About Our Client
Our Client is widely recognized as California’s Premier Litigation Firm, known for record-setting verdicts and landmark settlements over the past 35 years. Every attorney on our team has a minimum of 8 years of trial experience, and we are proud to represent corporations, business owners, and executives in high-stakes, complex litigation matters. Our reputation is built on aggressive advocacy, strategic excellence, and unparalleled courtroom results. Clients choose us when the stakes are highest—and when only proven trial attorneys will do.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Labor & Employment Litigation Attorney (Defense) to join our elite trial team in Santa Ana, CA. This role focuses exclusively on employer-side representation, defending corporate and institutional clients against a wide range of complex employment disputes. The ideal candidate is a trial-ready litigator with a deep and proven track record in employment defense, capable of managing high-stakes cases from inception through to verdict or resolution.
Key Responsibilities
- Independently manage a caseload of complex labor and employment litigation matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and PAGA/wage & hour class actions.
- Develop and execute sophisticated litigation strategies, from initial case assessment and client counseling through all phases of discovery, dispositive motions, and trial preparation.
- Lead and defend high-stakes depositions of plaintiffs, key witnesses, and experts, and argue critical motions, including summary judgment and class certification.
- Provide strategic counsel to corporate clients on litigation risk, settlement negotiations, and compliance with California employment law.
- Collaborate closely with the firm's trial partners, contributing to a team-oriented approach to achieve superior results for our clients.
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Active and in good standing with the California State Bar.
- A minimum of 8 years of dedicated experience in labor and employment litigation, with a primary focus on defense.
- First-chair or significant second-chair trial or arbitration experience is required.
- Demonstrated expertise in handling PAGA and wage & hour class actions.
- Exceptional written and oral advocacy skills, with a strong motion practice record.
Nice-to-Have Qualifications
- Experience representing clients in the technology, manufacturing, or healthcare industries.
- A portable book of business, while not required, would be viewed favorably.
- Published articles or speaking engagements on employment law topics.