Best Lawyers Near You in Irvine, California for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Lonnie Giamela is a partner in both the Los Angeles and Irvine offices. He represents a broad range of clients, from small businesses to national companies, in all sectors of manufacturing, retail, wholesale distribution, hospitality, education and the automotive industries. Lonnie has handled a full range of labor and employment matters, from single-plaintiff to multi-plaintiff, in both federal and state courts in California, the California Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court and ...
Michael G. Balmages, Esq. is a mediator and discovery referee with decades of experience in civil litigation, corporate counsel matters, and transactional law. Based in Irvine, California, and serving through ADR Services, Inc. , Mr. Balmages works with parties and counsel to resolve complex disputes across a broad range of matters, including Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. He has participated in the resolution of more than 1,500 cases and is known for his practical approa...
Nancy Lubrano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Nancy, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nancy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John Polson is a partner in the Irvine office and a member of the firm's Management Committee. He represents employers and staffing industry clients in all aspects of labor and employment law, including transactional matters, litigation, compliance advice and audits, executive and management training, and other employment related legal matters. John handles administrative and civil employment litigation matters, including arbitrations, in California and elsewhere. John has particular expertis...
Tim Freudenberger is a Founding Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. 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, and other complex employment litigation matters. He heads CDF’...
Ryan D. Wheeler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Ryan D., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Amy Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Amy, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Hagopian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. David, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jim McDonald is managing partner of the Irvine office and a partner in the Los Angeles office. He is also the firm's marketing partner and chair of the firm's Development Committee. Jim tries employment cases before juries, judges and arbitrators. His practice especially focuses on executive terminations, workplace harassment and discrimination claims, the Americans with Disabilities Act, mental health issues in the workplace, and trade secrets and unfair competition matters. Jim also advises...
Jared L. Bryan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jared L., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jared L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jon Miller represents and counsels employers of all sizes in a range of employment and labor matters, often defending employers against lawsuits filed by former or current employees. He represents clients in the construction, retail, and technology industries before federal and state administrative agencies, including the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Department of ...
Patricia Matias is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Patricia, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patricia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christopher J. Boman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Christopher J., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bren K. Thomas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Bren K., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bren K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lindsay Ayers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Lindsay, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lindsay is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Colin P. Calvert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Colin P., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Colin P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.