Legal Expertise

Representation of employers in all areas of labor and employment law, including as lead counsel in a wide array of labor and employment litigation involving wrongful termination, whistleblower conduct, trade secret violations/unfair competition, discrimination, wage and hour class actions, labor arbitrations, National Labor Relations Board hearings and other litigation matters, administrative proceedings and investigations. Chief negotiator in numerous private and public sector collective bargaining negotiations. Extensive representation of employers in all aspects of traditional labor law, including representation issues, elections, unfair labor practice investigations/ proceedings and related matters. Advise and counsel clients with respect to all aspects of federal, state and local laws impacting employers, including compliance strategies, dispute avoidance and negotiation of dispute resolutions.

Representative Matters

• Represented major supermarket in a whistleblower/retaliation lawsuit based upon complaints over safety and health issues. Successfully removed the case to federal court and obtained dismissal which was upheld by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Represented international technology company in a "bet the company" type dispute with 5 former executives. Obtained judgments against former employees and dismissals of all cross complaints.
• Obtained stipulated judgment for a computer products company against a competitor (and individual defendants) who raided and recruited employees subject to term employment agreements. Pursuant to the stipulated judgment, damages were paid, other remedial actions were taken and the competitor ceased all raiding.
• Successfully represented motion picture company in multi-million dollar merchandizing claim.
• Successfully represented employers in numerous arbitrations, including contract interpretation disputes and wrongful termination issues.
• Chief negotiator for several collective bargaining agreements containing budget-related concessions and innovative resolutions of health insurance issues.
• Chief negotiator on several precedent-setting entertainment industry collective bargaining agreements.
• Representation of major motion picture studio and producer in lawsuit brought by screenwriter contending his screenplay entitled him to credits and compensation with respect to a well known motion picture. Successfully removed the case to federal court on preemption grounds and obtained summary judgment which was affirmed by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Represented television network in an extensive high profile government investigation involving alleged child labor law violations. Investigation was concluded with no enforcement action taken.