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Overview

Michelle La Mar is the Global Chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor Department leading a diverse group of employment lawyers in the firm’s seven offices around the world. Known for her creative litigation strategies, Michelle’s clients have enjoyed landmark victories such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.’s “bet the company” jury verdict over a class of 1,000 tech workers who claimed that the Indian conglomerate engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination. The victory 
followed securing the denial of a 250,000-person hiring class in favor of Tata in the same matter.  

Loeb & Loeb LLP snagged this week's top spot on the legal lions list with a verdict clearing client Tata of a discrimination class action… Law360

Michelle litigates class actions, single plaintiff cases, representative actions (such as PAGA) and collective actions in state and federal courts, as well as before arbitrators and administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Civil Rights Department (formerly known as the DFEH), the Federal Department of Labor and California’s Labor Commissioner.

With a reputation for understanding client concerns and needs, Michelle utilizes her litigation knowledge to fashion internal workplace strategies, policies and procedures that meet client goals and sidestep litigation. Michelle regularly helps numerous domestic and international companies navigate the complex and often confusing rules and regulations faced by employers in the United States. She is keenly attuned to the additional struggles faced by international companies deploying or acquiring workforces in the U.S. She routinely counsels clients on such issues as discipline, terminations, right sizings (including under the WARN Act), pay equality and transparency, wage and hour compliance, investigations, mandatory leaves of absence, as well as the enforceable protection of trade secrets and confidential information. 

In addition, Michelle is an active participant in the employment side of corporate deal making such as identifying and resolving employment related issues arising out of due diligence efforts. She drafts and negotiates employment agreements along with evaluating non-compete agreements and their related strategies.  

  • Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Center, Annual International Conference on Arbitration Matters
    Speaker
  • Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Center, Annual International Conference on Arbitration Matters
    Speaker
  • Love on the Job: Seven Steps for Recognizing and Effectively Managing Workplace Romance Issues, Business & Legal Reports
    Primary Speaker
  • The Administrative Exemption in California, How to Avoid Overtime Misclassification Mistakes, Employer’s Resource Institute
    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
    Primary Speaker
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Education

  • Loyola Law School, J.D.,

    Staff Writer, International and Comparative Law Journal

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

Court Admissions

  • 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
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Bar Admissions

  • California

Recognition

  • Named an "Employment and Discrimination Law Trailblazer" by The National Law Journal (2023)
  • Named among "Top Labor & Employment Lawyers" in California by the Daily Journal (2023)
  • Named among "Top 100 Lawyers" by the Los Angeles Business Journal (2023)
  • Named in The Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers of America for “Labor & Employment, esp. Litigation” (2020-2024)
  • Named "Southern California Super Lawyer" in Employment & Labor by Thomson Reuters (2007, 2013-2023)
  • Named in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition for "Employment" (2008)
  • PILAP grant for work in the public interest sector