High-Stakes Orange County Employment Defense Attorneys Protecting Your Capital

Last updated on April 20, 2026

Facing an employee lawsuit can be one of the most disruptive and costly challenges a business can endure. At Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George (BKCG), our seasoned trial attorneys focus exclusively on employment defense litigation in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. From our offices in Irvine, we provide aggressive, strategic advocacy to protect your company’s interests, finances and reputation from employment-related claims.

Comprehensive Defense Against All Employment Claims

California’s complex labor laws create a challenging environment for employers. We have a proven track record of defending businesses against a wide spectrum of employment matters, including:

• Wrongful termination and retaliation claims: Robust defense against allegations of retaliatory discharge, whistleblower claims and other forms of wrongful termination. We analyze the circumstances  to build a case protecting your management decisions.
• PAGA and wage and hour disputes: We provide a powerhouse defense for California business owners against the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Our lawyers stay up to date on PAGA reform to shield your assets from representative penalties. We work to dismantle wage and hour claims of overtime violations, meal and rest break issues, and employee misclassification.
• Discrimination and harassment claims: We defend employers against discrimination claims based on age, race, gender, disability, and other protected classes, handling internal investigations and representing you before the EEOC and DFEH.
• Breach of contract disputes: We represent employers in disputes arising from employment contracts, including the enforcement of noncompete, nonsolicitation and confidentiality agreements.

Our legal team is well-versed in both state and federal regulations (including FEHA, FMLA and Title VII).

Strategic Risk Mitigation: The Outside HR Department For C-Level Executives

Your assets face constant threats. We partner with besieged owners to avoid the reputational damage of a public courtroom battle. Our team acts as your outside HR department to stop sleep loss and protect capital. We do not just react to crises. We identify hidden vulnerabilities before they turn into expensive liabilities. Our approach focuses on asset protection through meticulous policy management. This may include:

• Strategic hiring and onboarding: Crafting structured interview processes, drafting job descriptions and designing onboarding programs.
• Drafting and reviewing employment documents: Drafting and reviewing employment agreements, offer letters, contractor agreements, confidentiality agreements, termination agreements and more.
• Employee Classification: Providing guidance on contractor versus employee status.
• Contract enforcement: Exploring methods to compel all parties to uphold their agreements.
• Terminations and performance management: Carrying out terminations to minimize the risk of a wrongful termination claim.

Protect your legacy with counsel that anticipates the attack before it happens. Our team ensures your company remains a fortress against opportunistic litigation.

Is Your Employee Handbook A 2026 Liability? Navigating The AB 692 Ban

As of January 1, 2026, so-called training debt clauses are actionable under AB 692, or the California Stay or Pay Ban of 2026. This new law voids provisions requiring employees to repay you for basic training or onboarding costs if they quit.

Training debt clauses are not just unenforceable but also actionable. If the language exists in an employment contract, an employee could sue you – even if you never tried to collect the debt. Our team performs thorough 2026 contract audits to prevent training repayment agreement liability. Currently, we are auditing legacy contracts for medium-to-large entities. If needed, our AB 692 defense attorneys can defend you assertively in a dispute.

Why Choose BKCG For Your Employment Defense?

Our firm offers:

• Proven results: For example, we recently secured a complete defense verdict in binding arbitration for a client facing wage and hour claims, saving the company from a devastating financial judgment.
• Trial experience: Our seasoned trial lawyers prepare every case as if it will go to court.
• Partner-level attention: Our partners and senior associates handle your case, never passing it down to a junior associate.

When your business is on the line, you need a law firm like ours that can offer a verifiable history of success.

Request A 2026 Employment Liability Audit

If you have received a demand letter, been served with a lawsuit, or want to proactively protect your business from future claims, contact our team today. Call our Irvine office at 949-227-2201 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with an experienced employment defense lawyer.