Greg S. Labate

Greg Labate is Co-Practice Group Leader of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group, and is a partner in the firm's Orange County office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Labate specializes in labor and employment law, and represents employers in a wide range of industries throughout California and the United States. He provides general advice to employers relating to labor and employment issues, and has extensive experience in defending employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, invasion of privacy, workplace violence, wage claims, employee raiding, and other related matters. He is a trial attorney who has had great success defending his clients in court. Mr. Labate has also defended employers in numerous wage and hour class actions, with a special emphasis on class actions in the mortgage, restaurant, retail, and manufacturing industries.

• Labor and Employment, Legal 500, 2015-2017
• Recipient, Los Angeles County Special Award for Distinguished Service as general counsel for Special Assistance for Victims in Emergency, a non-profit charitable organization

Representative Clients

Hyundai, Marriott, Starwood, Zodiac Aerospace, LendingTree, In-N-Out Burger, Mother's Market, Stearns Lending, Timberland, Verizon, IHOP, Harbor Freight Tools, Lawry's Restaurants, Roto Rooter, Sunstate Equipment, Lynx Grills, Greenlight Mortgage, Hillstone Restaurant Group, Sure Fire Technologies, Mobile Mini, loanDepot, Roland DGA, Atria Senior Living, Boyd & Associates, SoCal Self-Storage, The Richard Nixon Foundation, Shell Vacations, Tutor.com, Swisher, National Health Properties, Quest International, CODAN USA, and many more.

Lectures and Appearances

Mr. Labate has presented lectures for employer's organizations such as Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), Employer's Advisory Counsel (EAC), Employer's Group, Association of Corporate Counsel, and more. Mr. Labate has been the Keynote Speaker at PIHRA’s Annual Convention numerous times. He has also appeared on television and radio regarding labor and employment issues.

Recent Victories

Tran v. A and G, Inc. (Orange County Superior Court) Defeated motion for class certification in wage and hour class action.

Icon v. REMN (Orange County Superior Court) Obtained an injunction in an employee raiding action.

Kashani v. Hyundai Information Services North America (Orange County Superior Court). Obtained a complete defense verdict in a jury trial, defeating plaintiff's claims for overtime, meal periods, rest periods, and attorney's fees.

Aspesi v. Hyundai Motor America (Orange County Superior Court). Obtained a complete defense verdict in a jury trial, defeating two plaintiffs' claims for sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and more.

Johnson v. Mass Connections (Los Angeles County Superior Court) Defeated motion for class certification in wage and hour class action.

Published Decisions

Corder v. Houston's Restaurants, Inc., 424 F. Supp. 2d 1205 (C.D. Cal. 2006) (held meal and rest periods violations were penalties subject to a one-year, rather than a four-year, statute of limitations; only one penalty per day despite multiple meal and/or rest period violations).

• Labor and Employment Law Updates
• How to Avoid Class Action Lawsuits
• Layoffs, Downsizing & RIFS
• Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations
• How to Hire and Fire
• Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
• California Wage & Hour Law
• Violence in the Workplace
• Sexual Harassment
• Leaves of Absence
• Employee Handbooks
• Independent Contractors
• Documentation in the Workplace

• Labor Law Section, Orange County Bar Association