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Firm News

Partners Chaya Mandelbaum and Michelle Lee to Present at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Annual Labor and Employment Conference
February 2024
REZL Partners Chaya Mandelbaum and Michelle Lee will present at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Annual Labor and Employment Conference in Yosemite Valley on February 9 and 10, 2024. Registration and further information are available here.

Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe Gala Honors Founding Partners
November 2023
REZL Law hosted a gala in the Julia Morgan ballroom on November 3, 2023, to honor founding partners Mark Rudy, Alan Exelrod, and Steve Zieff. The event, attended by California’s legal and business leaders, celebrated the trio’s significant contributions to the field of employment law over the past three decades. The evening featured live music and a red carpet, with Managing Partner David Lowe acknowledging the honorees’ impactful legacies. Read more about the event here

Firm Partner Erin Pulaski Publishes Article on California’s Pay Transparency Protections
September 2023
The article, published in PLI Chronicle, Insights and Perspectives for the Legal Community (July 2023), details employees’ rights under California’s new pay transparency law, Senate Bill 1162. Read the article here
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Partner Michelle Lee to Present at the Practising Law Institute Conference
September 2023
REZL Partner Michelle Lee is Co-Chair of Practising Law Institute’s conference, Cutting-Edge Employment Law Issues 2023: The California Difference. The conference will be held on September 12, 2023. Registration and further information available here. Michelle will also present on a panel titled “Year-In-Review: a summary of important United States and California Supreme Court and federal and state appellate case law developments.”

All REZL Partners and Steve Zieff Name in LawDragon’s Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Attorneys for 2023
August 2023
All five of the firm’s partners—David Lowe, John Mullan, Chaya Mandelbaum, Michelle Lee and Erin Pulaski—have been selected by LawDragon as Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers, along with Of Counsel Steve Zieff. Read more details here.

Mark Rudy, Steve Zieff, David Lowe, John Mullan, and Michelle Lee Selected to the 2023 Northern California “Super Lawyers” List
June 2023
In recognition of the firm’s outstanding work, attorneys Mark Rudy, Steve Zieff, David Lowe, John Mullan, and Michelle Lee have been named as 2023 Northern California “Super Lawyers” for Employment Law. This honor is reserved for the top five percent of attorneys in the state. Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Erin Pulaski, Meghan Loisel, and Zoë DeGeer Selected to the 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” List
June 2023
Erin Pulaski, Meghan Loisel, and Zoë DeGeer have been named as 2023 Northern California “Super Lawyer Rising Stars” for Employment Law. This is Erin’s ninth consecutive year, Meghan’s second year, and Zoë’s fourth year receiving this award.

Partner Michelle Lee Speaks at the National Employment Lawyers Association’s Annual Convention
June 2023
REZL Partner, Michelle Lee, will speak at the National Employment Association’s Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Michelle will present on a panel titled “Rights of the Remote Worker.” The panel will address issues of jurisdiction, surveillance, wage and hour considerations, and causes of actions to pursue on behalf of employees working remotely.

Partner Michelle Lee Speaks at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference
February 2023
REZL Partner, Michelle Lee, spoke at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference. Michelle was featured in a panel titled “What’s New and On the Horizon: Legal Developments in 2022 and Beyond”. The panel addressed 2022 legal developments, case developments, and the panelists’ employment law forecasts for 2023 and beyond.

Partner David Lowe Participates in Silicon Valley Leadership Conference’s Fireside Chat
January 2023
REZL Partner, David Lowe, was invited to participate in a fireside chat for the Silicon Valley’s Leadership Conference’s “Workers and the Corporate Values Revolution” session. This prestigious event provided an important stage to discuss gender bias in corporate culture. David and KQED’s Rachael Myrow discussed the evolution of discrimination in tech companies, why it persists, and how corporations are responding. Check out this recap to learn more.

REZL Welcomes New Associate Attorney
December 2022
Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe welcomes Jessica Spierer to the team as an Associate Attorney. Jessica earned her law degree from the University of California Berkeley Law with a Public Interest and Social Justice Certificate. There, she co-founded the first Plaintiffs’ Law Association and edited both the California Law Review and Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law. Prior to joining our firm, Jessica served as a law clerk at other plaintiff-side employment firms and as a member of Legal Aid’s Gender Equity and LGBTQ Rights group. Learn more about Jessica here.

David Lowe interviewed by Fast Company about a New Era of Harassment
November 2022
David Lowe spoke with Fast Company on the evolution of harassment in an increasingly virtual workplace. Electronic “coded language,” including emojis, can perpetuate discrimination and harassment, and may require more organizational skills to identify and stop.” Read more about the nuances of online communications and harassment here.

Erin Pulaski Co-Edits California Employment Law Treatise with Practising Law Institute
October 2022
Partner Erin Pulaski co-edited California Employment Law, a new treatise for PLI. The comprehensive, fourteen-chapter treatise features thirty contributors and will be a seminal resource for both attorneys and compliance and human resource professionals. REZL’s Zoë DeGeer co-wrote a chapter on gender discrimination with Pulaski. Partner Michelle Lee and Senior Litigation Counsel Meghan Loisel also co-authored a chapter on race, national origin, and religious discrimination.
Read more about the treatise here. 

REZL Partners Serve as Presenters at Practicing Law Institute’s “Cutting-Edge Employment Law Issues 2022: The California Difference” Program
September 2022
Partners Erin Pulaski and Michelle Lee gave presentations at Practicing Law Institute’s “Cutting-Edge Employment Law Issues 2022: The California Difference” Program. The program addressed issues and key developments in employment law, including a retrospective of the employment law landscape since #MeToo, wage-and-hour law developments, COVID-19 litigation trends and return to office considerations, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal practice. Erin Pulaski, who served as a co-chair of the program, presented on the Year in Review/Hot Topics panel covering important case law and new statutory and regulatory developments. Michelle Lee presented on COVID-19 litigation trends and return to office considerations from an employment law perspective. Visit here to learn more about the program.  
 

Michelle Lee Appointed to Elite Group of California Judges and Lawyers
August 2022
The Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court has selected REZL partner Michelle Lee to join a group of elite judges and trial lawyers to serve on the Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions. This select group writes the Judicial Council of California Jury Instructions. Learn more about the Advisory Committee here.

All REZL Partners, Alan Exelrod, and Steve Zieff Named in LawDragon’s Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Attorneys for 2022
June 2022
All five of the firm’s partners—David Lowe, John Mullan, Chaya Mandelbaum, Michelle Lee and Erin Pulaski—have been selected by LawDragon as Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers, along with retired partner Alan Exelrod and Of Counsel Steve Zieff. Read more details here.

Firm Partner David Lowe Profiled by Fortune
February 2022
Fortune profiled REZL partner David Lowe in an article titled “How David Lowe took on Pinterest, Tesla and Rivian to become Silicon Valley’s go-to lawyer”. The comprehensive piece illustrates Lowe’s fierce advocacy for clients ranging from C-level executives to those on the assembly line and highlights the system-altering work Lowe has done in shifting the way gender discrimination and workplace harassment cases are handled. Check out the piece here.

Erin Pulaski Publishes Article on New Employment Laws in 2022
January 2022
The article discusses California’s new employment laws effective as of January 1, 2022. It was published in the PLI Chronicle: Insights and Perspectives for the Legal Communityhttps://plus.pli.edu. Read the article here.

The Daily Journal Names Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe as a Top Boutique

November 2021
Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe has been recognized by the Daily Journal in its 2021 list of Top Boutique law firms in California, which features only 20 specialty firms. The annual exclusive supplement to Daily Journal’s Los Angeles and San Francisco publications, “Top Boutiques” lists the firm as a leading firm for Plaintiff-side employment litigation. Read more details here.

All REZL Partners, Alan Exelrod, and Steve Zieff Named in LawDragon’s Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Attorneys for 2021
September 2021
All five of the firm’s partners—David Lowe, John Mullan, Chaya Mandelbaum, Michelle Lee and Erin Pulaski—and both of its Of Counsel attorneys—Alan Exelrod and Steve Zieff—have been selected by LawDragon as Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Attorneys for 2021. Read more details here.

The Daily Journal Recognizes Erin Pulaski Among its Top 40 Under 40 Attorneys for 2021 
July 2021
The Daily Journal has named Erin Pulaski as one of California’s Top 40 Under 40 attorneys for 2021. This list celebrates the achievements of California’s most accomplished attorneys under the age of 40. Read more details here.

Erin Pulaski and Zoë DeGeer selected to the 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” List
July 2021
Erin Pulaski and Zoë DeGeer have been selected to Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” for Employment Law, a distinction given to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state. This is Erin’s sixth consecutive year and Zoë’s second year receiving this award.

Mark Rudy, Alan Exelrod, Steve Zieff, David Lowe, John Mullan, and Michelle Lee selected to the 2021 Northern California “Super Lawyers” List
July 2021
In recognition of the firm’s outstanding work, attorneys Mark Rudy, Alan Exelrod, Steve Zieff, David Lowe, John Mullan, and Michelle Lee have been named as 2021 Northern California “Super Lawyers” for Employment Law. This honor is reserved for the top five percent of attorneys in the state. Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

 
John Mullan Named to the Daily Journal’s Leading Labor & Employment Lawyers List
June 2021
John Mullan has been recognized by the Daily Journal in its annual Leading Labor & Employment Lawyers in California. Read more details here.

Michelle Lee and Meghan Loisel Publish Article on Recovering Lost Equity For Terminated Employees

June 2021
The article addresses ways in which an employee can recover lost unvested equity, such as stock or RSUs, in a wrongful termination case. The article also discusses common issues to recovery, including valuing equity in private companies. Read the article here.

David Lowe Interviewed by Forbes Regarding $22.5 Million Settlement in Gender Bias Case

December 2020
Forbes Magazine interviewed partner David Lowe regarding the historic settlement achieved in the gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by our client, former Pinterest Chief Operating Officer Francoise Brougher. A link to the article can be found here.

Events with REZL Thought Leaders in Fall 2020

Chaya Mandelbaum will speak on a panel entitled “A Conversation About Equal Pay” along with other national thought leaders for a conversation about gender pay equity.  The panel is organized by the Association of MIT Alumnae.  Date: September 22, 2020. Click here for more info.
Erin Pulaski will Co-Chair and John Mullan will present at The Practising Law Institute’s Annual Employment Law Conference, “Cutting-Edge Employment Law Issues 2020: The California Difference.” Erin will present on notable employment law cases in 2020 and John will present on developments in wage and hour and class action law.  Date: September 23, 2020.  Click here for more info.
David Lowe will speak at the Alameda County Bar Association Employment Law Symposium on a panel entitled “Video Arbitrations and Trials Considerations in COVID-19.”  In this panel, David will discuss all aspects of his recent video arbitration.  Date: September 25, 2020. Click here for more info.
Michelle Lee will present as faculty at the Pincus Superior Court Boot Camp.  Michelle will discuss trial skills, including witness exams, evidentiary issues, and preserving the record for appeal, along with other topics.  Date:  October 20 and 22, 2020. Click here for more info.
David Lowe will speak at the American Bar Association Labor & Employment Conference on a panel entitled “Practicing Law Remotely within Ethical Boundaries during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”  Date:  November 13, 2020. Click here for more info.

David Lowe Interviewed on Sirius XM About Racial Equity in Employment
August 2020

Sirius XM Urban View host Torin Ellis interviewed Partner David Lowe regarding racial equity, intersectionality, and workplace discrimination on the “Career Mix” show. Listen here, here, and here.

David Lowe Interviewed by National Media Regarding Brougher v. Pinterest Gender Discrimination Case
August 2020
The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other national media interviewed Partner David Lowe regarding the gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by our client, former Pinterest Chief Operating Officer Francoise Brougher.

Erin Pulaski to Co-Chair and John Mullan to Present at The Practising Law Institute’s Annual Employment Law Conference

August 2020

On September 23, 2020, Erin Pulaski will Co-Chair the Practising Law Institute’s Annual Employment Law Conference, Cutting-Edge Employment Law Issues 2020: The California Difference. John Mullan will present on developments in wage and hour and class action law. The Practising Law Institute is considered one of California’s premier employment law Continuing Legal Education providers.

Erin Pulaski to Present on Employment Discrimination Law for the California Lawyers Association
August 2020

On November 17, 2020, Erin Pulaski will present on employment law issues in discrimination cases via a webinar through the California Lawyers Association.

ABA Journal Publishes David Lowe Article Regarding Preparing for a Federal Court Trial by Zoom

July 2020

The American Bar Association Journal published an article by Partner David Lowe, describing the unique experience of preparing for a COVID-era federal court trial to be presented entirely by videoconference. Read the article here.

Erin Pulaski and Zoë DeGeer Named as 2020 Super Lawyers “Rising Stars”
July 2020

Erin Pulaski and Zoë DeGeer were recognized as Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” for Employment Law (a distinction given to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state).  This is Erin’s fifth consecutive year and Zoë’s first year receiving this award.  

Mark Rudy, Alan Exelrod, Steve Zieff, David Lowe, John Mullan, and Michelle Lee Named as 2020 Northern California “Super Lawyers”

July 2020
In recognition of the firm’s outstanding work, four of its attorneys — Alan Exelrod, David Lowe, John Mullan, and Michelle Lee — have been named as 2020 Northern California “Super Lawyers” for Employment Law.  Additionally, Steve Zieff has been named as a 2020 “Super Lawyer” for Class Action and Mass Torts and Mark Rudy has been named as a 2020 “Super Lawyer” for Alternative Dispute Resolution. This honor is reserved for the top five percent of attorneys in a given practice area. Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.In addition, David Lowe was voted as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California.”

David Lowe Presents to the San Mateo County Bar Association Regarding Using Technology to Litigate Cases During COVID-19
May 2020
Partner David Lowe spoke to the San Mateo County Labor & Employment Section about using Zoom and other technology to mediate and litigate cases remotely.

David Lowe Presents on Coronavirus-related Employment Issues

May 2020
In May 2020, David Lowe moderated a panel discussion on employment issues related to returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The program, titled Returning to Work in the COVID-19 Era Part 1: Health and Safety Issues Raised By The Remote Workplace & The Return to Work, is available for CLE credit on the Bar Association of San Francisco’s website.

 
John Mullan Presents on Coronavirus-related Employment Issues

April 2020
In April 2020, John Mullan presented on employment law issues for employers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The program, titled Employment in the Time of Coronavirus: Addressing Key Employment Law Questions for Employers and Workers During—and After—Shelter-In-Place, is available for CLE credit on the Bar Association of San Francisco’s website.

Erin Pulaski Tapped To Speak on Evidentiary Issues in Discrimination Litigation.
April 2020
On April 24, 2020, Erin Pulaski served on a panel to discuss Evidentiary Issues in Discrimination Litigation at the Annual Meeting of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the California Lawyers Association.

Chaya Mandelbaum Invited To Speak At California Lawyers Association Employment Law 101 Conference and Bar Association of San Francisco Labor and Employment Section Conference.
February 2020
In February 2020, Chaya Mandelbaum presented on employment law issues at two different conferences: the California Lawyers Association’s Employment 101 Conference, and the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Labor and Employment Section Conference.

David Lowe speaks at Bar Association of San Francisco Yosemite Conference Regarding “#MeToo” Cases
January 2020
Partner David Lowe moderated a panel discussion about litigating and resolving sexual harassment and #MeToo cases. The panel at the annual Bar Association of San Francisco Labor & Employment Section conference in Yosemite featured lawyers for employees and employers, as well as Rowena Chiu, who broke her NDA and published a New York Times OpEd about being sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein.

David Lowe Included in “Best Lawyers In America” for Litigation- Labor and Employment, and for Employment Law- Individuals
January 2020

All REZL Partners Named in LawDragon’s Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Attorneys For 2019
January 2020
In recognition of the firm’s outstanding work, all five of its partners—David Lowe, John Mullan, Chaya Mandelbaum, Michelle Lee and Erin Pulaski—have been selected by LawDragon as Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Attorneys for 2019. Each year, LawDragon performs a national search and selects lawyers for its annual Plaintiff Employment 500 through submissions, extensive evaluation, and journalistic vetting.

REZL Ranked Among California’s Top Law Firms By U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers 
2020
Our law firm has been named to the 2020 “Best Law Firms” list published by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The firm earned Tier 1 marks in Employment Law – Individual and Labor & Employment Litigation. Firms included in the 2020 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Alan Exelrod, Steve Zieff, David Lowe and John Mullan Named as 2019 Northern California “Super Lawyers”
July 2019
In recognition of the firm’s outstanding work four of its attorneys — Alan Exelrod, Steve Zieff, David Lowe and John Mullan — have been named as 2019 Northern California “Super Lawyers” for Employment Law. This honor is reserved for the top five percent of attorneys in a given practice area. Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Michelle Lee and Erin Pulaski Named Top Women Attorneys and Super Lawyers “Rising Stars”
July 2019
Michelle Lee and Erin Pulaski were named Top Women Attorneys in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine and were recognized as Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” (a distinction given to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state). This is Michelle’s second and Erin’s fourth consecutive year receiving this award.

David Lowe and Erin Pulaski Co-Author Daily Journal Article on The Pay Equity Suit Brought By U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.
July 2019
David Lowe and Erin Pulaski co-authored an article in the Daily Journal discussing the pay equity lawsuit brought by the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. The article, entitled “Mediation is a good play in U.S. women’s soccer pay equity suit,” was published on July 3, 2019.

Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe LLP Announce New Partners
The firm is delighted to announce that Erin M. Pulaski and Michelle G. Lee have been promoted to partnership.

John Mullan Interviewed About Equal Pay Class Actions by Super Lawyers and USA Today
November 2017
John Mullan commented on the changing climate for equal pay class actions and gender discrimination lawsuits, including a class action Mullan and others brought against Oracle on behalf of three female employees: Rong Jewett, Sophy Wang and Xian Murray. Read the articles at: https://www.superlawyers.com/california-northern/article/mind-the-gender-pay-gap/9e302d43-af13-4c3e-b665-f4189bbe9d72.html and https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/09/29/oracle-yet-another-tech-firm-hit-suit-allegedly-paying-women-less-than-men/718471001/

Good Morning America Interviews David Lowe About Accusations of Sexual Harassment Against Harvey Weinstein
October 2017
David Lowe appeared on Good Morning America to comment on non-disclosure agreements in the Harvey Weinstein and Bill O’Reilly sexual-harassment cases: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/weinstein-oreilly-sexual-misconduct-scandals-grow-50676677

REZL Once Again Ranked Among California’s Top Law Firms By U.S. News & World Report
January 2017
REZL is pleased to announce that the firm has been named to the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list published by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The firm earned Tier 1 marks in Employment Law – Individual, Labor & Employment Litigation, and Mediation. Firms included in the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Chaya Mandelbaum and John Mullan Co-Author The Recorder’s “California Business Litigation 2017” (Employment Law Chapter)
January 2017
Adding to a long list of publications by REZL attorneys, Chaya Mandelbaum and John Mullan were selected to co-author the Employment Law chapter of The Recorder’s “California Business Litigation 2017” book. The Recorder is one of the leading legal news and analysis outlets for tech-focused legal professionals in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Michelle Lee Publishes Article on California’s Private Attorneys General Act in ABA’s Flash Journal.

December 2016
Michelle Lee authored “New Developments in PAGA Enforcement and Settlements,” published in the American Bar Association’s Flash Journal.
 

Chaya Mandelbaum Interviewed by CNBC Regarding Age Discrimination in Silicon Valley
July 2016
REZL’s attorneys are routinely sought out to comment in the media regarding issues impacting California employees. Chaya Mandelbaum appeared on CNBC Live to discuss age discrimination in tech: https://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000532818.

Chaya Mandelbaum Joins KALW 91.7 FM’s “Your Legal Rights” Radio Program To Discuss Paid Sick Leave
September 2015
Chaya Mandelbaum appeared on KALW’s “Your Legal Rights” program to discuss California’s new paid sick leave laws. Listen to the broadcast here: https://kalw.org/post/employment-law-new-paid-sick-leave-law-issues#stream/0.

Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe Named Among “Best Law Firms” in America
November 2015
Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe is pleased to announce that it has been ranked as an elite “National Tier 1” law firm in the 2016 List of Best Law Firms published by U.S. News & World Report. Firms included in the 2016 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. These rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys in their field, and a review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submissions process.

David Lowe Selected as 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” for Employment Law
August 2015
David Lowe has been selected by Best Lawyers in America as the 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” for Employment Law in San Francisco. Only a single attorney in each practice area in the community is honored with this prestigious distinction.

Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe Recognized With Corporate LiveWire Global Award for International Labour & Employment Law
January 2015
The firm is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the 2015 Corporate LiveWire Global Award for International Labour & Employment Law in San Francisco. The Global Awards celebrate firms, individuals and businesses who have demonstrated excellence in the world of corporate finance, honoring those who stand out as “consistently showing best practice in every aspect of their work.”

Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe Announces New Partners John Mullan and Chaya Mandelbaum
January 2014
In January 2014, the firm announced its first new partners in seven years, with the promotion of John T. Mullan and Chaya M. Mandelbaum. Mr. Mullan has 10 years-experience with the firm, while Mr. Mandelbaum joins from class action boutique Sanford Heisler and the Department of Labor. Mr. Mandelbaum serves as Chair of the California Fair Employment and Housing Council, a position he was appointed to by California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

David Lowe and John Mullan Publish “Library of California Employment Law Forms”

November 2012
In November 2012, David A. Lowe and John T. Mullan of Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, LLP, published “Library of California Employment Law Forms” (The Recorder, 2012). The publication offers 650 pages of sample documents for practitioners of employment law. It includes everything a lawyer needs throughout the litigation process, including demand letters, complaints, discovery requests, as well as the documents necessary for trial and appeal.

David Lowe Receives Prestigious “California Lawyer Attorney of the Year” Award
March 2009
David Lowe and co-counsel Laura Ho received California Lawyer magazine’s “Attorney of the Year” (CLAY) award for their “extraordinary achievement” in employment law based upon their work in Chau v. Starbucks Corp., No. GIC 836925 (San Diego Superior Court). Mr. Lowe and Ms. Ho won a $105 million judgment against coffee mega-chain Starbucks, along with an injunction mandating changed employment practices, on behalf of baristas whose tips were pooled with supervisors’ compensation in violation of state law.

The pair went to trial in San Diego after A. Eric Aguilera of Bohm, Matsen, Kegel & Aguilera in Costa Mesa and Coronado solo practitioner Terry J. Chapko certified a class consisting of 125,000 current and former employees who worked as baristas in California since October 2000. The trial court found that Starbucks violated California Labor Code section 351, which prohibits an employer and its agents from collecting any part of gratuity left for an employee by a patron.

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