Labor and Employment Law Section

Galen is Senior Employment Counsel at 10x Genomics, a biotechnology company that is fueling scientific discovery in the fields of biology and medicine.  At 10x, which has approximately 1,300 employees across 23 countries, Galen advises on every stage of the employee life cycle from recruitment through separation, leads special projects, and manages disputes and litigation.  Read more

Allison, a former registered nurse (RN), filed a class action lawsuit against her former employer, Dignity Health, alleging, among others, claims for meal period and rest break violations. Read more

For many, the term “intersectionality” remains a polysyllabic puzzlement. But since California took the lead last year in passing AB 1137, employee and employer advocates can no longer hide in the haze. It codifies the concept of intersectionality in the state’s laws, including the Fair Employment and Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination “not just because of one protected basis, but also because of the intersection of two or more protected bases.” Read more

I’m pleased to highlight a major event on our calendar: the upcoming two-day conference in Pasadena on July 24–25, which brings together the 15th Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Conference and the 41st Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference. Read more

Connectivity. Diversity. Opportunity. These three powerful words describe California Lawyers Association’s (CLA) Labor and Employment Law Section’s joint 15th Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Conference and 41st Labor and Employment Law Annual Conference. Set for July 24-25, 2025, in Pasadena, California, this in-person event offers attendees two incredible days of analysis, updates, and engagement. Read more

The trial court reduced the attorney fee award for a prevailing plaintiff in a FEHA action by an “across-the-board” 30-percent cut based on “unreasonable padding,” “duplicative” work, and unnecessary work by the plaintiff’s attorneys. Read more

This is a difficult and painful moment for many in our communities. The recent ICE raids and the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles by the federal government have left families fearful, neighborhoods destabilized, and many of us deeply troubled. Read more

In settlement of a prior action, the parties agreed that stock issued to plaintiff in settlement was not compensation for services but instead compensation for his “capital/equitable contributions.” Defendants then issued IRS 1099 forms characterizing the settlement stock as non-employee compensation. The trial court held some (but not all) defendants breached the settlement agreement and issued fraudulent forms under Internal Revenue Code section 7434. The appellate court rejected all parties’ argument on appeal and affirmed the judgment. Read more

As we find ourselves at the intersection of change and challenge, I am reminded of the resilience that defines our legal community. Recent executive orders and actions targeting the legal community have stirred concerns and uncertainties. However, it is in these very moments that our commitment to justice, equity, and the rule of law shines brightest. Read more

Welcome to the 15th Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Conference and the 41th Labor and Employment Law Annual Conference in Pasadena, CA! The Labor and Employment Law Section Executive Committee is excited to announce this year’s joint events of the always popular Advanced Wage and Hour Conference and the section’s Annual Conference, two days of fantastic panel topics and speakers. Read more