The Pearl Law Firm Press Releases

Steven G. Pearl to Speak in Las Vegas

2011-09-07T08:09:00.001-07:00

Steven G. Pearl will speak at the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) annual convention this weekend in Las Vegas. Mr. Pearl will address misclassification in wage and hour law, including the standards for determining whether workers are independent contractors or employees and for determining whether workers are exempt from overtime and other wage and hour protections. Mr. Pearl also will address the Supreme Court's recent decision in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion and its impact in employment law.

Steven G. Pearl Joins ADR Services, Inc., as Mediator

2011-08-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Steven G. Pearl has joined the award-winning panel of neutrals at ADR Services, Inc. He is available immediately to resolve matters throughout California.

Mr. Pearl began his litigation career practicing as a defense attorney at Orrick Herrington before founding his own firm in 1994. As Principal of The Pearl Law Firm, Mr. Pearl has litigated hundreds of individual and class action wage & hour, employment, unfair competition, and consumer protection suits on behalf of plaintiffs. His prolific writings on negotiation, employment, wage & hour, and class action law, along with his successful litigation practice, earned him a place on the 2011 “Super Lawyers” list.

Mr. Pearl began mediating in 2007. He received his mediator training at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Law School. He quickly earned a reputation as a tenacious, creative settlement professional, and his scholarly legal knowledge and compassion and respect for both parties at mediation have allowed him to broker settlements in over 100 disputed matters.

“Steve Pearl has the drive, knowledge, and skill set our firm seeks when recruiting new panelists,” explained Lucie Barron, President and founder of ADR Services, Inc. “He is a great addition to our group of employment mediators, and we strongly believe that putting our firm behind his excellent reputation and substantial litigation and mediation experience will further build his ADR practice.”

"I am honored to be selected to join ADR Services," Mr. Pearl said. "I have always appreciated the professionalism and competency of ADR's leadership, staff, and neutrals. I look forward to working with them and continuing to provide my clients with the highest level of mediation services."

Los Angeles County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Appoints Steven G. Pearl to Executive Committee

2011-08-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Labor and Employment Law Section (LEL) has appointed Steven G. Pearl to serve on its Executive Committee. Mr. Pearl now serves on the LEL Executive Committees for both LACBA and the State Bar of California.

LACBA LEL is the nation's premiere organization serving labor and employment law professionals. The Section offers more educational programs and other activities than any other organization of its kind in the country. It provides its more than 1,200 members an opportunity to meet and share ideas informally with employment law practitioners, union and management representatives, government personnel, arbitrators, and academicians.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

"California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation" Wins International "Best Publication" Award

2011-07-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation, co-authored by Steven G. Pearl, is the "Best Publication" of 2011, according to the Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA), an international organization devoted to improving the performance of CLE professionals. ACLEA's annual awards are highly competitive, and the winning projects represent the highest level of achievement for the staff and authors involved.

California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation is published by California Education of the Bar (CEB), California's leading legal publisher. The treatise is available here.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

Pearl Law Firm Associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz Authors Amicus Letters in Lamps Plus Overtime Cases

2011-07-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Pearl Law Firm associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz has authored a pair of amicus curiae letters to the California Supreme Court on behalf of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), asking the Court to or grant review in In re. Lamps Plus Overtime Cases (5/10/11) 195 Cal.App.4th 389.

Lamps Plus, discussed in detail here, addresses a number of issues, Labor Code section 226 and 203 issues and the proper interpretation of California's meal and rest period requirements. This issue is before the California Supreme Court in Brinker v. Superior Court (Hohnbaum).

Mr. Sansanowicz focuses his practice on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition. Mr. Sansanowicz earned his law degree at Loyola Law School, where he served as a Senior Articles Editor of the Loyola Law Review of Los Angeles, was a member of the nationally ranked Byrne Trial Advocacy competition team, and served as a board member of the Jewish Students Law Association, La Raza, and the Public Interest Law Foundation.

CELA is a state-wide organization of more than 1,000 California attorneys whose members represent employees in employment law matters. Mr. Sansanowicz serves on CELA's Wage and Hour, Legislative, and Amicus Committees.

State Bar Labor and Employment Law Section Asks Steven G. Pearl to Author Wage and Hour Law Updates

2011-06-13T16:08:00.001-07:00

The State Bar of California's Labor and Employment Law Section has asked Steven G. Pearl to author a series of Wage and Hour Law updates for its quarterly publication, the California Labor & Employment Law Review.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

State Bar of California Appoints Steven G. Pearl to Labor and Employment Law Section Executive Committee

2011-06-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

The State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Law Section has appointed Steven G. Pearl to serve on its Executive Committee. Mr. Pearl will serve from 2011 to 2014.

The Section furthers the knowledge of its members in labor law and employment issues and provides a forum for California's labor lawyers and non-lawyers with an interest in labor relations and employment issues. It publishes the quarterly California Labor & Employment Law Review.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

Pearl Law Firm Associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz Authors Amicus Letters in Tien v. Tenet Healthcare

2011-05-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

Pearl Law Firm associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz authored a pair of amicus curiae letters to the California Supreme Court on behalf of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), asking the Court to depublish or grant review in Tien v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. (2/16/11) 2011 WL 523611.

Tien, discussed in detail here, addressed a number of issues, including proper interpretation of California's meal and rest period requirements. These issues are before the California Supreme Court in Brinker v. Superior Court (Hohnbaum). On May 18, 2001, the Court granted review in Tien and deferred further action pending its decision in Brinker.

Mr. Sansanowicz focuses his practice on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition. Mr. Sansanowicz earned his law degree at Loyola Law School, where he served as a Senior Articles Editor of the Loyola Law Review of Los Angeles, was a member of the nationally ranked Byrne Trial Advocacy competition team, and served as a board member of the Jewish Students Law Association, La Raza, and the Public Interest Law Foundation.

California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) is a state-wide organization of more than 1,000 California attorneys whose members represent employees in employment law matters. Mr. Sansanowicz serves on CELA's Wage and Hour and Legislative Committees.

Steven G. Pearl to Speak at Consumer Attorneys Convention in Las Vegas

2011-05-23T15:29:00.001-07:00

The Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) has asked Steven G. Pearl to speak at its Annual Convention on September 9, 2011, at the Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas. Mr. Pearl will address misclassification issues in wage and hour class actions.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

Steven G. Pearl to Moderate Discussion on Practice Development

2011-04-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

On June 9, 2011, Steven G. Pearl will moderate a panel discussion for the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section on "Developing and Sustaining an Employment Law Firm: Plaintiff, Defense, and Mixed Plaintiff/Defense Practices."

This interactive program will explore effective strategies for developing business through using new media as well as through more traditional means, profitability and marketing issues facing employment lawyers in today's business climate, and innovative means of staffing cases and compensating associates, including co-counsel arrangements. Whether one represents individuals, businesses, government entities, insurance company interests, or a combination of all of the above, this program will offer practical tips and guidance for those running their own firms and those who hope to do so one day in the foreseeable future.

The panel takes place on June 9, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Joining Mr. Pearl will be Nick Ebrahimian of Lavi & Ebrahimian, Jack Schaedel of Hernandez, Schaedel & Associates, and Julianna Yasinski of Yasinski & Jones.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

Steven G. Pearl to Speak on "Master Mediators" Panel

2011-04-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Southern California Mediation Association has invited Steven G. Pearl to speak at its Annual Employment Mediation Conference on May 21, 2011. The panel is entitled "Master Mediators: After the Mediation, It’s Never over Even When It’s Over" and will feature Mr. Pearl, along with will-known mediators Hon. Diane Wayne (Ret.), Sandy Gage, and Gene Moscovitch. Nikki Tolt will moderate. Information on the Conference is available from SCMA.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

Steven G. Pearl Appears on "After Hours" Video Podcast

2011-04-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Steven G. Pearl has appeared on After Hours, a video podcast series hosted by Arent Fox partner and management-side litigator Harry Johnson. Mr. Pearl and Mr. Johnson discussed trends in wage and hour law, the dangers of overly zealous litigation tactics, and how to make the most of settlement opportunities. The video is available here.

After Hours is a video podcast series hosted by Harry Johnson, a management-side litigator in Los Angeles who is a Partner in Arent Fox’s national Labor Employment & OSHA Group. Follow the Program on Twitter@HJ_mgmt_attyand/or email the program at afterhours@arentfox.com.

Steven G. Pearl and Leonard H. Sansanowicz to Speak at Advanced Wage and Hour Seminar

2011-03-23T09:38:00.001-07:00

Pearl Law Firm principal Steven G. Pearl and associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz will speak at the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) Seventh Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Seminar: Navigating a Successful Class and Collective Action in a Changing Landscape.

Mr. Pearl will present "30 Cases in 30 Minutes: A Round-Up of the Last Year's Most Important Developments." Mr. Sansanowicz will moderate the panel discussion and will emcee the day-long seminar.

This full-day, advanced-level seminar will address numerous issues, including how to litigate multiple plaintiff actions economically, attorneys' fees issues, negotiating class action settlement agreements, evidence on class certification and at trial, plus a legislative update and review of the top 30 wage and hour cases of the last year.

Steven G. Pearl is a SuperLawyer™ mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. He focuses on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition litigation.

Mr. Pearl is a co-author of California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation, published by Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) and has been selected to co-author Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading and Practice, published by the National Employment Lawyers Association and Matthew Bender. He authors the “California Wage and Hour Law Blog” (www.CAWageandHourLaw.blogspot.com), the “Mediation and Negotiation Blog” (www.MediationAndNegotiation.blogspot.com), and the “Wage and Hour and Class Action Update,” a monthly email newsletter with more than 800 subscribers.

Leonard H. Sansanowicz focuses his practice on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition. Mr. Sansanowicz earned his law degree at Loyola Law School, where he served as a Senior Articles Editor of the Loyola Law Review of Los Angeles, was a member of the nationally ranked Byrne Trial Advocacy competition team, and served as a board member of the Jewish Students Law Association, La Raza, and the Public Interest Law Foundation.

Leonard H. Sansanowicz to Speak to West Valley CELA Members

2011-03-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

Leonard H. Sansanowicz will speak at the monthly West San Fernando Valley lunch meeting of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA). Mr. Sansanowicz will speak on recent developments in wage and hour law.

Steven G. Pearl Recognized as a "Super Lawyer"

2011-01-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

Steven G. Pearl has been selected as a Super Lawyer for 2011. Super Lawyers recognizes the top five percent of lawyers based on independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers ... who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

The Pearl Law Firm is very pleased to receive this recognition from its colleagues.

Steven G. Pearl to Present Video Podcast on Common Employer Mistakes in Wage and Hour Practice and Litigation

2011-01-20T10:59:00.000-08:00

Steven G. Pearl will appear on After Hours, a video podcast series hosted by Arent Fox partner and management-side litigator Harry Johnson. Mr. Pearl and Mr. Johnson will discuss Common Employer Mistakes in Wage and Hour Practice and Litigation:

Although many employers and their attorneys work diligently to ensure compliance with California and Federal wage and hour law, full compliance can be difficult, and certain requirements may be ignored. To make matters worse, many employers and their attorneys take an overly-aggressive approach in litigation, compounding what may be relatively minor violations and opening themselves to far greater exposure than necessary.

After Hours is a video podcast series hosted by Harry Johnson, a management-side litigator in Los Angeles who is a Partner in Arent Fox’s national Labor Employment & OSHA Group. Follow the Program on Twitter @HJ_mgmt_atty and/or email the program at afterhours@arentfox.com.

Steven G. Pearl to Present MCLE for Encino Lawyers Association

2011-01-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

On March 9, 2011, Steven G. Pearl will present "Beyond Overtime: Spotting Wage and Hour Issues for Employers and Employees." Mr. Pearl will teach attorneys how to spot issues that lawyers on both sides of the wage and hour table need to know, including:

Misclassification of Salaried Employees
Meal and Rest Periods
Paycheck Requirements
Employer Deductions from Pay
Change Rooms and Resting Facilities
Seating and Temperature Requirements

More information is available from the Encino Lawyers Association. The Encino Lawyers Association promotes Encino as a center of excellence in legal services, provides local and low-cost educational opportunities (MCLE) for the local legal community, and facilitates quality cross-referral opportunities along the Ventura Boulevard corridor in the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Pearl serves on its Board of Governors and as Chair of its Education Committee.

Pearl Law Firm Associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz Prevails in Trial

2010-12-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Pearl Law Firm associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz, who recovered more than $155,000 in wages for an individual who worked as a repairman in a jewelry shop and was treated as an independent contractor. Mr. Sansanowicz conducted a two-day bench trial before Hon. Luis Lavin in Los Angeles Superior Court, Central District, Department 13. Mr. Sansanowicz now will move to recover our client's attorney fees.

Mr. Sansanowicz focuses his practice on wage and hour litigation, class actions, and unfair competition. Mr. Sansanowicz earned his law degree at Loyola Law School, where he served as a Senior Articles Editor of the Loyola Law Review of Los Angeles, was a member of the nationally ranked Byrne Trial Advocacy competition team, and served as a board member of the Jewish Students Law Association, La Raza, and the Public Interest Law Foundation.

CEB Asks Steven G. Pearl to Present "Wage and Hour Compliance for Business Law Practitioners"

2010-12-20T17:08:00.000-08:00

Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) has asked Steven G. Pearl to present a seminar on "Wage and Hour Compliance for Business Law Practitioners." The program is geared toward attorneys who represent businesses, but do not have expertise in wage and hour law. Topics include:

State vs. federal law
Exempt vs. nonexempt status
Overtime issues
Off-the-clock claims
Meal and rest period compliance
Minimum wage
Alternative work schedules
Final pay issues
Employees vs. independent contractors

To register or to obtain more information, please go here.

Matthew Bender and NELA Select Steven G. Pearl and Leonard H. Sansanowicz to Write Treatise on Federal Wage Law

2010-11-22T11:57:00.000-08:00

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and Matthew Bender have selected Steven G. Pearl and Pearl Law Firm associate Leonard H. Sansanowicz to author a new chapter on the federal Fair Labor Standards Act for Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading & Practice.

Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading & Practice is a three-volume practice guide covering "all aspects of employment law, including statutory and common law claims, as well as a synopsis of the law, practitioners' tips, and forms." The new chapter to be written by Mr. Pearl and Mr. Sansanowicz will include an extensive selection of forms for individual and collective actions under the FLSA.

Encino Lawyers Association Names Steven G. Pearl to Board of Governors

2010-11-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

Encino Lawyers Association ("ELA") has named Steven G. Pearl to its founding Board of Governors. Mr. Pearl will serve as ELA's Education Committee Chair. ELA provides local networking opportunities and continuing legal education to the outstanding Encino legal community.

ELA's inaugural MCLE event, "Preparing the Problem Witness" will take place on December 8, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at 16133 Ventura Boulevard, Penthouse Suite A, Encino, California. The program will feature William A. Daniels, Esq., and Molly M. Murphy, MDR. The MCLE will provide one hour of MCLE credit, including .25 hours of ethics credit. Cost is just $10 for ELA members and $25 for non-members.

Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine Publishes Article by Steven G. Pearl

2010-11-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

The November, 2010, edition of Los Angeles Lawyer magazine includes an article by Steven G. Pearl entitled "The Limits on Employer Deductions from Pay in California."

The article explores section 8 of the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders, which allows employers to deduct from employees' wages for shortage, breakage, or loss "caused by a dishonest or willful act, or by the gross negligence of the employee." Mr. Pearl considers whether this provision is invalid as conflicting with the Labor Code and whether Due Process protects employees from employers' extrajudicial deductions from wages.

Los Angeles Lawyer magazine is published by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) and is available here. Mr. Pearl co-chair's LACBA's Labor and Employment Law Section Dinner Committee and serves on the Planning Committee for LACBA's Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium.

Steven G. Pearl to Speak at Bridgeport Eighth Annual Wage and Hour Litigation Conference

2010-10-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

On December 16, 2010, Steven G. Pearl will speak at Bridgeport's Eighth Annual Wage and Hour Litigation Conference. Mr. Pearl will speak on "Damage Modeling in Wage & Hour Class Actions." Mr. Pearl will join Joseph Krock, Ph.D., of The Claro Group, and Daniel Chammas of Venable. The conference takes place on December 15 and 16 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. More information is available here.

Steven G. Pearl to Introduce Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris at LACBA Dinner

2010-10-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

On October 6, 2010, the Los Angeles County Bar Association will host the 2010 Benjamin Aaron Dinner, featuring Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris. Deputy Secretary Harris will discuss developments at the DOL, including a newly proposed DOL approach to enforcement in which the DOL would issue regulations and then direct implementation toward providing assistance to encourage and enable employers to avoid employment law violations.

As co-chair of the LACBA Labor and Employment Law Section's Dinner Committee, Steven G. Pearl will have the honor of introducing Deputy Secretary Harris.

Steven G. Pearl Edits Update to Matthew Bender Treatise on Federal Wage Law

2010-10-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

The editors of Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading and Practice recently turned to Steven G. Pearl to help prepare their annual update. Mr. Pearl assisted with the chapter on the federal wage and hour law, the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading and Practice is published by Matthew Bender, a leading legal publisher.