Industry Insight. Trusted Guidance. Proven Defense
We help clients keep pace with California’s changing employment laws with advice that reduces risk and protects operations. Our attorneys provide preventive support through compliance audits, management training, and employee handbook reviews for employers of all sizes with operations in California.
With an untarnished trial record in favor of our clients, our Labor and Employment group defends businesses in class actions, wage and hour claims, PAGA cases, wrongful termination, union issues, and disputes over trade secrets or restrictive covenants. We represent businesses in court, arbitration, and administrative hearings, providing consistent, experienced counsel across all matters.
With eight employment attorneys and growing, our Labor & Employment group offers consistent, senior-level representation. When matters are insurance-appointed, we advocate for our clients to their insurers, to ensure our clients receive the same high-caliber service across all engagements.
All related services
- Employment Discrimination Defense
- Unemployment and Disability Benefits Claims and Appeals
- Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, and Confidentiality Agreement Enforcement
- Employment Contracts
- Leave Law Compliance
- Independent Contractor Compliance
- Workplace Policies
- Anti-Discrimination Compliance
- Severance & Separation
- Pay Plans & Compliance
- COBRA Compliance
- Background Check Compliance
- DEI Programs & Compliance
- Workforce Restructuring
- Workplace Conduct & Risk Policies
- Specialized Employer Compliance
- Whistleblower & Retaliation
- Wage & Hour Defense
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition
- Workplace Investigations & HR
- we understand the retail auto industry, with former in house counsel to family and national auto groups, giving us practical insight to the industry
Precision engineering, Precision details
Our Labor and Employment group defends businesses in class actions, wage and hour claims, PAGA cases, wrongful termination, union issues, and disputes over trade secrets or restrictive covenants. We represent dealerships in court, arbitration, and administrative hearings, providing consistent, experienced counsel across all matters.
Representative matters
- Put together team of advisors for safety compliance, accounting, insurance and HR for Canadian company entering U.S. market through California. Handled initial and ongoing legal compliance and legal operations for new California operations
- Counseled clients on leave and accommodation issues, including FMLA/CFRA, pregnancy disability, and discretionary leave.
- Negotiated multiple nuisance-value settlements short of litigation in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and accommodation claims.
- Drafted customized Workplace Violence Prevention Plans for diverse client facilities.
- Directed and conducted workplace investigations involving hostile work environment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblowing, and wrongful termination claims.
- Successfully resolved a disability discrimination case via favorable settlement while summary judgment was pending, mitigating risk and securing certainty for the client exposure
- Guide clients through mediations, achieving early and cost-effective resolutions that minimize exposure and avoid drawn-out discovery battles.
- Associate in Scali Rasmussen’s Labor & Employment Department, focusing on FEHA litigation including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour, and PAGA.
- Former Assistant United States Attorney (Civil Division, Los Angeles), serving as lead counsel in complex federal litigation involving tort defense, employment discrimination, immigration, and bankruptcy; advised federal agencies on legal strategy throughout litigation.
- Successfully obtained issue sanctions, on behalf of day care center, and eliminated all economic damages in case where Plaintiff alleged disability discrimination, wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation. Thereafter secured summary adjudication on plaintiff’s claims pursuant to the Fair Employment and Housing Act. Sophia Perusset v. Tutor Time Learning Centers, LLC; No. 22TSCV06702
- Successfully obtained summary adjudication for southern California hospital, where Plaintiff alleged discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate and wrongful termination based on her refusal to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate due to her alleged religious beliefs. Lilia Acevedo-Cosio v. PIH Health Hospital Whittier; No. 22NWCV00509
- Obtained favorable decision for client by successfully arguing against joint employer liability before the Department of Industrial Relations Division of Labor Standards and Enforcement. Gamble v. Avitus Group; No. WC-CM-547163
A depth of expertise
