Erin Leach’s practice is concentrated in employment litigation and counseling. She provides clients with ongoing counseling on a wide range of personnel matters including hiring and termination decisions, employment agreements, policy drafting, wage and hour issues, and employee medical leave. Erin represents employers in state and federal courts and arbitration, as well as before administrative agencies, in disputes regarding wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, unfair competition, trade secrets, reasonable accommodation of disabilities, retaliation, wage and hour (individual and class actions), and other types of employment matters.
Defense of “whistleblower” actions on behalf of service and retail clients
Defense of wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment actions on behalf of service and retail clients and management employees
Defense of wage and hour class action litigation on behalf of service and retail clients
Binding arbitration experience in retaliation, wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, fraud and wage claim cases
Defended class and individual actions and advised trucking, busing, and logistics companies regarding application of the Federal Motor Carrier Act (FMCA)
University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (J.D., cum laude, 2006)
Order of the Coif
Harvard University (B.A., Psychology, cum laude, 2002)
Academic All-Ivy (2001)
Academic All-District Second Team (2001)
All-Ivy Second Team (1999-2001)
Volleyball - Co-Captain (2001)
Orange County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
"What Employers Can Expect in a Post-COVID Biden Administration," Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Virtual CLE Series (June 1, 2021)
"California COVID-19 Webinar: Employer Tips for Returning Employees to Work and Managing a Hybrid WFH Workforce," Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Webinar (May 5, 2021)
"New California Laws for 2021 Affecting California Employers," Presenter, 2020 Employment Law Tool Kit Three-Part Webinar Series: Session 2: California-Specific Issues (November 12, 2020)
"Restrictive Covenants Dos and Don’ts," Co-Presenter, Employment Law Tool Kit Seminar, Snell & Wilmer, Costa Mesa, CA (November 7, 2018)
"Dynamex: The Destruction of the Independent Contractor Model and Where We Are Now," Co-Presenter, Employment Law Tool Kit Seminar, Snell & Wilmer, Costa Mesa, CA (November 7, 2018)
"Dynamex: The Destruction of the Independent Contractor Model," Presenter, SMB TechFest Q4, Anaheim, CA (October 18, 2018)
"Did Dynamex Destroy the Independent Contractor Model?" Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Seminar, Los Angeles, CA (October 17, 2018)
"Did Dynamex Destroy the Independent Contractor Model?" Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Seminar, Costa Mesa, CA (September 27, 2018)
"Did Dynamex Destroy the Independent Contractor Model?" Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer and Association of Corporate Counsel (Southern California Chapter) Harbor Cruise CLE, Newport Beach, CA (June 20, 2018)
"He, She or Ze: Addressing Transgender Issues in the Workplace," Co-Presenter, Employment Law Tool Kit Seminar, Snell & Wilmer, Costa Mesa, CA (November 16, 2016)
"Bills, Bills and More Bills: New California Laws Employers Should Know," Co-Presenter, Employment Law Tool Kit Seminar, Snell & Wilmer, Costa Mesa, CA (November 16, 2016)
"Down the Rabbit Hole: What to Expect in Appellate Arbitration," Presenter, Orange County Bar Association - Appellate Law Section Meeting, Santa Ana, CA (April 7, 2016)
"Independent Contractors - What's in a Name? and New Hire Notices - More Paper for Employers to Complete," Speaker, Employment Tool Kit Seminar, Snell & Wilmer, Costa Mesa, CA (November 8, 2012)
"Take Control of Your Computers: Top 5 Considerations in the New Media Era," Speaker, Employment Toolkit Seminar, Snell & Wilmer, Costa Mesa, CA (October 2010)
Southern California Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Employment Litigation: Defense (2013-2016)
"The Top Women Attorneys in Southern California," Los Angeles Magazine (2016)
Women Helping Women/Men to Work (WHW), Board of Directors
Legal Services for Children, Intern (Fall 2004)
Adams, Esq., Law Clerk, Oakland, CA (Summer 2004)
Public Defender's Office, Juvenile Division, Intern, San Francisco, CA (Summer 2004)
The Help Group, High School Special Education Teacher (2002-2003)
California
Supreme Court of California
United States District Court, All Districts of California