Best Lawyers Near You in Lake Forest, California for Employment Law - Management
Brent Giddens 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. A labor and employment attorney experienced in litigation, strategic and operational issues, Giddens helps California employers advance their business goals, representing clients in all facets of the employer/employee relationship. He has extensive background and experience in defending class actions, as well as individual actio...
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...
Marie DiSante is the Firm Managing Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. 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 28 years. Her active leadership in the business community shapes ...
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.
Vince M. Verde is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Vince M., who practices law in Costa Mesa, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vince M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.
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 ...
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’...
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 ...
Maria Stearns is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Maria, 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 Maria is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Edson K. McClellan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Edson K., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Edson K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Fermin H. Llaguno is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management. Fermin H., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Fermin H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeffrey Thurrell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Jeffrey, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lyle Chan is an associate in the firm’s Irvine office. His practice focuses on counseling and defending employers of all sizes in a variety of employment law matters including Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) actions and class actions, wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation litigation in both single-plaintiff and class action cases. In addition to his litigation practice, Lyle regularly advises clients on how to navigate the often complex laws pertaining to employ...
Marilena K. Guadagnini is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor and Employment Law - Management. Marilena K., who practices law in Newport Beach, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marilena K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kimberly A. Nayagam is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Kimberly A., 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 Kimberly A. 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.