Michelle Lockhart

The California Supreme Court recently granted employers relief from the harsh consequences of an employer’s failure to timely pay required arbitration fees within the 30-day deadline imposed by California Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.98. Explore the results of the California Supreme Court's decision and what it means for employers in our latest article from Thomas Petrides and Heather Domingo: https://bit.ly/48dr74r

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We’re continuing our Employment Services Practice Group video series with a new perspective from a member of our California team. In this second video, Jacob Bridges-Axelrad, an associate from our Los Angeles office, shares what he enjoys most about being part of the group as a junior attorney. He highlights the collaborative environment, strong mentorship, and the opportunity to grow within a team that is deeply engaged in supporting both its people and its clients across California.

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𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 Courtesy of Cook Brown LLP Extended medical leave is challenging for California businesses to navigate, especially when there is no clear return to work date. California and federal law state that extended leave is sometimes necessary as a reasonable accommodation, but what if an employee repeatedly requests additional time off with no end in sight? Are businesses indefinitely at the mercy of the employee’s healthcare provider’s continuous work restriction extensions? The California Court of Appeal recently addressed this issue in the unpublished opinion in Manos v. J Paul Getty Trust, reaffirming that California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) does not require employees to grant indefinite leave as an accommodation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/guZz77yM #HRConsulting

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Renne Public Law Group's Appellate Practice Group continues to secure major victories for public agencies across California. Under the leadership of Partner and Head of Appellate Practice Ryan McGinley-Stempel, the team has secured unanimous decisions from the California Supreme Court and earned international recognition for its advocacy. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gat8Twqi

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Snell & Wilmer attorneys Brent Douglas and Alexandra (Allie) W. recently penned an article addressing the legal complexities of open-ended employee leave requests under California and federal law. The article outlines key leave types, explores when medical leave may qualify as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and highlights a recent California Court of Appeal decision illustrating how courts assess indefinite leave requests. To read the full article, please visit: https://bit.ly/4kfQCEK. #EmploymentLaw #CaliforniaLaw #FEHA Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the firm or their colleagues.

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California’s 2025 legislative session produced sweeping changes to employment law that will significantly reshape employer compliance obligations beginning January 1, 2026. In a recent Law360 article, GRSM Partner Alexa Foley outlines six key employment laws California employers need to know heading into 2026, offering practical guidance on how to adapt policies, systems, and internal processes in advance of the new year. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g-ZvYQUw #employmentlaw #grsm #grsm50 #gordonrees #your50statelawfirm

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A recent California Court decision offers employers key clarity on pay structures that combine hourly wages with productivity-based bonuses. This blog post from Principal Shannon Bettis Nakabayashi details the case and important employer compliance considerations. https://lnkd.in/gn98nRak

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California is implementing several new employment laws—most taking effect Jan. 1, 2026—impacting minimum wage, employee rights, pay transparency and enforcement penalties. In their recent alert Partner Sabrina Shadi and Associate Jennifer Ghassemi review the changes and outline what employers need to know to stay compliant. #BHAlert #California #Employment

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On Apr 2, at 2PM ET, Staffing GC's Joanna Monroe (Sennett), Esq., and Alma Piñan, Esq. present crucial information for leaders in staffing regarding the California Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA. Traditional risk-mitigation tools, including class and representative action waivers, often deliver limited practical protection, and recent PAGA reforms change the risks for staffing companies operating in California. In this session, design a compliance program that meets the new standards. You will learn 📃 How recent PAGA reforms change staffing firm exposure and create opportunities for penalty reduction 📃 Ways to identify the core components of a defensible California wage and hour compliance framework tailored to staffing firms 📃 Steps for developing a practical action plan to implement governance, auditing, monitoring, and documentation processes that reduce litigation risk and strengthen mitigation leverage We hope to see you there!

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Matthew Drenan and Pouch Liang, San Diego-based attorneys in our Labor & Employment Practice Group, wrote an article for the Daily Journal about what California’s new Workplace Know Your Rights Act means for employers in the state. #EmpLaw https://lnkd.in/gTWNgZSW

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Are you eligible for temporary or permanent disability benefits under California law? Our workers' compensation benefits article explains how these categories work—and how to make sure you receive what you’re owed. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gzC3icAN

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𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁: This update is designed to help California employers understand and prioritize the most significant upcoming legal changes — highlighting what should be addressed immediately, what developments to closely monitor at the California Supreme Court, and where employers should strategically invest in compliance infrastructure as they plan for 2026–2028. By outlining both near-term action items and longer-term risks, this alert provides practical guidance for implementing new workplace rules and maintaining compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.   Read the legal alert by Ryan Eddings here: https://lnkd.in/grF38z42   #HansonBridgett #LaborandEmployment #EmploymentLaw #CAEmployers #WorkplaceCompliance #LegalAlert #ComplianceStrategy

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A recent federal court decision has major implications for California employers navigating labor law changes. Littler’s Alex MacDonald and Joy Rosenquist break down what this ruling means and how it could shape compliance strategies going forward. Read the full analysis: https://bit.ly/4jhPXUh #EmploymentLaw #LaborLaw #HRCompliance #California

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Several new laws impacting California employers were recently signed, including laws addressing restraints on trade, artificial intelligence, workplace rights, employer pay data and payment of wages. Pascal Benyamini, Dan Prokott, Mark Terman, Sylvia Bokyung St. Clair and Kristin Halsing provide an overview of these new laws that employers in the Golden State need to know.

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