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Jennifer is a member of Reed Smith’s Labor & Employment Group and former managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. She provides management-side counseling and litigation defense to employers of all sizes, especially those in the retail, food and beverage, transportation and logistics, life sciences, consumer products, and tech sectors.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Acted as lead trial counsel for global biopharmaceutical company providing plasma derived medicines in three-week jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court brought by a quality engineer whistleblower arguing FDA violations; foreclosed recovery of attorneys’ fees.
Received dismissal of two high profile sexual assault / spiritual grooming cases alleged against anti-child sex slavery 501(c)(3) organization after anti-SLAPP and motions to dismiss in the Third District of State of Utah; currently acting as lead counsel for three other sexual assault cases; and closely advising board of directors on risk management, public relations and litigation strategy.
Defeated nationwide and California class claims in Riverside Superior Court at summary judgment prior to class certification against pharmaceutical company brought by delivery drivers for misclassification and ensuing violations of the Labor Code; forced individual walk away by plaintiffs after written discovery and depositions.
Litigation and dispute resolution
Acted as lead trial counsel for global biopharmaceutical company providing plasma derived medicines in three-week jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court brought by a quality engineer whistleblower arguing FDA violations; foreclosed recovery of attorneys’ fees.
Received dismissal of two high profile sexual assault / spiritual grooming cases alleged against anti-child sex slavery 501(c)(3) organization after anti-SLAPP and motions to dismiss in the Third District of State of Utah; currently acting as lead counsel for three other sexual assault cases; and closely advising board of directors on risk management, public relations and litigation strategy.
Defeated nationwide and California class claims in Riverside Superior Court at summary judgment prior to class certification against pharmaceutical company brought by delivery drivers for misclassification and ensuing violations of the Labor Code; forced individual walk away by plaintiffs after written discovery and depositions.
Achieved summary judgment for a world-class nonprofit hospital in Los Angeles in race and age discrimination case brought by former employee; currently defending the hospital in numerous other single plaintiff cases in its on-going portfolio of employee litigation.
Achieved summary judgment for a national chain quick service restaurant in multi-million dollar catastrophic injury case brought by an independent contractor who fell off a roof.
Achieved summary judgment for a digital business services provider in race and age discrimination case in San Francisco Superior Court.
Defended a biopharmaceutical company in portfolio of employment disputes in multiple jurisdictions throughout the U.S. on claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation; successfullly resolved all claims prior to litigation.
Defended a luxury goods retailer at Los Angeles Airport in nine-month long interest arbitration brought by local union; negotiated collective bargaining agreement for retailer.
Defended a major health plan provider and its subsidiary in discrimination claims brought by vice president against the chief medical officer.
Investigations
Conducted investigation into anonymous complaints of quality compliance issues in a digital health company; advised senior leadership team and board of directors on findings from investigation; and counseled on personnel actions relating to findings.
Conducted investigation into claims of racial harassment and discrimination against chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and general counsel of a healthcare company, reported confidential findings to the board of directors; prepared necessary anti-harassment and bias training, and counseled chief people officer on leadership training.
Conducted investigation into claims of sexual harassment, stalking and assault by chief executive officer of a global entertainment company.
Conducted investigation into code of conduct violations by senior leadership team of a medical device company; advised board of directors on the findings.
Counseling
Advised a pharmaceutical company on a reduction in force, applicability of state and federal WARN regulations, and criteria for selection of impacted workers, performed impact analysis for selected workers; and counseled on severance issues for workers over and under 40.
Conducted global audit across 35 countries for a blockchain security company on independent contractor classification; managed team of local counsel in each country to coordinate advice; proposed revisions to the contractor agreement globally; and provided compliance advice tailored to each country.
Developing and preparing strong company policies that comply with federal and state law; working closely human resources; and assisting in employee communication plans in the roll out of relevant policies.
Providing anti-bias, discrimination and harassment training to the world’s large medical technology association representing medical device, diagnostics and digital technology companies.
ADA and Unruh Act public accommodations litigation
Successfully defended and resolved multiple cases brought under the Unruh Act and Americans with Disabilities against a leading international quick-service coffee company; engaged in discovery to gain leverage over plaintiff including taking plaintiff’s deposition.
Successfully defended and resolved multiple cases brought under the Unruh Act and Americans with Disabilities against a leading quick-service Chinese restaurant; engaged in discovery to gain leverage over plaintiff including taking plaintiff’s deposition.
Outside general counsel work
Assisted a global food company in identifying all legal issues affecting operations in California; reviewed and negotiated all commercial contracts relating to the manufacturing, sales and distribution of products.
Advised a California subsidiary of a Mexican auto finance company on setting-up an entity structure, applicability of California finance lender laws and employment, international tax and immigration issues.
Recognitions
- Named by the Daily Journal as one of California’s Top Labor & Employment Lawyers, 2025
Ranked in Chambers USA for California Labor & Employment, 2025-2026
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1998, J.D.
- University of Utah, 1995, B.A., with honors
- University of Utah, 1995, B.S., with honors
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- California
Court admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. District Court - Central District of California
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of California
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity, Fellow, Class of 2014
Clerkships
Clerkships
- U.S. District Court - District of Utah, Honorable J. Thomas Greene
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