Risa J. Morris is an accomplished litigator with experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a broad variety of disputes. She has extensive expertise in all types of commercial disputes, including class actions, consumer actions, contract and partnership disputes, unfair competition claims, and other business disputes. Risa also specializes in representing employers in employment disputes, including discrimination, harassment, wage-and-hour, wrongful termination, and WARN Act claims, as well as counseling clients on all matters related to employment law. In addition, she represents lawyers and law firms in actions for malpractice and breach of fiduciary duties, and counsels attorneys regarding their professional responsibilities. Risa is a member of the California State Bar's Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct.

Notable Results:

• Successfully represented a prominent law firm in a legal malpractice claim that resulted in a highly favorable settlement.
• Defeated plaintiffs' attempt to certify nationwide and statewide classes and obtained summary judgment of all claims in a WARN Act lawsuit filed against a major national law firm.
• Won dismissal of RICO action against radio broadcasters, twice. Eight days after judgment was entered following our successful motion to dismiss, the Ninth Circuit reversed precedent relied upon in our motion. We defeated plaintiffs' motion for reconsideration, obtaining an even more favorable order of dismissal.
• Won motion for summary judgment in class action lawsuit brought against national car rental company alleging deceptive and unfair business practices, which was affirmed by state Supreme Judicial Court.
• Member of a team that represented former shareholders in a prominent entertainment law firm in dispute arising out of their departure from the firm. Our clients' former co-shareholders sought nearly $20 million in damages, but after a six-week bench trial our clients were not required to pay anything.
• Represented lawyers and law firms in legal malpractice litigation and provided counseling to attorneys regarding professional responsibility issues.
• Defended employers in all types of employment disputes, including wrongful termination and wage-and-hour claims and WARN Act litigation, both in federal and state court.
• Provided pre-litigation counseling and advice to clients nationwide on employment-related issues including harassment, discrimination, wage-and-hour issues, WARN Act compliance, and labor and employee relations.
• Represented businesses in California and nationwide in complex commercial litigation, both in state and federal court.

Court Admissions:

Lectures:

• Personnel Management of Aztlan
• Precept Group
• Professionals in Human Resources Association

Memberships & Community Involvement

• American Bar Association, Litigation and Employment Law Sections, Member
• California Bar Association, Litigation and Employment Law Sections, Member; Board of Governors' Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member