Our Firm

Representing employers in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law.

Swerdlow Florence Sanchez Swerdlow & Wimmer represents California employers in virtually all aspects of labor relations and employment law. From multi-billion dollar corporations to medium and small-sized businesses, individual and domestic employers, the firm represents a diverse range of more than 70 industries and professions.

Compliance with California legal developments is challenging. Our firm is committed to delivering the highest quality legal services with a customized approach geared to the special needs of each client. Founders Sy Swerdlow and Ken Florence established the firm in 1984, combining their knowledge and experience gained as labor partners in other major law firms. They set a standard for world-class excellence and client service that continues to thrive today.

An Employer-Focused Approach

Representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment law is our firm’s sole focus. As part of this practice, we encourage our clients to prevent, rather than resolve, employer-employee problems.

A successful preventive approach requires both early intervention and education – key components for employers that want to minimize exposure and avoid costly legal disputes.  Involving our firm before decisions are made, actions are taken, or events occur can help prevent issues from becoming legal and financial liabilities.  And, when management is thoroughly trained and educated to recognize when legal risks are present rapidly, issues can be addressed promptly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.  Prevention is the strategic path to securing a company’s most important resources when labor and employment issues are involved.

Our comprehensive labor and employment services include:

Advice & Counseling

Our attorneys work hand-in-hand with our clients to minimize the risk of litigation and maximize the value and productivity of every employee. We provide client companies with comprehensive advice, documentation, and training honed from years of analyzing all manner of employee relationship

Litigation

From routine hearings to complex litigation and trials, our attorneys represent clients in state and federal courts and before state and federal administrative agencies.

Wage & Hour

Our attorneys help client companies establish sound practices and procedures that reflect the requirements of the state’s wage-and-hour laws. This includes analysis of employee job duties, ensuring proper classification of employees and that overtime is paid, and that no civil or criminal penalties are assessed for violations of wage-and-hour laws.

Labor Relations

The firm has decades of experience advising employers on effectively and legally maintaining a union-free workforce, and in maintaining a successful business when employees have chosen to be represented by a union.

Training

One focus of the firm’s practice is to help clients avoid litigation by adopting and implementing effective, preventive human-resources programs. With a comprehensive program in place, an employer can expect fewer workplace challenges, improved human-resources functioning, and a reduced need for costly legal interventions.

Cal/OSHA & OSHA


Our firm has extensive experience developing strategies for employers to ensure compliance, including development of an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). We guide our clients through inspections and safety audits, review their safety and health policies, advise them of the latest OSHA legislative and regulatory developments, and help them avoid civil penalties and fines.

Representation before federal and state administrative agencies, including:

  • U.S. National Labor Relations Board
  • U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
  • U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance
  • California Civil Rights Department
  • California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
  • California Employment Development Department
  • California and Federal OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
  • California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board

Our Staff

Accounts Payable: Leslie Wimmer

Tel: (310) 288-3980 x8211
Direct fax: (424) 281-2587
Click here to email Leslie Wimmer

Accounting | Office Administration: Else Latinovic

Tel: (310) 288-3980 x8209
Direct fax: (424) 281-2585
Click here to email Else Latinovic

Paralegal | Administrative Assistant: Chehreh Golzar

Assistant to David Wimmer, and Lori Yankelevits
Tel: (310) 288-3980 x8216
Direct fax: (424) 281-2584
Click here to email Chehreh Golzar

Paralegal /Administrative Assistant: Talila Ashe-Sherman

Assistant to Millicent N. Sanchez, Allison Musante, Julia Staudinger
Tel: (310) 288-3980 x8214
Direct fax: (424) 281-2582
Click here to email Talila Ashe-Sherman

Paralegal | Administrative Assistant: Scott Trimble

Assistant to Janet I. Swerdlow, Meghan O'Kane, Karen E. Rhodes
Tel: (310) 288-3980 x8215
Direct fax: (424) 281-2583
Click here to email Scott Trimble

Our Attorneys


Client Successes

The Firm successfully represented a public university in a discrimination and harassment case by a former employee who claimed that he was terminated and harassed because the university did not adequately protect him from claims and publications about his conduct, that the university was biased against him in its investigation of the complaints about him, and that his termination was based on his status as a light-skinned, Latino, heterosexual male. He alleged that because the claims made against him were by minority women in the LBGTQ community, the university’s treatment of him must have been based on his protected characteristics. The plaintiff aggressively litigated this case, seeking millions of dollars in alleged lost wages, lost pension, and emotional distress damages. The Firm succeeded in obtaining a complete judgment for its client through a Motion for Summary Judgment, in which the trial court found that the Plaintiff failed to meet his burdens of proving that his termination and treatment by the university were based on his protected characteristics. This was a total victory for our client.
The Firm successfully represented an international mining company when the employer was sued in a state-court class action that challenged the company’s classification of its Maintenance Supervisors as salaried, exempt employees. The lawsuit sought millions of dollars in allegedly unpaid overtime, meal-period and rest-period compensation, and PAGA civil penalties. After the trial court certified the class, attorneys at the firm wrote, argued, and won a Motion for Summary Judgment, by which the judge found that our client had, as a matter of law, properly classified its Maintenance Supervisors. This was a total victory for our client.
The Firm defended an international distribution/logistics company in state court, and then the federal court, against class-action claims that the company failed to properly pay its drivers and failed to provide proper meal periods to these employees. Working in concert with another law firm, our Firm first succeeded in defeating class certification. Then, we successfully obtained voluntary dismissals by some of the remaining, named plaintiffs and obtained summary judgment against the other remaining, named plaintiffs. In addition, our client was awarded by the trial court more than One Million Dollars attorneys’ fees and costs.
In other wage-and-hour class-action cases involving claims of unpaid overtime, unlawful meal-period and/or rest-period practices, erroneous paycheck reporting, and seeking PAGA civil penalties, the Firm has represented—among others—a foreign insurance company, a quick-service restaurant franchisee, and a multinational, employer-benefits company in quickly and cost-effectively resolving their claims.
On the traditional labor-law front, the Firm guided one of Kern County’s largest employers through protracted collective-bargaining negotiations that resulted in a four-month lockout of all union-represented employees. The parties ultimately resolved the lockout and the associated unfair labor practice charges and reached a new collective bargaining agreement that successfully addressed many of the Company’s key business objectives.
The Firm defended a large employer in the Port of Los Angeles against a former employee’s claims of age discrimination and wrongful termination. After conducting an aggressive discovery campaign, the Firm won summary judgment for its client on all claims.
The Firm has successfully advised employers throughout the United States on their union-avoidance strategies, including conducting management training, running numerous campaigns, defending unfair labor practice charges, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and leading efforts to decertify incumbent unions.