Katherine provides thoughtful advice on a wide range of wage and hour issues governed by California and federal law, including:

• Overtime and minimum wage rules
• Commission disputes
• Exemption tests
• Employee vs independent contractor classification
• Meal breaks and rest periods
• Alternative work schedules
• Wage records and notices
• Sick leave, vacation, and PTO policies

Katherine represents clients in state and federal courts in wage and hour litigation as well as before administrative agencies, such as the Department of Labor and California Labor Commissioner’s Office. She has successfully litigated several wage and hour class actions, including lawsuits involving California Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) claims and allegations of misclassification, non-payment of overtime, and meal/rest break violations.

Katherine counsels clients concerning federal and state equal opportunity laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Title VII, the American Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).

She has specific expertise in helping clients respond to employee requests for medical or family leave and identify reasonable accommodations, if any, for employees with disabilities.  She also assists employers as they engage in the interactive process.

Katherine represents clients in state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies (such as the EEOC and DFEH), concerning claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.  She has had tremendous success in resolving matters at the administrative level before they transition to lawsuits. She also has managed third party investigations of sexual harassment claims and helped clients resolve claims as they arise, without any litigation.

Katherine counsels clients with respect to the enforceability of non-solicitation and non-compete agreements, particularly out-of-state agreements signed by executives seeking to work in California. She advises businesses on protecting their trade secrets and confidential information. She has successfully litigated claims of misappropriation or unfair competition by negotiating reasonable settlements that minimize alleged theft of trade secrets and confidential information.

Katherine assists businesses as they make important decisions concerning hiring, firing, and managing the performance of employees, particularly those within protected classes. She understands that the success of a business depends on a productive, cohesive workforce. She appreciates the costs of litigation and potential liabilities associated with certain employment decisions. Her advice to clients balances such competing factors, and she works closely with her clients to come up with solutions that best fit their needs and circumstances. She is adept at crafting performance improvement plans and preparing severance agreements that minimize litigation risks.

Katherine also has advised clients on whether they are covered by the Federal or California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) and helps them implement reductions-in-force in compliance with WARN requirements.

Katherine’s practice includes helping clients create and update employment policies, handbooks, and mandated notices. She also offers in-person training to employees and supervisors concerning the prevention of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation. She also provides training to human resources personnel and supervisors concerning leave laws.

Katherine conducts neutral and prompt workplace investigation in response to complaints of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace misconduct or violations. In addition to having practiced many years of employment law, Katherine has received intensive training through the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI). She combines such experience and training with her ability to connect with diverse backgrounds and establish trust and credibility while conducting thorough and impartial investigations.