Amber Healy is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Los Angeles office and a member of the Labor and Employment practice group. Ms. Healy is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Wage & Hour Practice and Chair of the Firm’s PAGA practice.
Ms. Healy represents local, regional and national employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and related litigation. Her practice focuses on the defense of wage and hour class actions and lawsuits under the Labor Code’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Ms. Healy litigates employment law matters in courts throughout the State of California. She also handles individual wage and hour claims, equal pay, whistleblower, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation and wrongful termination matters.
Ms. Healy’s broad labor experience includes representing and defending employers in union grievance proceedings, collective bargaining, and dealings with union locals. Ms. Healy has experience handling matters before the National Labor Relations Board and unfair labor practice charges.
Ms. Healy frequently represents clients in proceedings before state and federal administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, the California Civil Rights Department, Department of Industrial Relations and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.
Ms. Healy’s defense of employers in high-stakes wage and hour litigation and PAGA actions allows her to assist employers in implementing proactive measures to avoid and mitigate the risk of litigation. She regularly conducts audits of employment practices and procedures and assists in the development and implementation of updated policies and practices.
Ms. Healy has successfully litigated hundreds of class, collective and representative PAGA matters. Her clients span various industries, including construction, manufacturing, apparel and fashion, hospitality, food service, homecare services, property management, food processing, retail, trucking, shipping, logistics, e-commerce, healthcare and emergency medical services.
Though Ms. Healy now focuses her practice on the defense of class litigation matters on behalf of employers, she spent several years representing plaintiffs in class litigation, successfully representing classes ranging from 50 members to over 100,000 members and securing numerous class settlements exceeding a total recovery of $50 million. With her plaintiff-side background, she brings a unique perspective to the cases she handles.
Successfully defended numerous employers in class and collective actions under the California Labor Code and the Federal Labor Standards Act
Obtained judgment in favor of client in putative class action alleging violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act
Won dismissal of lawsuit asserting claims of gender discrimination, harassment, and violation of collective bargaining agreement against union sub-contractor, dismissal affirmed on appeal
Secured dismissal of all class allegations in putative class action alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act against historic entertainment venue
Through aggressive motion practice limited the scope of class claims against multi-state operator of assisted living facilities to only the locations that Plaintiffs worked at, significantly reducing value of the alleged wage and hour class claims and ultimately resolved claims on individual basis
Defeated class certification on behalf large construction company based on claims of unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest breaks, waiting time penalties and unfair business practices
Obtained summary adjudication of claims for meal and rest break violations against union construction company
Resolved class action against major food processing company alleging failure to compensate time spent donning and doffing protective equipment on favorable terms
Repeated closure of administrative agency investigations with finding of no fault or no basis for claims asserted
Achieved favorable resolution Department of Labor investigations against large janitorial companies and construction companies based on claims for failure to comply with the Davis-Bacon Act and the Federal Labor Standards Act
Admissions
California
U.S. District Court for theNorthern District ofCalifornia
U.S. District Court for theSouthern District ofCalifornia
U.S. District Court for theCentral District ofCalifornia
Education
Loyola Law School, J.D.
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., Political Science
California State Bar’s Wiley W. Manuel Award for pro bono legal services
Best Lawyers in America – Litigation – Labor and Employment
Board of Governors, Italian American Lawyers Association
Member, HR Collaborative, California Ambulance Association
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Member
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
Litigation Section, Executive Committee Member
President’s Advisory Committee on Women in the Legal Profession
Elizabeth L. Kenney Achievement Award, Co-Chair Selection Committee
California Lawyers Association, Labor & Employment Section Member
National Association of Women Lawyers, Member
Professionals in Human Resources Association, Member
