Best Lawyers in California, United States for Litigation - Labor and Employment
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Cities
R. Brian Dixon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. R. Brian, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. Brian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Megan Cooney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Megan, 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 Megan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
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...
David M. deRubertis is an attorney with The deRubertis Law Firm APC, representing clients in Beverly Hills, California. His practice includes Employment Law – Individuals, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. David M. deRubertis has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2012 for his work in employment law and personal injury litigation. This recognition is based on a peer-review process that reflects evaluations from attorneys withi...
Founding Partner John McNicholas has more than five decades of experience representing plaintiffs in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, employment law, class actions, sexual abuse and other consumer-oriented matters. He is a recognized leader with more than 150 jury verdicts and 20 reported appellate decisions in copyright infringement, breach of contract, medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and aviation cases. Mr. McNicholas has obtained millions in verdicts and settlements. His clie...
Cynthia J. Emry is a principal in the Los Angeles, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She focuses her practice in the areas of employment litigation, benefits litigation, and litigation avoidance within the labor and employment law sector. Cynthia represents employers, including public entities, and individuals in a wide range of employment matters, including employment discrimination actions, misappropriation of trade secrets actions, and wage and hour class actions. She has significan...
Founding Partner On January 16, 2025,, Gary Gwilliam received the first ever, Legend of The Law, Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Alameda Contra Costs Trial Lawyers Association. Gary Gwilliam is considered one of the best consumer trial attorneys in the state. His reputation and skill in representing seriously injured plaintiffs is well known. He has tried over 180 jury cases, of which almost 150 were plaintiff civil personal injury cases. He has handled major cases in every area o...
Steve focuses his practice on labor and employment law and related litigation on behalf of management. He represents employers in all facets of labor and employment, particularly in the areas of labor negotiations, arbitrations, wage and hour matters, and before the National Labor Relations Board. Steve also has extensive experience in advising employers on the labor/employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the hospitality industry. He held a number of positions with th...
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.