CDF Labor Law LLP

Bios

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  Lindsay A. Ayers

  Partner

  Lindsay A. Ayers advises and defends California businesses in labor, employment, and general business matters. She is an experienced trial attorney and has represented clients in matters involving employment, unfair competition, fiduciary duty, breach of contract, negligence, unjust enrichment, securities, and fraud. She also has experience representing clients in government regulatory actions involving the EEOC, DFEH, and SEC, among others. Ayers has practiced in federal and state courts throughout California. Ayers has helped many clients in various industries by crafting policies and procedures that provide a strong first line of defense; offering sexual harassment training; and providing advice and representation on wage and hour, discrimination, trade secret, wrongful termination, and other employment related claims. When necessary and unavoidable, she has vigorously defended her clients in employment-related litigation. In particular, Ayers is passionate about providing her clients with the education and tools they need to be successful and competitive in the hospitality and restaurant industry. She has combined her love of food and the industry’s unique ability to bring people together, with her drive to find creative ways to assure her clients can comply with the law and be profitable. She understands the unique challenges of operating restaurants in the state of California and maintains a deep knowledge of the ever-changing employment laws that govern the industry. Efficiency and focus are part of Lindsay’s work philosophy in providing value to her clients. She understands that the key to excellent client service is protecting her clients from costly litigation so they can focus on what they do best --running their business.

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  Link: Lindsay A. Ayers

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  Corey J. Cabral

  Partner & Chair of CDF’s PAGA Litigation Practice Group

  Corey J. Cabral represents local, regional and national employers in all aspects of California labor and employment law and related litigation. With a practice emphasis on wage and hour class action and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits, Cabral frequently manages and defends sophisticated and complex employment litigation matters. He also has extensive experience with litigation involving claims of individual wage and hour violations, gender, disability and age discrimination, retaliation, harassment, defamation and wrongful termination. Cabral’s labor experience includes representing and defending California employers in dealings with union locals, collective bargaining negotiations, grievance proceedings and proceedings before the NLRB concerning unfair labor practice charges and Board complaints. Additionally, Cabral’s practice also has a significant focus on claims prevention. His defense in high-stakes wage and hour litigation and PAGA actions affords him the intricate knowledge of the nuances of timekeeping and payroll compliance laws. As such, Cabral frequently assists California employers with developing, implementing, and auditing their employment policies and practices, and provides invaluable strategic recommendations for risk avoidance. He also provides ongoing advice, counsel and training to ensure his clients maintain policies, practices and procedures in compliance with applicable statutes and regulations. His clients operate in various distinct industries, including retail, financial services, emergency medical services, restaurant, transportation, trucking, and manufacturing. Before representing California employers, Cabral served as a judicial law clerk in the United States District Courts, Eastern and Northern Districts of California, and Complex Civil Litigation Division of the San Francisco Superior Court.

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  Link: Corey J. Cabral

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  Brian E. Cole II

  Partner

  In his counsel to California employers, Brian E. Cole II has extensive experience with employment litigation involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, unfair competition, and wage and hour violations. He also has experience in defending companies of all sizes against class action claims, Fair Labor Standards Act collective actions, and Private Attorneys General Act actions. In addition, Cole II has prosecuted and defended trade secret matters, and has successfully represented clients in administrative proceedings and alternative dispute resolution forums. In addition to his employment practice, Cole II has significant experience representing businesses against website accessibility claims, brought under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. His experience includes defending businesses in public access cases, including physical barrier and website accessibility matters. Cole II has defended dozens of these claims that primarily focus on a visually impaired person’s access to a business’s website or mobile application. His practice also includes significant day-to-day advice and counseling on how companies with workforces in California can stay in compliance with the state’s ever-changing labor and employment laws.

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  Link: Brian E. Cole II

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  Marie D. DiSante

  Firm Managing Partner

  An employment litigation attorney whose dual role as a California business owner and entrepreneur allows her to understand her clients’ workplace challenges firsthand, Marie DiSante has been resolving and preventing disputes for employers for over 30 years. Her active leadership in the business community shapes her effective, practical and value-driven counsel to employers of all sizes, from startup ventures to Fortune 500 enterprises. After founding the firm with her partners in 1994, DiSante positioned her clients in the forefront of emerging and unprecedented class action litigation in the state, especially in wage and hour compliance cases. Her facility with introducing a strategic business view within a legal context has resulted in numerous favorable outcomes in complex employment law litigation and litigation avoidance. In one representative example, DiSante dramatically reduced the threat of five concurrent putative class actions filed by five separate sets of plaintiffs' counsel in five separate counties. Her assertive representation of her client, a national telecommunications retailer with a significant California workforce, included defending claims covering a variety of overlapping alleged wage and hour violations involving meal and rest breaks, misclassification, off-the-clock work, failure to reimburse business expenses, miscalculation of the overtime pay rate, and minimum wage issues. DiSante’s experience also includes a broad range of single-plaintiff actions, EEO compliance, personnel policy implementation, performance management and reductions-in-force counsel. Throughout her client representations, DiSante leverages her conflict resolution skills, gained in state and federal courts and alternative dispute resolution venues, to offer real-life, pragmatic approaches that foster safe, productive workplaces and prevent employee claims. At the center of her advice and counsel is a deeply held wish to add value to clients’ businesses, as well as create a rewarding workplace for employees. Ongoing education and participation in the business and legal communities are key components in DiSante’s counsel to clients. DiSante serves as a founding member of several Southern California business organizations, including the Collaboration of Professional Women (ProVisors), Orange County Law Firm Leadership Roundtable, Orange County Women Lawyers Roundtable and Women Presidents’ Organization, Orange County Chapter. DiSante also is an active member of Vistage, a CEO peer advisory group to which she has belonged for over ten years.

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  Link: Marie D. DiSante

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  Dan M. Forman

  Los Angeles Office Managing Partner & Chair of CDF's Trade Secret Practice Group & Privacy Practice

  As Chair of the Unfair Competition & Trade Secret Practice Group, Dan M. Forman’s knowledge expands beyond employment law to the prosecution and defense of complex matters arising from the protection of trade secrets, and determinations of whether contracts are enforceable or unenforceable covenants not to compete. Client theft and employee poaching are central issues to these cases. This work expands into the area of anti-trust and claims of stifling competition for employment. Forman’s vast litigation experience, including bench and jury trials, allows him to adeptly achieve efficient and expedited results in cases with high financial exposure. His experience extends throughout state and federal courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution venues. Forman represents clients before a wide range of regulatory agencies, including California’s Labor Commissioner, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Employment Development Department, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and similar agencies. Forman counsels high tech companies, insurance agencies, security businesses, manufacturers, financial institutions, charter schools, service providers, health and medical industry clients to protect their bottom line, including privacy issues, cyber security and against data breach. He drafts wage and hour policies, employment and severance agreements, arbitration agreements, trade secret confidentiality agreements, and advises on covenants-not-to-compete, collective bargaining and WARN Act compliance to ensure peace of mind. Forman frequently speaks at industry seminars, webinars, is quoted in the press and writes blog postings and articles to help employers and business executives stay ahead of emerging legal issues surrounding privacy, employee retention, non-compete and confidentiality agreements.

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  Link: Dan M. Forman

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  Timothy Freudenberger

  Founding Partner & Co-Chair of CDF's Class Action Defense Litigation Practice Group, Orange County

  One of the founding partners of CDF, Tim Freudenberger represents California and national employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and related litigation, with a special emphasis on defending class action wage and hour lawsuits, class action employment discrimination lawsuits, class action suitable seating lawsuits, and other complex employment litigation matters. He heads CDF’s class action defense litigation practice group. He has practiced at the forefront in the defense of wage and hour and other class actions as these high profile cases have threatened employers throughout the state. For nearly two decades, Freudenberger has repeatedly obtained dismissals and defeated class certification, often through strategic deposition techniques and a thorough investigation of putative classes that reveals critical evidence in support of his employer clients. Freudenberger received a very favorable decision from the California Supreme Court in Duran v. U.S. Bank Nat. Assn., 59 Cal. 4th 1 (2014), followed by a further victory before the Court of Appeal after remand, Duran v. U.S. Bank, 19 Cal.App.5th 630 (2018). His defense work on the case, which lasted for more than a decade and resulted in multiple published opinions, helped shape class certification and trial principles in exemption cases. The closely followed trial, and subsequent outcome before the Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court, serves as a testament to the respect Freudenberger's class action practice commands throughout California. He cemented this victory when he again defeated class certification after the case was remanded to the trial court, which was affirmed on appeal in a decision that discussed the weaknesses and unreliability of survey methodology in these types of exemption cases, Duran v. U.S. Bank, 19 Cal.App.5th 630 (2018). His litigation counsel and representation spans the full scope of employment law and workplace claims, including single plaintiff claims. These range from wrongful termination, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and trade secrets misappropriation, to unfair competition, wage and hour, and traditional labor-management relations matters. Freudenberger’s extensive experience also extends to representing both large and small companies in business disputes and related litigation. His case background encompasses such commercial disputes as intellectual property claims, breach of contract, breach of franchise or license agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the duty of loyalty, interference with prospective economic advantage, interference with contractual relations, defamation, fraud and negligence. In addition to employee-generated claims, Freudenberger also represents his clients in lawsuits brought by their customers alleging discrimination, invasion of privacy, negligent hiring, supervision or retention, and other claims under various federal and state laws.

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  Link: Timothy Freudenberger

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  Robyn E. Frick

  Partner

  Robyn E. Frick is a business-oriented, practical attorney with over 15 years of experience representing clients in complex employment and business matters. Uniquely positioned with both in-house and outside counsel experience, Frick endeavors to provide sensible, cost-effective solutions to complex legal issues. By keeping apprised of California’s ever-changing employment laws, Frick provides cutting-edge and creative advice to help employers navigate through otherwise challenging waters. Frick has extensive experience defending employers against a variety of legal issues including wage and hour, misclassification, discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination in both individual and representative actions. She has aggressively defended companies in the staffing, security, healthcare, manufacturing, and many other industries in complex legal matters, including wage and hour putative class actions and PAGA matters. She has a proven track record of guiding California employers through the intricacies of California employment laws to achieve favorable outcomes. Frick practices in federal and state courts throughout California, as well as various arbitral forums. She also regularly provides training, advice and counseling to employers, including conducting investigations, interpreting and implementing responses to new legislation, responding to governmental agency claims, and efficiently resolving matters short of litigation. Frick also has extensive experience litigating, managing and developing legal strategy in a vast array of business matters, including contract, business torts, real estate and other commercial matters. Prior to her in-house counsel role with a healthcare technology company, Frick was a Partner at a leading firm in Orange County.

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  Link: Robyn E. Frick

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  Brent M. Giddens

  Partner

  A labor and employment attorney experienced in litigation, strategic and operational issues, Brent M. Giddens helps California employers advance their business goals, representing clients in all facets of the employer/employee relationship. Giddens has extensive background and experience in defending class actions, as well as individual actions, before California state and federal courts. His clients cover a wide variety of industries, and include large national employers as well as small businesses. Whether a matter requires litigation to a successful conclusion, or negotiation of a sensible business oriented solution, Giddens has the experience to help his clients reach their goals. Giddens is regularly called upon by clients to provide due diligence in corporate mergers and acquisitions. He offers strategic advice and guidance on critical corporate transactions, executive employment agreements, severance negotiations, internal investigations, wage and hour audits and other employment compliance issues. Further, Giddens has served as lead defense counsel in numerous NLRB trial proceedings, organization drives, and has experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

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  Link: Brent M. Giddens

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  Richard M. Green

  Partner & Chair of CDF's Immigration Practice Group

  Immigration Lawyer Richard M. Green understands the importance of work and family, and places special emphasis on helping employers obtain immigration status and employment authorization in the United States for their employees and their family members. A Certified Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization, Green is a proud member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has been helping clients with their immigration issues for close to 20 years. Additionally, Green is an Adjunct Professor at the Fowler School of Law at Chapman University where he teaches Immigration Law. Whether you are an employer or employee seeking an employment based visa for a highly skilled employee, need to establish citizenship, want to bring a family member to the States under a family based visa, or need information regarding immigration opportunities for religious workers, Green puts his years of experience into play to assist his clients in an efficient and timely manner so they get what they need, when they need it.

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  Link: Richard M. Green

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  David G. Hagopian

  Partner & General Counsel

  For more than 30 years, David G. Hagopian has successfully litigated for, as well as counseled and advised, employers and businesses throughout California. Hagopian defends employers in putative class, collective and representative (PAGA) actions alleging wage and hour violations, as well as in single and multiple plaintiff matters alleging wage and hour violations, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, breach, defamation, and related employment torts. He also advises employers to comply with employment laws, regulations, and ordinances, audits wage and hour practices, prepares and revises employment handbooks, and recommends best employment practices. In addition to his employment practice, Hagopian represents businesses in putative class and collective actions as well as in complex business disputes (e.g., fraud, fraudulent transfer, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract/implied covenant, interference/inducing breach, and conversion); consumer claims (e.g., unfair competition/business practices, misleading advertising, consumer legal remedies, telephone consumer protection, fair debt collection, and other consumer protection statutes); securities and other investment-related claims (FINRA and other arbitrations, broker/dealer liability, and securities fraud); government investigations and related claims (e.g., federal, state, and local investigations and false claims act claims); trade secrets and related claims (e.g., trade secrets, unlawful competition/business practices, misappropriation, and breach of confidentiality agreements); failed businesses/business deal claims (e.g., failed M&A deals, shareholder /partner/member disputes, accounting, shareholder derivative actions); real estate claims (e.g., breach of note, impairment of security, foreclosure, partition, commercial landlord-tenant lease disputes, and ADA/disability access); and insurance coverage claims (e.g., duty to defend, duty to indemnify, declaratory relief, and bad faith). Hagopian creates proactive and preventative strategies focusing on risk management to reduce and limit risk at the front end, and he uses strategic practice management tools to reduce legal spend at the back end. Hagopian received his law degree from the University of Southern California where he graduated Order of the Coif. He also graduated from the University of California, Irvine, magna cum laude, phi beta kappa, distinguished student scholar, and recipient of many intercollegiate speech and debate awards including four national rankings. He is the author of several articles and also has edited or contributed to several books on a wide variety of legal and cultural issues. Hagopian is also Co-Editor of the Fraud Law Alert Blog.

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  Link: David G. Hagopian

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  Ashley A. Halberda

  Orange County Office Co-Managing Partner

  Ashley A. Halberda advises and represents clients in matters involving California labor and employment law. During her years of practice, Halberda has gained extensive experience in representing employers before state, federal and appellate courts in various employment disputes involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour violations for clients in the banking, retail, insurance, food and beverage, hospitality and manufacturing industries. Defending clients against class actions and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) matters is a considerable part of Halberda’s practice. She has an undefeated record at trial, as well as on appeal. Her trial experience consists of defending high profile retail and bank clients against claims of misclassification of employees. She has also been successful at arbitration. In addition to her litigation practice, Halberda plays a critical advisory role to California employers. As she counsels clients on business strategies to ensure compliance with the daunting array of employment laws regulating California businesses, she becomes an extension of her clients’ management team and a true business partner. Her proactive approach alleviates her clients’ worries and staves off potential costly future litigation.

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  Link: Ashley A. Halberda

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  Dawn M. Irizarry

  Partner & Co-Chair of CDF’s Healthcare Industry Employment Defense Practice Group

  As the chair of CDF’s Healthcare Practice Group, Dawn M. Irizarry has substantial experience representing employers throughout the healthcare industry, including hospitals, medical technology companies, physician groups, and urgent care centers. Her experience includes providing daily advice to hospitals and medical groups on how to stay in compliance with California’s complex employment laws, as well as defending employment litigation in court as well as in arbitration and before administrative agencies. With the fluctuating state of healthcare in America today, Dawn remains current on applicable laws, court decisions and emerging legal trends affecting her clients. She also has experience representing clients in the retail and gig economy as they face uncertainty in wage and hour and classification lawsuits in the state. Her employment law experience extends to assisting management in all phases of civil litigation involving claims of sexual harassment, unlawful discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, defamation, failure to accommodate and other employment-related disputes before federal and state courts, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state civil rights enforcement agencies, as well as through private mediation and binding arbitration. Irizarry has also represented a number of financial institutions before the National Association of Securities Dealers and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In addition, she regularly counsels employers regarding personnel policies, employee discipline and terminations, employment contracts, pregnancy and other medial leaves of absence, separation agreements, employee benefits issues and internal employee complaints. Irizarry has served as a guest speaker for large and small groups of employers and lectured on updates in employment law, the importance of drafting and maintaining employee handbooks, and how to stop sexual harassment before it begins.

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  Link: Dawn M. Irizarry

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  Garrett V. Jensen

  Partner

  Garrett V. Jensen has aggressively defended California employers in high-stakes employment cases through all stages of litigation, from pre-suit demands through trial and appeal. His span a broad range of industries, including: banks and mortgage lenders, healthcare, transportation and logistics, staffing, security, retail, and many other businesses of various sizes and in varied industries. His practice has a special emphasis on defending class action wage and hour and PAGA lawsuits and other complex employment litigation matters. Jensen’s practice also includes representing management in single plaintiff actions alleging discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations in state and federal court as well as before various administrative agencies. In addition, Jensen also provides advice and counseling to his clients on counseling preventative measures to avoid litigation, including reviews of general employment policies and wage and hour issues, and assists employers in conducting internal investigations. In addition to his employment practice, Jensen represents companies in complex business litigation involving contract claims and business torts.

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  Link: Garrett V. Jensen

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  Marianne C. Koepf

  Partner

  As a Partner at CDF, Marianne C. Koepf advises management in all areas of employment and labor law, including Title VII, FEHA, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, CFRA and the California Labor Code. In her representation of employers, Koepf appears before federal and state courts, the EEOC, the DFEH, the California Labor Commissioner and the government agencies. Her employment practice includes claims of discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate, retaliation, wrongful termination, unfair competition, trade secret violations and wage and hour violations. Koepf also helps companies draft employee handbooks and workplace agreements, including arbitration, intellectual property and confidentiality agreements. An experienced speaker and trainer on all aspects of the employment relationship, Koepf was a regular contributor to the California Employment Law Letter, a biweekly statewide newsletter for employers and HR professionals.

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  Link: Marianne C. Koepf

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  Nancy N. Lubrano

  Partner & Co-Chair of CDF's Class Action Defense Litigation Practice Group

  Experienced in defending against all types of employment claims through trial on behalf of employers of all sizes. Lubrano takes an aggressive defense approach whether the case involves a single plaintiff alleging wrongful termination, harassment and/or discrimination, or if it is a multiparty, class action matter. Lubrano has extensive experience defending against wage and hour class action claims and is one of the few attorneys who has litigated PAGA claims through trial. As the laws that affect employers continue to evolve, Lubrano facilitates creative litigation strategies to achieve client goals efficiently. Lubrano’s practice strengths include navigating her clients through the many employee-friendly laws that make doing business in California difficult for employers. She engages in immediate fact investigation in all types of cases to achieve early case assessment and to position clients for the best possible result in every case. As part of her client counsel, Lubrano also regularly advises executives and human resources personnel on preventive measures to avoid litigation. Lubrano assists her clients in developing and implementing employment policies and practices to ensure compliance with state and federal workplace laws and regulations.

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  Link: Nancy N. Lubrano

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  Denisha P. McKenzie

  Partner

  Denisha P. McKenzie defends employers in all areas of labor and employment law in state and federal court, as well as before various administrative agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). McKenzie's practice has a special emphasis on vigorously defending alleged claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. A significant portion of her practice is also dedicated to defending wage and hour single plaintiff, class action, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits. McKenzie has successfully resolved a number of employment claims on summary judgment, including having a complete dismissal affirmed on appeal. As part of her trial experience, she has managed expert witness reporting and testimony, developed overall defense strategy, and conducted direct and cross- examinations of several key witnesses. McKenzie also provides proactive advice, counsel and training to management on emerging employment issues in California to ensure compliance with its ever-changing laws and regulations. This includes drafting policies, employee handbooks, and policy manuals regarding leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, occupational safety and health, and several other statutorily-mandated requirements. She also regularly drafts employment contracts, as well as severance, settlement, and arbitration agreements. McKenzie is a formidable advocate for advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal industry, as well as her local community. She has authored several articles on diversity and inclusion, and regularly assists management with developing effective action plans to achieve a diverse and inclusive workplace. She is the Immediate Past President of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association of Orange County and the recipient of the 2019 Legal Trailblazer Award from the Black Law Student’s Association of the University of California, Irvine School of Law.

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  Link: Denisha P. McKenzie

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  Erin A. Owen

  Partner

  Whether representing clients in employment or business litigation matters, Erin A. Owen is focused on providing personalized service to her clients and working with them to develop strategies that are distinctly focused on attaining their goals. She is innately concerned about the businesses and people she represents and is deeply committed to them and their health and prosperity. These qualities naturally translate into Owen obtaining a deep knowledge about her clients and her dedication to their welfare. Owen’s employment litigation experience includes PAGA wage and hour litigation, wrongful termination, retaliation, whistleblower claims, breach of contract, fraud, interference with prospective business advantage, alter ego liability, sexual harassment, and workplace safety violations. She has represented clients in industries ranging from order fulfillment warehouses, security companies and restaurant chains to biomedical and wearable devices, transportation, and medical testing laboratory companies. Her business litigation portfolio is equally varied, with such areas as securities fraud, partnership disputes, soft intellectual property disputes, fraud, conversion, unfair competition, breach of contract, negligence, negligent retention, co-employer and agency liability, various telecommunications and essential facilities issues, and officer, director and shareholder related disputes. Owen has also provided counsel to companies facing regulatory and qui tam type issues and has experience implementing government imposed corporate integrity agreements, reporting to monitors from the Office of Inspector General and writing corporate policies specifically responsive to government regulations. She has experience working with businesses at various stages of the lifecycle allowing her to anticipate issues that are unique to early, middle and late stage enterprises.

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  Link: Erin A. Owen

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  Carolina A. Schwalbach

  Partner & Co-Chair of CDF’s Healthcare Industry Employment Defense Practice Group

  Carolina Schwalbach is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. She defends local and national employers on a full spectrum of labor and employment matters in various distinct industries, including healthcare, entertainment production, food and beverage and retail. Schwalbach’s litigation practice has a special emphasis on defending employers with workforces in California against a range of alleged claims, including employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) actions, and wage and hour class actions. She also assists businesses mitigate their risks by drafting and developing legally compliant policies, as well as providing advice on issues relating to state and federal leave laws, harassment and discrimination issues, independent contractor compliance, terminations, and wage-hour laws. Whether she is defending her clients in litigation or providing proactive advice, clients can expect Schwalbach will act as an extension of their team. Schwalbach has extensive experience litigating matters from beginning to end at trial and in arbitration. She has obtained summary judgment on behalf of several California employers, as well as walk-away settlements of class and individual actions. She is a native Spanish speaker and regularly utilizes this skill providing trainings, such as California’s mandated harassment trainings for supervisors and employees, and in defending clients on employment law matters.

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  Link: Carolina A. Schwalbach

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  Jeffrey L. Sikkema

  Partner

  Jeffrey L. Sikkema has been handling general business litigation for over 35 years, representing clients in trials and litigation in federal and state courts throughout the country. He has represented major corporations and companies in virtually every sector of the economy, including financial services, technology and retail, in a wide variety of high stakes business lawsuits and disputes. His broad range of business litigation experience includes privacy law, Bus. & Prof. Code §17200, PAGA, business torts and fraud, breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secrets, investment litigation, failed business deals, and other areas, as well as defending against consumer class actions. Sikkema has also handled numerous securities and other cases and investigations brought or pursued by various government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Justice Department, and the Federal Trade Commission. Sikkema received his law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1982, and his B.A. in economics from the University of Michigan in 1978, where he graduated with highest honors. He served as a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Prior to joining CDF, he spent most of his legal career at Dorsey & Whitney, where he served as founding and managing partner of its Orange County office. Sikkema is admitted to the State Bar of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Circuits. Click HERE to read the Fraud Law Alert blog.

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  Link: Jeffrey L. Sikkema

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  Mark S. Spring

  Sacramento Co-Office Managing Partner

  Mark S. Spring has almost 30 years of experience handling labor and employment law matters throughout Northern California. Spring’s practice is focused on representation of management in union-management relations and handling litigation triggered by all types of employment related disputes. He practices out of our Sacramento and San Francisco offices. Spring has a successful record of dealings with union locals from the Teamsters, UFCW, IBEW, Laborers, SEIU and Stationary Engineers. He negotiates union contracts, handles ULP charges, resolves grievances, represents clients at grievance arbitrations, and manages secondary picketing issues and other strike related litigation and matters. In addition, Spring assists non-union employers with union avoidance efforts, and counsels employers during union campaigns. Spring’s reputation for litigation excellence is built upon an impressive record as lead trial counsel in high-stakes employment litigation in both federal and state court. In addition to his courtroom and trial work, he regularly represents California employers in discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and employee safety issues in administrative matters and hearings before the NLRB, DFEH, EEOC, DLSE, Cal-OSHA, CUIAB and other state and federal agencies. Spring maintains a significant litigation prevention practice, advising national and regional clients on adopting employment policies to comply with California law. Spring has also represented public figures, elected officials, executives and athletes in high-profile sexual harassment lawsuits and investigations. Spring is a member of the American Employment Law Council (AELC), a national invitation-only group of senior, management side employment attorneys. He is the Northern California representative for the Wage & Hour Defense Institute (WHDI) a group comprised of rigidly selected top wage and hour litigators from across the country. Spring has served for over fifteen years on the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Minority and Diversity Hiring and Retention Committee. Spring was recently named the Best Lawyers® Sacramento 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for the category of Employment Law – Management by his peers. Spring loves to teach. He is an adjunct lecturer at California State University, Sacramento where he teaches an undergraduate course in recreation law each semester. Spring is also a frequent speaker to employment-related groups and associations on a variety of labor and employment law issues and is in charge of our firm’s monthly webinar series. In his off-the-clock hours, Spring enjoys playing golf, white water rafting and coaching high school sports. He has served many years as a high school boys’ basketball and girls’ lacrosse coach.

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  Link: Mark S. Spring

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  Kent J. Sprinkle

  San Diego Office Managing Partner

  Representing a diverse range of companies with workforces in California, from Fortune 500 global companies to small enterprises, Kent possesses an in-depth understanding of employment law and its implications across various sectors, including technology, finance, retail, hospitality, construction, and consulting. With over twenty years of experience defending employers in state and federal court, Kent offers personalized legal counsel, emphasizing accessibility, responsiveness, and humor to alleviate the complexities of navigating California’s highly regulated workplace. His personalized attention to each client minimizes the strain of litigation and decision-making, while providing high caliber legal advice, representation, and client service. Notably, Kent is one of the few California employment lawyers with extensive class action trial and appellate experience. His involvement in landmark cases has helped to shape California class action law, with multiple published decisions. Kent was part of the trial and appellate team that won a closely followed California Supreme Court decision that formulated new class action certification and trial management principles in employment cases. Kent has also successfully argued before the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit in employment class action cases, addressing topics ranging from attorney conflicts of interest to whether state employment laws apply on oil drilling rigs operating off the coast of California on the Outer Continental Shelf. Kent’s unique experience and expertise in high-stakes and complex employment litigation matters make him a go-to advisor for his clients in both trial and appellate cases.

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  Link: Kent J. Sprinkle

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  Alison L. Tsao

  San Francisco Office Managing Partner

  Effective, creative, and equally adept at defending employers ranging from mom-and-pop sole proprietors to public entity employers and Fortune 100 companies, Alison L. Tsao resolves disputes involving all forms of discrimination and harassment, wrongful termination, unfair competition and employment-related tort claims. She also has two decades of experience successfully defending management in wage and hour class actions and PAGA representative actions, and remains in the forefront of this evolving area by advancing new legal theories. Tsao is one of a few California attorneys who has taken this type of complex case all the way to trial and through various levels of appeals. Tsao is on the trial and appellate team that secured the seminal California Supreme Court decision in Duran v. U.S. Bank, 59 Cal.4th 1 (2014), which helped shape class certification and trial management principles in exemption cases, particularly in the areas of statistical sampling and representative testimony. Tsao cemented that victory when she again defeated class certification after the case was remanded to the trial court, which was affirmed on appeal in a decision that discussed the weaknesses and unreliability of survey methodology in these types of exemption cases, Duran v. U.S. Bank, 19 Cal.App.5th 630 (2018). Tsao successfully represents employers before administrative agencies, California state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels, and in arbitrations. She aggressively pursues early resolution on favorable terms whenever possible, whether through ADR or by dispositive motions, and is known for her tough negotiation skills. In addition, Tsao regularly provides training and advice to clients in the areas of risk management and litigation avoidance, keeping them informed of changing laws and best practices in the challenging California legal climate.

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  Link: Alison L. Tsao

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  Joel M. Van Parys

  Sacramento Office Co-Managing Partner

  Representative of Joel M. Van Parys' litigation counsel is his handling of a putative class action for a national retail employer. He obtained a summary judgment ruling dismissing plaintiffs' claims for off-the-clock work, and missed meal and rest periods. In other cases, he successfully argued for and achieved summary judgment of claims for California-based wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Van Parys regularly uses prompt action and conducts thorough investigations to efficiently resolve claims and disputes. In several cases, he has negotiated resolution of a case before summary judgment using damaging information about the plaintiff uncovered during his case investigation. He represents management in all aspects of the employer/employee relationship. This includes litigation defense of claims for wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, employee misclassification - with an emphasis on independent contractor claims - and Unfair Competition. In conjunction with his litigation counsel, Van Parys maintains a significant practice advising companies on managing and avoiding employment risks. His experience includes counseling and representing employers with California workforces and operations in such sectors as health services, retail, media, food and agriculture, public services and construction.

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  Leigh A. White

  Partner

  In her two decades of defending and advising employers, Leigh A. White has successfully resolved complex litigation and disputes, ranging from individual claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour class actions, and trade secret allegations. When defending clients against these types of claims, White brings her focused determination and her tried and true experience to the courtroom. She has defended employers in numerous jury and bench trials, as well as in arbitration, in cases involving allegations of national origin discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, race discrimination, retaliation, gender discrimination, and wage and hour violations. Additionally, White has successfully defended favorable decisions in state appellate courts and has obtained summary judgment for dozens of large corporations with major California workforces. For over a decade, White has also been on the front lines defending California employers since the rash of wage and hour class actions began. Her experience includes assisting in defeating class certification, achieving advantageous settlements, and preparing and defending employers at trial in these high stakes cases. She is one of the few California attorneys who has taken a wage and hour class action to trial before a jury. White forms a partnership with clients and identifies their business goals to help guide creative strategies to litigation challenges. As part of her workplace solutions, advice, and training, White helps modify national company policies and systems to comply with California law specifics, and trains human resources departments on complex California employment law issues.

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  Amy S. Williams

  Partner

  Amy S. Williams represents local, regional and national employers in all aspects of California employment law and related litigation. Her practice has a special emphasis on aggressively defending wage and hour class action and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits. In fact, Williams is one of the few attorneys who has litigated a PAGA claim through trial. She successfully manages and defends sophisticated and complex employment litigation matters using cutting edge and creative defense strategies. Clients rely on her ability to evaluate the merits of the underlying claims and prepare potential exposure analyses, assess and develop early procedural, litigation and resolution strategies, and identify considerations regarding the effect a lawsuit may have on the company’s operations, as well as any impact in the areas of the media and competition. In addition to her class action experience, Williams also has extensive experience litigating and arbitrating claims of individual wage and hour violations, gender, disability and age discrimination, retaliation, harassment, defamation and wrongful termination. Williams frequently assists California employers with litigation avoidance strategies by developing, implementing, and auditing their employment policies and practices, and providing invaluable strategic recommendations. She also provides ongoing advice, counsel and training to ensure her clients maintain policies, practices and procedures in compliance with applicable statutes and regulations. When clients partner with Williams, whether defending complex litigation matters or preparing policies and procedures to ensure compliance, they know they have a true business partner in their corner.

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  Nicole Legrottaglie Wohl

  Partner

  Representing employers and management in labor and employment matters in California state and federal courts, Nicole A. Legrottaglie aggressively defends her clients in a broad range of employment claims, including class actions and single plaintiff claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour litigation. Additionally, Legrottaglie has significant experience in traditional labor law. She has effectively represented management in union disputes and has successfully handled unfair labor practice charges and other administrative matters/hearings before the National Labor Relations Board, union grievances, and labor arbitrations. Legrottaglie counsels unionized employers regarding various aspects of union-management relations and assists non-unionized employers with union campaigns and union avoidance efforts. Legrottaglie has successfully drafted and argues numerous motions and briefs, ranging from discovery motions to complex dispositive motions in state and federal court. She has taken a significant number of depositions, prepared key witnesses, conducted investigations, independently handled pre-trial matters, and has facilitated settlement of matters through negotiations and mediation. In addition to her litigation and traditional labor law practice, Legrottaglie regularly provides preventative counseling to employers of all sizes. She regularly counsels employers and provides guidance on compliance with state and federal employment laws on matters such as wage and hour issues, workplace policies, practices, and personnel decisions, terminations, and prevention of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Languages: Spanish, Conversational

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  Todd R. Wulffson

  Orange County Office Managing Partner

  Todd R. Wulffson has focused his practice on counseling and defending businesses in labor and employment matters for over 30 years. In addition to private practice, from 2006-2010, Wulffson served as General Counsel and SVP of Human Resources to Palace Entertainment, overseeing the SEC filings, legal and human resources issues for a company with over 12,000 employees at 40 locations in 11 states. Wulffson currently assists clients ranging from local sole proprietorships to large, multi-national corporations. He has considerable experience representing employers in the entertainment, manufacturing, banking, hospitality, financial services and retail industries. With both business and legal experience, Wulffson focuses on advising employers on human resources matters, and implementing proactive measures to reduce risk and cost. He has defended employers in both state and federal court, in matters before the Public Employment Relations Board and the National Labor Relations Board, and in administrative proceedings before the State Labor Commissioner and the Fair Employment and Housing Commission. He has significant traditional labor law experience, and is a veteran of numerous union organizing drives. Wulffson also has substantial experience in the evolving area of Social Media Law. He is a frequent speaker, author and resource to employers nationwide on analyzing employee-related social media issues, preparing social media policies and procedures, and defending actions involving social media liability claims.

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  Alessandra C. Whipple

  Partner

  Alessandra C. Whipple advises and represents clients in matters involving California labor and employment law. Whipple is experienced in advising and defending various employment disputes involving claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination and retaliation, breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secrets, and whistleblower claims. Whipple’s practice includes providing significant pragmatic day-to-day advice and counseling to companies on how to navigate California’s ever-changing labor and employment law landscape. Combining business and legal acumen, she counsels clients on compliance strategies and implementation to enable them to take a proactive approach to mitigate the risks and costs associated with employment matters. Prior to joining private practice, Whipple served as in-house counsel for Opus Bank, a California publicly traded financial institution, advising on matters concerning public disclosure, corporate strategy, and labor and employment issues.

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  John R. Giovannone

  Partner

  John R. Giovannone is a partner in the Los Angeles office where he represents employers in the full range of employment law matters, from single plaintiff to class-based wage/hour, contract, discrimination, harassment, and licensing litigation, and including traditional labor proceedings as well. While his bedrock skill set lies in employment litigation and trial advocacy, a major component of his practice involves advice and counsel so as to position his clients to avoid disputes where possible, and to prevail via litigation when necessary. Specifically, he has litigated class actions and single plaintiff matters on behalf of employers in a wide array of industries including manufacturing, outside service and repair, financial services, defense contracting, aeronautics, commercial banking, healthcare, education, childcare, retail, pharmaceutical, construction, telemarketing, retirement services and assisted living, information technology, package delivery, and uniform services. Giovannone has successfully litigated class and collective actions ranging the gamut of statewide, regional, and local scope under a wide-range of employment laws including, but not limited to, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Title VII, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the California Labor Code including the California Private Attorneys’ General Act (PAGA), the California Education Code, the California Unfair Competition Law, the California Auto-Renewal Statute, and California’s Title 22 Child Care Licensing Regulations. Giovannone also has extensive experience litigating issues pertaining to the interpretation and enforceability of arbitration agreements. He has represented management before federal and California state courts, as well as federal and state administrative agencies. He has successfully opposed numerous class certification attempts and has successfully brought motions for summary judgment, preemptive denial of class certification, class decertification, class action trial plan demands, reduction of the size of purported and certified classes (by as much 90%), terminating sanctions and to recover attorneys’ fees. Giovannone also provides advice and counsel services to his clients regarding state and federal labor and employment law, including human resources training, policy drafting, and workplace investigations.

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  Dalia Z. Khatib

  Senior Counsel

  Dalia Khatib is Senior Counsel in the Sacramento office. Her practice focuses on defending California employers on various issues, with a special emphasis on wage and hour class actions and Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) litigation. Khatib has experience at all stages of litigation, including trial. She has also deposed plaintiffs, defended depositions, and filed successful discovery motions. She has negotiated with opposing counsel to reach a successful resolution of the matter before litigation begins. She has also successfully defended employers against administrative law charges, including drafting position statements for the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the National Labor Relations Board. Khatib helped manage a company before becoming a lawyer. She now has both business and legal experience to advise and counsel employers on various matters related to employees, including termination, leaves of absence, wage and hour regulations, and compliance with California’s privacy regulations impacting employers.

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  Adelyn M. Vigran

  Attorney

  Adelyn M. Vigran defends and advises California businesses in all aspects of labor and employment law. Vigran represents employers in litigation matters in state and federal courts across California, as well as in front of administrative agencies and arbitrators. Her employment litigation experience involves claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, trade secret theft, unfair competition, and wage and hour violations. Vigran advises clients on the plethora of human resource issues facing employers, such as termination, employee discipline, worker classification, personnel policies, workplace investigations, wage and hour matters, and compliance with state and federal employment laws. Vigran also conducts manager and employee trainings on wage and hour law and how to avoid and respond to discrimination and harassment allegations. Languages: French

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  Desiree J. Ho

  Partner

  With experience representing clients from startups to large employers in a variety of industries, such as healthcare, food, hospitality, manufacturing, and personal care products, Desiree Ho recognizes the importance of working with clients to develop solutions that best fit their particular business operations. She believes that preemptive steps like guiding clients through difficult employment-related decisions, advising on compliance with wage and hour laws, and drafting policies and procedures are invaluable to managing exposure to litigation. However, under certain circumstances, she understands that employers may be pushed to defend against employee claims. She has experience litigating in state and federal courts and has handled matters before government agencies. She has represented clients in wage and hour litigation, including PAGA and class actions, as well as individual lawsuits with employment-related claims including discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination.

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  Linda Wang

  Senior Counsel

  Linda Wang is an associate in the firm’s Los Angeles office. She represents clients across many industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, manufacturing, and retail. Wang’s litigation practice focuses on single-plaintiff FEHA claims (discrimination, harassment, retaliation), wage and hour, PAGA and class actions. In the past year, Wang has helped clients navigate around COVID-19 related laws and regulations, including drafting COVID-19 prevention plans. In addition to litigation, Wang also advises clients on a variety of matters, such as workplace disputes, wage and hour compliance, and leave laws. She enjoys both litigation and counseling and works closely with clients to understand their specific business needs. California labor law is complex which puts employers in a tough spot, but Wang is not afraid of challenges and is a go-getter who always has her clients’ best interests in mind. Wang is fluent in Mandarin, Chinese and can provide legal advice in Mandarin. She also provides legal support to pro bono clients.

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  Holly Jones

  Attorney

  Holly M. Jones counsels and represents clients on labor and employment issues arising under California and federal law. In particular, her practice involves defending clients in individual and class action litigation, including wage and hour, discrimination, and PAGA claims. Her experience also includes advising clients on aspects of labor and employment law including termination agreements, employee handbooks, and wage and hour compliance.

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  Christian Amos

  Attorney

  Christian Amos is an attorney in the Orange County office where he defends and advises employers operating throughout California in employment-related matters. In particular, Amos has experience defending companies with workforces in the state against claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour violations. He also has experience in litigating class action and PAGA claims. Amos received his Juris Doctor from the University of La Verne, College of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude. While in law school, he was on the Dean’s List and he received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in torts, civil procedure, criminal law, trial advocacy, advanced appellate advocacy, negotiations, sales, and wills & trusts. In addition to his academic achievements, he was the President of the La Verne Chapter of the Federalist Society and he participated in the San Bernardino Misdemeanor Appellate Clinic.

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  Tyler Angelini

  Attorney

  Tyler J. Angelini is an associate in CDF's Orange County office, where he defends and advises employers operating throughout California in employment-related matters. Angelini has experience defending employers, including non-profit corporations, in matters involving wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, and harassment, as well as wage and hours claims and claims brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”). In addition to defending employers, Angelini also counsels employers through potential liabilities arising under their Commercial General Liability and Director and Officer insurance policies.

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  Tashayla "Shay" Billington

  Senior Counsel

  Tashayla “Shay” Billington provides defense and counsel to companies operating within California. She focuses on safeguarding employers against wage and hour class actions and single-plaintiff claims involving discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, and employment-related torts. With a keen understanding of the importance of strategic legal maneuvers, Billington excels in conducting thorough discovery processes. This includes plaintiff and key witness depositions, witness deposition preparation and defense, and the effective handling of various discovery matters. Her track record includes the successful filing, argumentation, and defense of motions across her caseload. Her proficiency also extends to mediation and arbitration settings, where she skillfully guides clients toward favorable outcomes. Billington also has significant experience in defending unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board. Her expertise also encompasses counseling unionized employers on diverse aspects of union-management relations and providing successful assistance to non-unionized employers in union campaigns and avoidance efforts. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by California employers, Billington is unwaveringly committed to protecting her clients' businesses and ensuring compliance with the state's dynamic landscape of employment laws. Devoted to providing comprehensive legal representation to California employers, she offers a distinctive blend of assertive and innovative strategies to navigate the complexities of the legal

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  Christopher E. Dawood

  Senior Counsel

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  Candace R. DesBaillets

  Senior Counsel

  Candace DesBaillets works with employers to implement practical solutions and mitigate risk. She advises employers on a broad range of issues including wage and hour compliance, employee termination risk assessment, family and medical leave, and disability accommodation. She defends employers in individual and multi-plaintiff litigation matters including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, contracts, employment-related torts, and wage and hour claims. DesBaillets has defended and advised employers of all sizes across numerous industries including technology, retail, food and beverage, construction, healthcare, and aerospace. She has represented employers in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as before agencies including the EEOC, DFEH, and DLSE. Prior to joining CDF, DesBaillets served as a judicial extern to Administrative Law Judge Steven Berlin of the US Department of Labor. While in law school, DesBaillets served as Managing Editor for the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law, and Justice and worked as a researcher for the Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice. DesBaillets regularly pulls from her background in critical gender studies in her advice and counsel for employers to help them mitigate risk in the ever-evolving California legal climate.

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  Wanja S. Guy

  Senior Counsel

  Wanja Guy has handled a broad range of labor and employment litigation matters under state and federal laws. She routinely handles the full range of single-plaintiff claims, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, unfair competition, defamation, and other matters. Guy has successfully represented clients, in all California state and federal jurisdictions, in administrative hearings, arbitrations, and trials. She has broad experience, working with clients of all sizes and in various industries, including education, entertainment, web-based startups, healthcare, service industries, and manufacturing. She also has extensive experience conducting investigations of sensitive matters for high-profile and complex private workplaces, religious organizations, and public institutions. Additionally, Guy regularly advises clients on employment-related issues prior to litigation. This includes employee counseling and terminations, accommodations, and other disability-related advice, reviewing and advising on the full range of employment policies, practices, and agreements, and conducting workplace audits or climate assessments when needed.

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  John S. Keeney

  Attorney

  John S. Keeney represents and advises California employers in a broad range of labor and employment matters. His practice includes providing day-to-day advice and counsel and defending California employers in both individual and class action litigation. Keeney has experience defending employers ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies across a wide range of industries. He routinely defends employers in matters involving wage and hours claims, equal pay, wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, unfair competition, class actions, and claims brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”). In addition to defending employers in litigation, Keeney advises employers on employment related matters, such as termination, leaves of absence, wage and hour, and maintaining California compliant policies and practices.

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  Ryan D. Larocca

  Attorney

  Ryan Larocca is an associate in the Sacramento office of CDF. He represents California employers in defense litigation regarding all aspects of labor and employment matters, including wage and hour class actions and PAGA actions, wrongful termination, retaliation and harassment claims, as well as claims brought before the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), California Civil Rights Department (CRD), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Larocca also provides employers with advice and counsel on a range of employment-related issues to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal law. He guides employers in several areas, including COVID-19 rules and regulations, employee leaves of absence, disability and religious accommodations, and employee discipline and termination. Larocca also assists California employers with drafting and implementing various employment policies and practices to maximize risk avoidance.

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  Osaama Saifi

  Attorney

  For nearly a decade, Osaama Saifi has dedicated his practice to advising California employers. Saifi is an experienced litigator who has tried multiple jury trials and defended employers and company executives in litigation related to meal periods, rest periods and overtime. He focuses his practice on defending employers in wage and hour class actions and claims brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Saifi engages in regular motion practice and has successfully obtained summary judgment on PAGA claims. Saifi also has extensive experience in defending employers from discrimination and harassment claims brought under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VI under federal law. Saifi has experience counseling both large public corporations and private companies on state and federal laws relating to personnel policies, employee handbooks, termination accommodations, COVID-19 and compensation, and conducting onsite inspections. Saifi specializes in the area of artificial intelligence in the realm of employment law and regularly publishes articles about this emerging landscape.

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  Charanjit Singh

  Attorney

  Charanjit Singh is an associate in the firm’s Los Angeles office where he provides litigation and general counseling services to California businesses. He represents clients across many industries, including but not limited to sports, entertainment, media, and technology, real estate, retail, financial services, and professional services. His litigation experience involves employment and labor law litigation involving claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, unfair competition, breach of contract and wage and hour issues. Singh also handles business litigation and business torts cases. Singh believes in an aggressive, yet pragmatic approach to litigation to protect his clients’ interests and achieve the most practicable solutions to various problems his clients may face. In addition to litigation, Singh also advises clients on a variety of matters such as compliance with employment and labor law, business corporation, business reorganization, and general advice on copyright and trademark matters and various business needs. Singh is fluent in Punjabi and conversational Hindi.

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  Holly C. F. Soliman

  Attorney

  Holly Soliman provides litigation and advisory services to California employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. She has experience litigating claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and breach of contract issues. Soliman received her Juris Doctor from Chapman University, Fowler School of Law, where she graduated with an emphasis in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. Soliman’s experience includes defending and protecting municipalities, small and large businesses, and individuals in labor and employment matters.

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  Samantha Tanner McKay

  Attorney

  Samantha Tanner McKay is an Associate in CDF’s Sacramento office. McKay defends employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination, as well as wage and hour claims, including complex class action and PAGA litigation. She also defends employers against administrative claims filed with the California Civil Rights Department, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mckay also provides proactive advice and counsel to California employers in all aspects of employment law, including the review and drafting of compliant workplace policies and employment handbooks, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, employee termination and discipline, and the interactive process and reasonable accommodations to reduce the risk of potential litigation.

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  Sander van der Heide

  Partner

  Sander van der Heide represents employers of all sizes in a broad range of employment law matters, including wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other labor and employment-related claims. In particular, he focuses on complex, high-stakes wage and hour and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation. As an experienced trial counsel, he has successfully represented clients through trial and appeals. His trial experience informs his practical, pragmatic, and strategic counsel to clients. He has represented employers before the state and federal courts in California, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Department of Labor, the United States Equal Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. In addition to litigation, van der Heide also provides preventative advice and counsel on best employment practices. He counsels clients on employment policies, procedures, and practices to mitigate litigation risk and ensure compliance with ever-changing California employment laws.

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  Taylor L. Wendland

  Attorney

  Taylor L. Wendland is an attorney in our San Diego office. She represents employers across many industries in cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, COVID-19 compliance, wage and hour, PAGA, and class actions. Wendland has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution and has represented employers in state and federal court. She is also a member of CDF’s Editorial Board. Wendland received her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law. While in law school, she held positions in the Student Bar Association, Employment and Labor Law Society, and Business Law Society. Wendland previously clerked for a California defense litigation firm and interned for the San Diego Department of Child Support Services. Prior to attending law school, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University San Marcos, where she graduated cum laude.

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