PRACTICE AREAS

Code Enforcement
Conflicts & Ethics
Contracts & Public Works
Elections
Environment & Toxics
Franchises & Utilities
Labor & Employment
Land Use & Zoning
Law Enforcement
Litigation
Mining
Municipal Organization
Native Americans
Property Acquisition & Takings
Public Finance
Redevelopment & Housing
Rent Control
Risk Management & Torts
Solid Waste
Water

Labor and Employment

We provide essential and comprehensive labor and employment legal services to our clients by providing consistent and common sense advice and guidance in employment and personnel administration. Our areas of expertise include, as examples, the drafting of personnel rules and policies, enforcing workplace management and employee rights, assisting with drafting and implementing hiring processes, employee evaluation, promotion, discipline and discharge processes, employee training, personnel file maintenance and disclosure, personnel investigations, due process hearings and appeals, and disability and retirement issues. In addition to our extensive advisory work, we handle complex, and often sensitive, labor and employment litigation. We assertively and ethically represent our clients as advocates when litigation arises, and have represented clients at all levels of the state and federal judicial systems and administrative and regulatory agencies.

Expertise

  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act
  • California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
  • Federal Civil Rights Acts
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
  • Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA)
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPAA)
  • Meyers-Milias-Brown Act
  • Family and Medical Leave laws
  • Occupational Safety and Health laws
  • Workers' Compensation laws
  • Employment Development Department obligations, among others
  • Collective bargaining, and negotiating/drafting of labor agreements with employee organizations
  • Enforcement and defense of labor agreements
  • Prosecuting/defending against unfair practice charges filed with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB)
  • Prosecuting/defending against labor related civil court actions
  • Employee discipline and discharge

Expertise in Action

Our attorneys have provided labor and employment legal advice to a number of public agency clients, including the cities of Carson, Covina, Chino Hills, Culver City, Cypress, Hemet, Industry, Irwindale, Lake Forest, Palm Springs, Perris, Signal Hill, South Pasadena, and Stanton. Additionally, our attorneys have served as corporate and/or employment counsel to a number of private companies, including national transportation companies, national food distributors, insurance agencies, and real estate agencies.

We realize the sensitivity inherent in employment issues, and make it our primary purpose to present options and develop effective strategies to obtain successful results, often by preventing or resolving employment disputes or liability issues before they become detrimental to our clients. To accomplish this, our lawyers often work as part of a management “team,” providing services ranging from simple legal guidance to direct representation in personnel administration, complex labor negotiation and administratively and/or civilly contested matters.