Students for Fair Admissions One Year Later: Advising Employer Clients on DEI Programs; Title VII and Muldrow Effect

Ms. McKenzie is a formidable advocate for advancing diversity and inclusion and regularly assists management with developing effective action plans to achieve a diverse and inclusive workplace. In addition, she defends employers in all areas of labor and employment law in state and federal court, as well as before various administrative agencies, including the U.S. EEOC, NLRB, Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. Ms. McKenzie's practice has a special emphasis on vigorously defending alleged claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She also provides proactive advice, counsel and training to management on emerging employment issues in California to ensure compliance with its ever-changing laws and regulations. This includes drafting policies, employee handbooks, and policy manuals regarding leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, occupational safety and health, and several other statutorily-mandated requirements. 

Mr. Saifi is an experienced litigator who has tried multiple jury trials and defended employers and company executives in litigation related to meal periods, rest periods and overtime. He focuses his practice on defending employers in wage and hour class actions and claims brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act. Mr. Saifi also defends employers from discrimination and harassment claims brought under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VI under federal law. He also has experience counseling both large public corporations and private companies on state and federal laws relating to personnel policies, employee handbooks, termination accommodations, COVID-19 and compensation, and conducting onsite inspections and audits.