporate boards on compliance and regulatory issues involving human capital. In her role as practice Chair, Paul Hastings’ Employment Department has anticipated and led the resp...
Jennifer S. Baldocchi is Co-Vice Chair of the Paul Hastings Employment Department and the Chair of the International Employee Mobility and Trade Secrets practice. Her practice focuses on employee mobility and intellectual property, including trade secrets, covenants not to compete, unfair competition, and fiduciary duties. She is ranked by Chambers USA, recognized by The Legal 500 US for trade secrets litigation and non-contentious matters, and recognized as both a Top Labor and Employment La...
Evan D. Beecher is a principal in the Sacramento, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He represents management in all types of employment disputes including harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination cases in both state and federal court as well as in arbitration and administrative hearings. Evan also defends employers in wage and hour matters, including class and representative action lawsuits. In addition, Evan provides advice and counsel to clients on a variety o...
Sue M. Bendavid is a California employment defense attorney. She is a Shareholder and the Chair of Lewitt Hackman’s Employment Practice Group. Working exclusively with employers and management, Ms. Bendavid handles individual and class action litigation, arbitrations, mediations, claims prevention, and management training. She has been a guest on KPCC (NPR news affiliate for Southern California) and has been quoted in the Los Angeles Time s, the San Francisco Chronicle , the Daily Journ...
Raymond Bertrand is Chair of the San Diego Office and San Diego Employment Law Department. Mr. Bertrand is one of the nation’s premier litigators. A skilled trial attorney with more than 20 defense verdicts, he has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in their most challenging, high-profile employment cases. Mr. Bertrand is equally adept at helping his clients navigate the court of public opinion, helping protect their interests and reputations by working closely with media and co...
Robert S. Blumberg represents and advises employers in a wide variety of labor, employment and business law matters, including in the following types of litigation: Wrongful discharge Discrimination Harassment suits Retaliation Wage and hour class actions Unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secrets Robert spends the majority of his time litigating matters in state and federal courts and before various administrative agencies. He has been lead counsel in both jury and bench trials...
Carolyn G. Burnette is office managing principal of the Sacramento, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. In addition to more than 20 years of litigation experience, Carolyn also brings to the firm a significant workplace investigation background. Her litigation and investigation cases have involved a spectrum of high-level employment law issues, including conduct alleged against executives, elected officials, attorneys and other senior personnel. Carolyn also has a robust advice and couns...
James P. Carter is a principal in the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He counsels and defends employers in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour claims, non-compete and trade-secret issues and claims, class action cases, breach of contract claims, disability accommodation, leave of absence, and workers' compensation issues. James represents clients in many industries including financial, bi...
Ed Chapin is the Managing Partner in the San Diego office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, and Maryland. Ed received his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law and his B.S. from Southwest Missouri State University. Ed is a veteran litigator whose practice spans class actions, unfair business practices, professional negligence, insurance coverage, bad faith, toxic torts, serious personal in...
Ellen E. Cohen is a principal in the Los Angeles, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C., providing comprehensive representation for management in employment disputes. She handles cases involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and administrative hearings. Ellen takes a proactive approach in supporting her clients, providing valuable advice on a host of employment-related issues including employee discipli...
Adrienne L. Conrad is a principal in the San Diego, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She has practiced labor and employment law for more than 20 years. An experienced trial lawyer, Adrienne is a member of the firm’s Trial group, having first-chaired jury trials, arbitrations, and state civil rights administrative hearings on behalf of employers. Adrienne's practice covers the spectrum of employment litigation. She handles both state and federal claims involving race, age, disabi...
James E. Curry is a partner in the Entertainment, Technology and Advertising Practice Group in the firm's Century City office. Areas of Practice Mr. Curry has represented companies in commercial trial litigation for 25 years, with an emphasis in the entertainment area. He has represented three of the four U.S. Broadcast television networks, and five of the seven major studios, in addition to a myriad of other entertainment companies. In the television area, he has substantial experience in te...
Kelly is Managing Partner of the San Francisco office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. She is Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Labor and Employment Law, and a member of the ABA’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council. Kelly specializes in civil rights and employment class and collective actions on behalf of plaintiffs, and individual cases addressing sexual abuse, harassment, and trafficking. Kelly is a nationally-recognized a...
Marie DiSante is the Firm Managing Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. An employment litigation attorney whose dual role as a California business owner and entrepreneur allows her to understand her clients’ workplace challenges firsthand, Marie DiSante has been resolving and preventing disputes for employers for 28 years. Her active leadership in the business community shapes ...
A Champion of Justice Under Chris' leadership, the Dolan Law Firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for its clients and become one of California's premier plaintiffs' firms serving clients injured due to the fault of another or were discriminated against or harassed in the workplace. Recognized as one of the top 25 plaintiff's lawyers in California, Chris spearheads many of the most significant and challenging lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts against insurance...
Haeggquist & Eck partner and trial attorney Amber Eck is a tenacious advocate for employees, consumers, and shareholders, and has been for the past 28 years. Amber has taken cases to trial in both state and federal court as lead trial attorney and has recovered millions of dollars for her clients in settlements, including multiple six- and seven-figure settlements. Amber doesn’t shy away from high-profile defendants — a fact well-illustrated by her role as co-lead counsel in t...
Cynthia J. Emry is a principal in the Los Angeles, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She focuses her practice in the areas of employment litigation, benefits litigation, and litigation avoidance within the labor and employment law sector. Cynthia represents employers, including public entities, and individuals in a wide range of employment matters, including employment discrimination actions, misappropriation of trade secrets actions, and wage and hour class actions. She has significan...
Jim handles complex disputes in line with the business goals of his clients. He approaches cases efficiently, using preventive measures to keep litigation in check, including ADR. When high-stakes litigation is unavoidable, Jim's 30 years of trial experience in state and federal courts enables him to fight for the best results possible, now and in the future. James Evans is a highly skilled trial attorney with decades of experience handling complex cases in state and federal courts. Jim is al...
Mia Farber is a principal in the Los Angeles, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and a former member of the firm's Board of Directors. She is co-leader of the Class Actions and Complex Litigation practice group and has extensive experience in all facets of employment litigation. Mia has represented employers in all types of employment litigation, including sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She also has vast experience in the area of wage and hour ...
Louise Ann “Luzann” Fernandez is co-chair of the Labor and Employment practice group, with more than 30 years of experience. Luzann is a fierce litigator who is hired by corporations, hospitals, and celebrities for high profile and exposure cases. Luzann does not back down from challenges facing her clients and comes up with out of the box and novel theories. Luzann is also active as an independent investigator. Using her litigation experience, Luzann investigates claims of discri...
Cameron W. Fox is the Chair of the Los Angeles Office and Chair of the firm’s Traditional Labor Practice Group. She works in the firm’s Los Angeles and San Francisco offices. Ms. Fox represents employers in all aspects of employment law and labor relations, with a particular emphasis in the technology industry. Employment Law. Ms. Fox has successfully defended employers in numerous jury trials and bench trials, in arbitration, and on appeal against claims of discrimination, harass...
Tim Freudenberger is a Founding Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. Freudenberger represents California and national employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and related litigation, with a special emphasis on defending class action wage and hour lawsuits, class action employment discrimination lawsuits, and other complex employment litigation matters. He heads CDF’...
Yesenia M. Gallegos focuses her labor and employment practice on a wide range of matters, including restrictive covenants, wage and hour law, discrimination and harassment claims, executive employment agreements, leaves of absence, employee terminations and reductions in force. Yesenia represents employers in employment litigation—including class actions—pending in both state and federal court. She also represents employers in actions against former employees in trade-secret and e...
Lonnie Giamela is a partner in both the Los Angeles and Irvine offices. He represents a broad range of clients, from small businesses to national companies, in all sectors of manufacturing, retail, wholesale distribution, hospitality, education and the automotive industries. Lonnie has handled a full range of labor and employment matters, from single-plaintiff to multi-plaintiff, in both federal and state courts in California, the California Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court and ...
Brent Giddens is a Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. A labor and employment attorney experienced in litigation, strategic and operational issues, Giddens helps California employers advance their business goals, representing clients in all facets of the employer/employee relationship. He has extensive background and experience in defending class actions, as well as individual actio...
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