Lathrop & Gage has announced that Beth Schroeder, Allison Meshekow Holtzman, Lauren Katunich and Anthony Nguyen have joined the firm as partner, of counsel, of counsel and associate, respectively. All will concentrate their practices in labor and employment and will be located in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Schroeder brings extensive experience in all aspects of labor and employment law, specializing in representing restaurants and related industries. Her experience includes matters of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour issues. She also has experience facilitating employee training classes, drafting employee handbooks and other personnel forms and documentation, preparing employment-related agreements and auditing wage and hour compliance. Schroeder is a regular speaker on labor and employment matters including personnel policies and sexual harassment at seminars and conferences throughout the country and internationally. She is the co-author of The EPL Book entitled “A Practical Guide to Employment Practices, Liability and Insurance.” Prior to joining Lathrop & Gage, she was as partner and general counsel at Silver Freedman where she held several management roles, including serving as managing partner and chairing the Hospitality Group. Schroeder received her bachelor of arts from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and her juris doctorate from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law.

Holtzman regularly represents and counsels clients in labor and employment law, including wage and hour matters, and employee personnel issues. She also has experience drafting personnel forms and documentation, preparing employment agreements and auditing businesses for wage and hour compliance. Holtzman is an experienced litigator in state and federal courts, representing clients in class action and individual claims, as well as in administrative proceedings including responding to charges filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, and the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). She is experienced at handling audits on behalf of employers by the DLSE, the United States Department of Labor and the Employment Development Department. She is a frequent speaker on wage and hour and employment topics. Prior to joining the firm, Holtzman served as senior counsel at Silver Freedman. She received her bachelor of arts and a certificate in business from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, and her juris doctorate from the University of Southern California School of Law.

Katunich has successfully litigated all aspects of labor and employment matters including misappropriation of trade secrets, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour claims. She also has experience counseling clients in compliance measures and preventative advice. These matters have included negotiating and drafting employment, independent contractor and severance agreements, and hosting public speaking engagements on labor and employment issues. Prior to joining the firm, Katunich served as of counsel at Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP. She is currently the managing director of be:Cause Campaigns LLC, where she consults not-for-profit organizations on how to maximize cause awareness, fund development and volunteer support. Katunich received her bachelor of arts from Brigham Young University and her juris doctorate from Loyola Law School Los Angeles.

Nguyen has experience researching, drafting and arguing motions, oppositions to motions, and summary judgment briefs in state and federal court regarding labor and employment matters. He has significant experience in propounding and responding to discovery, as well as representing clients in mediation, settlement negotiations and arbitration hearings. Prior to joining Lathrop & Gage, Nguyen served as an associate at Shegerian & Associates, Inc. He received his bachelor of arts from the University of California Berkeley, and his juris doctorate from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law.

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