Overview

|

Leslie A. Horwitz is Senior Counsel in the Firm’s San Diego office and a member of the Labor and Employment practice group. Ms. Horwitz represents and advises employers of all sizes—from large international corporations to small businesses and individual defendants—across the full spectrum of employment law matters.

Her practice includes defending clients in litigation involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour violations, as well as representing employers in administrative hearings and investigations before state and federal agencies.

In addition to her litigation work, Ms. Horwitz provides day-to-day counseling on compliance with California and federal employment laws, including employee classification issues and wage and hour requirements, particularly those related to the payment of commissions and bonuses. She also regularly drafts and updates employee handbooks, personnel policies, and a wide range of employment agreements—including offer letters, arbitration agreements, severance agreements, and commission plans—ensuring they are tailored to each client’s operations and compliant with evolving legal standards. Ms. Horwitz additionally conducts workplace investigations and provides guidance on best practices for maintaining a fair and compliant work environment.

Ms. Horwitz’s practice is grounded in practical, risk-management-focused advice designed to help employers minimize exposure and prevent disputes before they arise.

  • Provided ongoing, comprehensive employment counsel to a diverse clientele, including automotive product shippers, security firms, and medical device suppliers. This representation involves reviewing and drafting a wide array of critical employment policies and agreements, such as developing new employee handbooks from scratch, implementing compliant leave and commission policies, and drafting essential federal and California-mandated documents including arbitration agreements, offer letters, and severance agreements
  • Provided investigative support and guidance to various businesses facing internal complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by both supervisory staff and non-employee. Including drafting detailed investigation reports outlining findings and recommending crucial next steps for corrective action, as well as conducting investigations into improper wage and hour practices to ensure compliance and mitigate liability.
  • Provided comprehensive legal counsel on a complex wage and hour matter for a timeshare company, which included a ten-year lookback review of employee commission agreements for compliance with California Labor Code. Systematically revised agreements to ensure legal adherence, identified and calculated instances of unpaid commissions and hours using detailed payroll and sales data, and successfully settled all related disputes while advising on best practices to mitigate future liability.”
  • Provided labor and employment defense for various non-profit organizations, including an adult special education center and a low-income children’s center, against allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and failure to pay all wages. Successfully negotiated strategic settlements with payment plans tailored to the organizations’ specific financial constraints and funding availability, protecting their ongoing mission.
  • Provided defense for a major internet host provider in multiple claims alleging violations of California Penal Code and various common law privacy violations. Successfully secured the dismissal of all allegations through motions to dismiss, preventing lengthy litigation and protecting the client’s reputation.

Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
  • California Superior Court

Education

  • Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • California State University, Northridge, B.A. in Anthropology and Physical and Biological Anthropology

  • Recognized as Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch”, 2025 – 2026

  • San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Leader’s Circle