Best Lawyers in California, United States for Labor Law - Management
Select a city from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Cities
Michael A. Gregg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Michael A., 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 Michael A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ivy Kagan Bierman’s practice includes the representation of entertainment and related companies in labor, production, distribution, technology and other business matters. She handles both transactional and litigation matters for clients. Ivy is one of a select few entertainment industry labor lawyers looked to for representation in guild and union matters by film and television production companies, digital companies and networks, cable networks, public broadcasting companies, distribut...
Jonathan A. Siegel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jonathan A., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Joel M. Van Parys is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Joel M., who practices law in Sacramento, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joel M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Anthony J. Oncidi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Anthony J., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anthony J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nancy A. Bertrando is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Nancy A., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nancy A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Cara Barrick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Cara, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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...
Charles S. Birenbaum serves as the firm’s Chair of Northern California. Chuck is an experienced labor and employment attorney who focuses his practice on traditional labor and employment law matters, and has wide-ranging experience litigating in state and federal courts as well as various administrative agencies. He has testified on proposed legislation impacting entire industries before state legislative committees, and has interfaced and negotiated with labor organizations, politician...
Constance E. Norton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Constance E., 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 Constance E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ken is a founding partner of the firm. He has dedicated his legal career to labor and employment law matters primarily involving union-management relations. He is considered one of the country’s preeminent management attorneys in the hospitality industry and has lectured throughout the country on preventive labor relations and other employment-related issues. Although Ken is a strong management advocate and a result driven negotiator, he maintains unique working relationships both with ...
Samantha Hoffman serves as firm managing principal and is also a member of the board of directors. A long-trusted advisor to her clients and the firm, Samantha believes in mentoring and supporting junior lawyers to grow into leadership positions and continue helping Jackson Lewis be a leader among law firms breaking the “glass ceiling.” Samantha has worn many administrative hats at the firm, including office managing principal of the Orange County office, where she was responsible...
Joe A. Schwachter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management. Joe A., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joe A. 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...
Lonny Zilberman has been practicing employment law for over 30 years and is a partner in the firm's Employment Law Practice Group. Lonny works with employers to find practical, cost-effective strategies to their workplace problems. Lonny is an expert storyteller. Every organization has a story to tell: the value created for customers; the contributions made to communities; the opportunities created for employees. If an employer is not telling their story well, then an adversary will tell a di...
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.