10100 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 2200
Los Angeles,
California
90067
 310.282.2133
 310.919.3853
|
Michelle
La Mar
Partner
and
Chair, Employment and Labor Department
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.
Published Cases
- 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)
Publications/Speeches
Media Mentions
-
California Court Upholds Arbitration Agreement
By Adele Nicholas, Inside Counsel
-
On the Move
By Alexa Hyland, Los Angeles Daily Journal
Distinctions
- Named "Southern California Super Lawyer" in Employment & Labor by Law & Politics in Los Angeles magazine (2007)
- 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 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
|