We provide ongoing counsel for California employers (25–500 employees), with retainer options designed for day-to-day compliance and contract support.
Our employment practice combines litigation strength with a proactive, governance-driven approach to workplace risk. We defend employers in complex disputes while simultaneously helping organizations, including nonprofits and educational institutions, build structures that minimize exposure before a claim ever arises.
Litigation & Administrative Defense
We represent employers in a broad range of employment matters, including:
- Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims
- Wage-and-hour disputes, including representative and PAGA actions
- Wrongful termination and whistleblower claims
- Disability, leave, and accommodation disputes
- Misclassification challenges and independent-contractor issues
- Investigations and enforcement actions by state and federal agencies
Our litigation strategy is precise and disciplined, grounded in careful factual analysis and a clear understanding of how employment claims evolve in discovery and at trial.
Compliance, Counseling & Risk Prevention
Equally central to our practice is advising employers on the day-to-day decisions that prevent disputes from developing. We assist with:
- Employee handbooks, policies, and annual updates
- Hiring, onboarding, and job-description alignment
- Wage-and-hour audits and pay-practice reviews
- Leave, accommodation, and interactive-process guidance
- Conducting or overseeing workplace investigations
- Performance management frameworks and documentation practices
- Termination planning and risk assessment
- Independent-contractor structuring and compliance
Our goal is to ensure employers operate with clarity, consistency, and defensible processes, the factors most strongly correlated with avoiding litigation.
Nonprofit Governance & Advisory Work
We also support nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and mission-driven entities on employment and governance matters unique to their structure. This includes:
- Board governance and policy alignment
- Conflict-of-interest frameworks
- Whistleblower and grievance procedures
- Faculty, staff, and student-worker classifications
- Compliance with grant, accreditation, or federal funding requirements
- Training for boards, HR teams, and leadership
Because nonprofits operate in environments where employment issues frequently intersect with regulation, stakeholder expectations, and reputational considerations, our counsel is designed to integrate legal precision with governance insight.
Practical, Forward-Looking Guidance
Whether we are defending a claim or strengthening internal structures, our approach remains the same: identify risks early, address them directly, and give employers the clarity they need to make informed decisions. Many of our clients rely on us as outside employment counsel for predictable, trusted advice for routine questions as well as strategic planning.