Samantha is an effective advocate for employers and management in administrative, arbitration, and trial proceedings. She leverages her analytical and strategic skills to deliver superior results in litigation of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, breach of contract, fraud, defamation, trade secret, and unfair competition cases, among others. She advises clients on litigation avoidance strategies and local, state, and federal compliance matters. She also conducts workplace investigations and management and workforce training.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Seconded as in-house employment counsel for international food and beverage company.
Obtained non-suit on claims for discrimination, retaliation, interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair business practices.
Obtained defense award for aerospace company in a week-long arbitration involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.
Seconded as in-house employment counsel for international food and beverage company.
Obtained non-suit on claims for discrimination, retaliation, interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair business practices.
Obtained defense award for aerospace company in a week-long arbitration involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.
Obtained defense award for video service company in arbitration involving disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, and wrongful termination claims (affirmed by California Court of Appeals).
Obtained dismissal of breach of collective bargaining agreement claim for international beverage company.
Successfully represented major motion picture company in jurisdictional dispute before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
After defeating class certification, successfully resolved wage and hour class action for global consumer goods company.
After successfully demurring, negotiated favorable resolution of wage and hour representative action on behalf of a major television network.
Obtained summary judgment for employers in wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment cases.
Obtained dismissals on behalf of employers of unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB.
Recognitions
- Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2025
- Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2025
- Women of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2025
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, 1998, J.D.
- University of Toronto, 1994, B.A., 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 - Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Third Circuit
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- Chair, UCLA School of Law, Law Firm Challenge
- Governor, Board of Governors, USC Gould Continuing Legal Education’s Institute for Corporate Counsel
- Board Member, Alumni Board of Directors, UCLA School of Law
- Board Member, Women LEAD Board, UCLA School of Law
- Vice Chair, Advisory Board, Minority Corporate Counsel Association
- Delegate, House of Delegates, American Bar Association
- Officer, Governing Council, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association
- Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, American Employment Law Council
- Member, National Employment Law Council
- Member, United States District Court Central District of California’s Merit Selection Panel, 2016-2022
- Executive Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association, 2017-2022
- Chair, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association, 2020-2021
- Elections Committee, National Bar Association, 2017-2019
- Co-Chair, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, American Bar Association, 2016-2018
- Commissioner, Commission on Women in the Profession, American Bar Association, 2015-2018
- Board Member, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, 2015-2018
- Executive Committee, Litigation Section, Los Angeles County Bar Association, 2012-2018
- President, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, 2011-2012
News
1 / 6
Events
1 / 15