Best Lawyers in California, United States for Labor and Employment Law - Management
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Cities
Chris Hoffman is the founding and managing partner of the San Diego office. He has represented hundreds of employers in matters ranging from class action litigation, to traditional labor matters and general employment advice. While litigation remains a significant portion of his practice, Chris also spends a significant amount of time counseling clients regarding day-to-day employment issues and assisting them to find practical and proactive solutions to their legal problems. Chris was select...
Benjamin M. Ebbink is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Benjamin M., who practices law in Sacramento, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lisa Barnett Sween is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Lisa Barnett, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lisa Barnett is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michele Ballard Miller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Michele Ballard, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michele Ballard is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Shannon Bettis Nakabayashi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Shannon Bettis, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shannon Bettis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Elena Baca is the Global Chair of the Paul Hastings Employment Law Department and leads a diverse group of more than 80 lawyers in 10 offices around the world. Ms. Baca is a first-chair litigator who regularly navigates high-stakes litigation, conducts sensitive investigations and advises C-suite executives and corporate boards on compliance and regulatory issues involving human capital. In her role as practice Chair, Paul Hastings’ Employment Department has anticipated and led the resp...
David Durham concentrates his practice on representation and advice to businesses in all matters involving labor unions. He works in many sectors, including technology, real estate, retail, higher education, construction, marine terminal operations, rideshare, health care, alcoholic beverage producers, food service, hotel, newspapers, radio, television and live entertainment. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/durham-david/
Leigh Ann White is a Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment, and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. In her two decades of defending and advising employers, 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 f...
Ron Holland represents employers in state and federal court litigation, including wage and hour class actions, whistleblowing, wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, breach of contract, and other complex labor and employment matters. He has experience defending employers in proceedings before governmental agencies, such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the California Labor Commi...
Carolyn G. Burnette is office managing principal of the Sacramento, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. In addition to more than 20 years of litigation experience, Carolyn also brings to the firm a significant workplace investigation background. Her litigation and investigation cases have involved a spectrum of high-level employment law issues, including conduct alleged against executives, elected officials, attorneys and other senior personnel. Carolyn also has a robust advice and couns...
Christopher W. Olmsted is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Christopher W., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rebecca M. Aragon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Rebecca M., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rebecca M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Louise Ann “Luzann” Fernandez is co-chair of the Labor and Employment practice group, with more than 30 years of experience. Luzann is a fierce litigator who is hired by corporations, hospitals, and celebrities for high profile and exposure cases. Luzann does not back down from challenges facing her clients and comes up with out of the box and novel theories. Luzann is also active as an independent investigator. Using her litigation experience, Luzann investigates claims of discri...
Keith Jacoby represents employers in all types of employment litigation, acting as trial counsel and obtaining defense verdicts in both class action and single defendant cases. He has prosecuted and defended theft of trade secret claims in state and federal court and has extensive experience representing employers and insurers in welfare benefit matters governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Among his notable successes, Keith obtained defense verdicts in a whistleblower/frau...
Maria C. Rodriguez advises US and international corporations with regard to employment law compliance and mergers and acquisitions; and defends employment cases and class action litigation. She is a trusted advisor to clients helping them avoid or resolve disputes and protect resources through proactive and strategic planning. She is experienced working with clients in the sports, media and entertainment, technology, food and restaurant, airline, transportation and distribution, health care a...
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.