Areas of Practice
Employment Litigation
Employment law in California is constantly evolving. Over the last several decades, FitzGerald & Mulé LLP has litigated cases on behalf of hundreds of clients. Our litigation team is highly trained, responsive, and skilled in handling sensitive, high-stakes matters. We have represented clients involving a variety of issues, including:
Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Wage and Hour Claims
Sexual Harassment
Whistleblower and Public Policy
Class, Collective, and Representative (PAGA) actions
Disability and Reasonable Accommodation
Pregnancy Discrimination
FMLA & CFRA Leaves
Defamation and Employment Torts
Wrongful Termination
Trade Secrets
When up-front reasonable and creative attempts to avoid courtroom litigation do not work, we are always prepared to litigate and advance our clients’ interests in state and federal courts or with administrative agencies.
Employment Law Advice & Counsel
Although it is not always feasible to dispose of a problem immediately, we endeavor to strategize with our clients – whether corporate employer or individual employee – to assess whether we can arrive at an early resolution. The list of options we consider undertaking is varied and tactical. Often, by jointly assessing the employment scenario with our client, we are able to give advice that will successfully define and resolve the problem before litigation ensues. In addition to dispute resolution, we also have extensive experience conducting confidential independent investigations.
Human Resources Consulting
Employment law and HR issues are often tied closely together. When our clients contact us with a question, the advice we give often involves legal analysis and counsel on best practices. As F&M enjoys a close relationship with many businesses in the Coachella Valley, we know that local companies may not be able to afford highly skilled, in-house HR personnel. That is where F&M’s HR program comes in.
Our in-house team of HR professionals works with our clients to help them understand best practices and provide them with ongoing support and assistance. The combination of cost-effective HR consultation and employment law counsel enables us to provide a complete package of representation to our clients.
Representation under F&M’s HR program begins with a comprehensive operational review of our clients’ policies and practices. We then develop a customized action plan for our clients and provide guidance in critical areas, such as:
Employment best practices
Hiring and termination
Compensation
Leaves of absences
Non-discrimination compliance
Health and safety
I-9 compliance
Wage and hour practices
Performance appraisals and discipline
Workplace privacy
Reasonable accommodations
Drug testing issues