10100 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90067

310.282.2133

310.919.3853

Michelle La Mar
Partner and Chair, Employment and Labor

Michelle La Mar’s practice encompasses all aspects of employment law with a special emphasis being placed on the strategic development of practical, preventative measures in light of a client’s goals and objectives. She routinely advises employers with respect to wage and hour compliance, right sizings (including the WARN act), terminations, discrimination and harassment issues and investigations, mandated leaves of absence, employee privacy rights, background checks, social networking, blogging, the protection of trade secrets and confidential information, disability accommodations and unfair competition issues. Her practice also includes the drafting and updating of handbooks, policy manuals, codes of conduct and severance packages.

Ms. La Mar is very familiar with the struggles of international corporations deploying workforces to the U.S. and adjusting their operations to comply with state and federal laws. She is also knowledgeable in the use of international treaties to protect such organizations from legal claims.

Ms. La Mar provides assistance with corporate related employment issues such as those arising out of mergers and acquisitions, executive employment agreements, restructurings, closures, corporate takeovers and the availability and enforceability of non-compete covenants.

Her litigation experience is similarly broad and includes jury and bench trials, as well as appellate work in the state and federal court systems. Ms. La Mar has been engaged to defend numerous “class actions” including those involving wage and hour issues, discrimination claims and outsourcing matters on both a state and nationwide level. Ms. La Mar also advocates in the administrative arena including handling proceedings before the Department of Labor, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Fair Employment and Housing Commission.

Representative Experience

Holding arbitration clause in employment application was valid and binding, thereby requiring employee to arbitrate claims. Gabriela Roman v. Sup. Ct. (Flo-Kem, Inc.), 172 Cal. App. 4th 1462 (cert. denied) (2009)
Reversing Industrial Welfare Commission’s ruling on California WARN exemption thus excusing employer from advance notice requirements. Determination re Request for Exemption Under Cal-WARN Act - Telscape Communications, Inc. (July 27, 2010)
Successfully defeated class certification with respect to overtime and meal and rest claims brought by California employees of multinational temporary housing company.

Publications/Speeches

Speaker, Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Center, Annual International Conference on Arbitration Matters (March 2012)
Speaker, Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Center, Annual International Conference on Arbitration Matters (March 2011)
Article Author, Leading Lawyers Series, Inside the Minds: Labor & Employment Client Strategies (2008)
Primary Speaker, The Administrative Exemption in California, How to Avoid Overtime Misclassification Mistakes, Employer’s Resource Institute (January 2008)
Primary Speaker, Love on the Job: Seven Steps for Recognizing and Effectively Managing Workplace Romance Issues, Business & Legal Reports (February 2008)
Primary Speaker, Sexual Harassment: How the New Regs Implementing A.B. 1825 Affect Your Mandatory Training Obligations; Be Sure You're Still in Compliance, Employer’s Resource Institute (September 2007)
Primary Speaker, New 2007 H.R. Laws & Regulations in California: What You Need to Know to Comply With These New State Rules, Employer’s Resource Institute (January 2007)
Speaker, What's New for 2007: New Laws Affecting California Employers; Are You Up to Speed? (January 30, 2007)

Media Mentions

Arbitration of Employment Disputes – Shifting Sands and Changing Winds By Casey Christensen, Contra Costa Lawyer
"I Agree" Doesn't Make Arbitration Agreement Unenforceable By Steve Mehta, Mediation Matters
California Court Upholds Arbitration Agreement By Adele Nicholas, Inside Counsel
When are Arbitration Agreements Enforceable?: When in “Roman” By Jennifer Brown Shaw and Shane Anderies, The Daily Recorder
Employment - The Annual List, Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition
On the Move By Alexa Hyland, Los Angeles Daily Journal

Distinctions

Named in "Southern California Super Lawyers" in Employment & Labor, a Thomson Reuters business (2007 and 2013)
PILAP grant for work in the public interest sector

Loyola Law School, J.D., 1992,

Staff Writer, International and Comparative Law Journal

University of California at Los Angeles, B.A., 1988, cum laude

California, 1992

California State Courts
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

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