Derek Havel is a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office, where he is also the Office Managing Partner.
Areas of Practice
Derek handles all facets of the litigation process in labor and employment disputes. He has significant experience in defending wage and hour class actions, including claims for overtime pay, meal and rest period violations and vacation pay. In particular, Derek has extensive experience in the healthcare, food and beverage, financial services, and retail industries. He has successfully defeated class certification motions and prevailed on summary judgment motions in class actions.
Derek has considerable jury trial experience in defending both class actions and single plaintiff employment cases. He has successfully defended labor and employment disputes under both state and federal law, including discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation and other classifications. He has specific experience under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other labor and employment laws.
Derek regularly provides advice and counsel to employers regarding California and federal employment law, including employee hiring and discipline procedures, unfair competition matters, worker classification issues, leaves of absence, wage and hour law, and employee severance and termination strategies.
