Team Spotlight: Jose Cabada

Jose Cabada wasn’t exactly sure what he was looking for in a firm, but he says something clicked when he first spoke to Christian Scali. He was looking for a firm with a strong culture and a genuine interest in its people, and Scali Rasmussen seemed to perfectly fit the bill.

“After our conversation, I knew this was the place,” he says. “They didn’t know it, but in my mind, I’d already accepted before they offered.”

Joining as a principal in February, Jose considers himself a litigator through and through, approaching every case with a trial mindset from day one. Even if no court date looms, he builds his strategy as though one does. Most of his work centers on defending employers in single-plaintiff cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination under FEHA. He says about 30 percent of his practice also involves class and PAGA defense, but it’s the one-on-one cases that keep him most engaged.  Ask clients and colleagues what defines Jose, and you’ll be hearing the words “calm” and “consistent” more than a few times.

“Being even-tempered has helped me tremendously,” he says. “You can’t do what’s in the client’s best interest if you’re reactive.” It’s advice he pays forward, along with a lesson from early in his career: treat every client as if they’re your only client.

Outside the office, Jose’s focus shifts to family and mentorship. He and his wife are busy raising their one-year-old daughter, but when time allows, he’s always looking to engage with his lifelong passion for football. A former coach and mentor to young players, he hopes to get back on the sidelines at the high-school level soon.

Thoughtful and steady, with the discipline of a trial lawyer and the heart of a coach, Jose brings a rare mix of composure and drive to Scali Rasmussen. Whether in the courtroom or on the field, his approach is the same: prepare hard, stay calm, and lead by example.