Paul Berkowitz
TEL: 310.228.3715FAX: 310.228.3952
Century City
1901 Avenue of the Stars
Suite 1600
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Practices
Paul Berkowitz
Print PDFAssociate
Mr. Berkowitz is an associate in the Labor & Employment Practice Group in the firm's Century City office.
Areas of Practice
Mr. Berkowitz' practice involves representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment litigation in defense of complaints for class action and single-plaintiff matters. He has successfully litigated and obtained summary judgment, as well as favorably resolved cases involving allegations of sexual harassment, age, race, gender, national origin, and disability discrimination, and claims of wrongful termination, harassment, and retaliation. Mr. Berkowitz has extensive experience with wage and hour matters involving claims relating to overtime, meal and rest breaks, misclassification, violations of the Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance, and improper wage statements.
Mr. Berkowitz has handled all aspects of civil litigation defense from case inception through final stages. He has successfully argued motions, drafted motions for summary judgment and oppositions to class certification, defended depositions, taken depositions of both putative class members and named plaintiffs, conducted witness interviews, and prepared witnesses for deposition. In addition, Mr. Berkowitz third-chaired a binding arbitration involving claims for retaliation, wrongful termination, and unpaid wages under the Labor Code. Moreover, he has won dismissal of multiple claims for unpaid wages and waiting-time penalties before the DLSE.
Mr. Berkowitz was the lead associate on a class action alleging unpaid wages in violation of the Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance and Business and Professions Code section 17200 on behalf of the employer's unionized workforce. Mr. Berkowitz participated in crafting case strategy and handled all aspects of discovery. Mr. Berkowitz also wrote the motion and reply seeking summary judgment/adjudication of the plaintiffs' class claims. The case has resulted in a complete victory for the client, as the trial court granted summary judgment as to the plaintiffs class claims (which was later upheld on appeal).
Mr. Berkowitz also has experience representing management in traditional labor law issues, including representing clients in organizing campaigns and unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.
Education
- J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 2007, Order of the Coif
- B.A., University of Arizona, 2004, cum laude
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California
- Zamora, et al. v. Balboa Life & Casualty, LLC, et al., BC360026 (Los Angeles Superior Court) (alleged meal period and rest break violations, waiting time penalties).
- Abhyankar v. Countrywide Financial Corporation, JAMS Case No. 1220036579 (JAMS Arbitration) (alleged misclassification of financial analysts).
- Zamora, et al. v. Bank of America, N.A., et al., BC464365 (Los Angeles Superior Court) (alleged denial of opportunity to copy or inspect putative class members’ personnel files and wage and time records).
- Lew, et al. v. Countrywide Financial Corporation, et al., CV-01993-SC (USDC N.D. Cal. (alleged meal period and rest break violations).
- Cavanaugh v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group, et al., BC354246 (Los Angeles Superior Court) (alleged disability discrimination and failure to provide reasonable accommodation).
- Soriano v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group, et al., CV 10-7686 AHM (FMOx) (USDC C.D. Cal.) (alleged race discrimination and wrongful termination)
- Destination Media, Inc. v. Outcast, Inc., CV-10-6273 RGK (AJWx) (USDC C.D. Cal.) (alleged trade secret violations)
