Olivia Goodkin is Chair of the Firm's Labor & Employment practice, and represents companies of all sizes in a variety of employment and business disputes. Preventively, she guides clients through risk management and liability avoidance to help them accomplish their overall objectives. With respect to litigation, Olivia has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts and before arbitrators and administrative officers to successful conclusion. Whenever appropriate, Olivia strives to reach cost effective resolution through arbitration, mediation and negotiation. She also utilizes prejudgment remedies and other preliminary relief to achieve success for her clients.

Olivia counsels clients on all matters related to employment law. She represents employers in discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, wage and hour and other employment related proceedings, as well as unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secrets cases. She advises them on day-to-day human resource matters, such as creating employment policies, training programs on topics including harassment and discrimination, and materials aimed at curtailing litigation. Olivia also assists clients in building value for their intellectual property by applying for registration of their trademarks and copyrights and creating programs to protect companies from the theft of trade secrets by departing employees.

Olivia and her husband, Lee Schwartz, live in Los Angeles. During football season, they enjoy watching their younger son play for the California Golden Bears, and their older son play for the Carolina Panthers.

Notable Results:

• Obtained injunction for company in shareholder dispute and trade secret misappropriation case involving departing employee.
• Prevailed in defending manufacturer before the Labor Commissioner on claim that employee was due over $85,000 in overtime pay.
• Successfully resolved sexual harassment cases for both manufacturing and service professional companies prior to litigation.
• Creatively resolved multi-million dollar case brought by union against employer for misassignment of work to employees of the wrong union, which resulted in new collective bargaining agreement and agreement of greatly reduced payments of monetary damages over time.
• Obtained defense summary judgment in case involving shareholder dispute and responsibility to lender.
  Moved to compel arbitration on behalf of large employer defending disability discrimination case and arbitrated case, obtaining complete defense award.
• Represented Sales Manager before Labor Commissioner regarding unpaid commissions exceeding $100,000.
  Reduced OSHA penalties after trial before the administrative agency.
• Advised numerous clients of all sizes regarding layoffs, furloughs, WARN Act issues and other labor cost-cutting measures.
• Created trade secret program for manufacturing company, including drafting of confidentiality agreements for employees and independent contractors, and registration of trademarks.
• Drafted employee handbooks including drug and alcohol testing policies to comply with laws applicable to clients' industries.
• Negotiated severance agreements for executives at a Fortune 500 firm.

Publications:

• Manage Smarter, December 23, 2009 (PDF File)
  Beware the Complaining Employee, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, June 2009 (PDF File)
  Employers Should Cautiously Rejoice Over the Gross v. FBL Financial Services Case, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, February 2009 (PDF File)
  Employers Providing Family Medical Leave Must Revise Their Handbooks and Notice Procedures, by Olivia Goodkin
• Area Development Magazine, November 2008
  In Focus: Layoffs - Legal Protection for Employers, by Olivia Goodkin and Wendy Lane
• The Laboring Oar, September 2008 (PDF file)
  Covenants not to Compete Revisited, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, June 2008 (PDF file)
  Viewing Employees' Text Messages May Be Illegal, by Olivia Goodkin
• Legalcatch.worpress.com, March 13, 2008
  Reimbursement of Employees Expenses, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, December 2007 (PDF file)
  Reimbursement of Employees' Expenses, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, July 2007 (PDF file)
  How To Conduct an Employee Investigation, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, May 2007
  Prevention of Claims For Missed Meal and Rest Periods, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, March 2007
  What To Expect When Your Employee Is Expecting, by Olivia Goodkin
• The Laboring Oar, December 2006 (PDF file)
  Minimum Wage Increase Coming Soon, by Olivia Goodkin and William O. Kampf
• Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Minimum Wage Increase (PDF File)
  By Olivia Goodkin and William Kampf

Olivia Goodkin has also contributed to:

• Los Angeles Daily Journal
• The Bottom Line, State Bar of California
• California CPA Magazine
• Century City Lawyer
• Southern California Law Review
• Metropolitan News

Lectures:

• National Aircraft Finance Association
• American Women's Society of Certified Public Accountants
• California Society of CPAs, Los Angeles Chapter, Business and Industry Committee
• California Society of CPAs, Santa Clarita Tax Discussion Group
• California Society of CPAs, Pasadena Discussion Group
• National Association of Women Business Owners
• California State University at Los Angeles
• ProVisors

Awards & Recognition:

• Martindale Hubbell "AV" Rated
• Member of the Southern California Law Review, University of Southern California
• Law Clerk, Honorable William P. Gray, United States District Court, Central District of California

Memberships & Community Involvement:

• Lev Eisha, a women's religious organization, Past President
• American Bar Association, Member
• State Bar of California, Member
• Los Angeles County Bar, Member
• Women's Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Member
• California Women Lawyers, Member