Biography

Jim Brown chairs the firm's Employment and Labor Law Group. Mr. Brown represents clients before state and federal courts and enforcement agencies.  He has represented clients in matters before the California Labor Commissioner, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, city and county human rights commissions, California's Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, and the National Labor Relations Board.

Mr. Brown also provides advice and counseling in such areas as wage and hour law, creation and enforcement of covenants-not-to-compete, reductions-in-force, progressive discipline, employee handbooks and personnel policies, employee leave obligations,  and other workplace management issues.  He advises companies on due diligence and human resource audit issues during business acquisitions.

Mr. Brown routinely assists clients in defense of Labor Code section 132a claims, "serious and willful" petitions, and Labor Code section 5814 penalty petitions.

Mr. Brown defends property owners and managers in housing discrimination and federal Section 8 administrative agency and federal court litigation.

Mr. Brown works for clients ranging in size from Fortune 100 companies to small start up operations.  He routinely assists large corporations with in-house legal and human resources staffs, as well as smaller companies with no dedicated human resources professionals.  Advice is provided in both union and non-union  settings.  Mr. Brown acts as local counsel for out of state corporations sued in California, or provides primary representation for management side litigants throughout California. He also represents townships and Fire Protection Districts in personnel matters.

Memberships & Honors

He was appointed chair (1991) of the Barristers Club Labor and Employment Law Committee.

Mr. Brown served as extern for the Honorable J. Lawrence Irving, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, Fall, (1987).