Apalla Chopra

Partner

Apalla Chopra is is a partner in O’Melveny’s Los Angeles office, a member of the Labor and Employment Practice, and a member of the Firm’s Policy Committee (12-member Board of Directors). She specializes in litigating complex multi-plaintiff and class action discrimination and wage and hour cases. Her experience is broad as she has represented clients in cases regarding employee allegations of invasion of privacy, wrongful discharge, and discrimination based on age, race, sex, national origin, physical handicap, and related matters. Apalla also has represented clients in traditional labor matters under the National Labor Relations Act and Educational Employment Relations Act, and has experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements and executive employment contracts. She has appeared in state and federal courts in the civil and criminal context, as well as before various administrative agencies. Apalla’s industry experience is likewise broad, as she has represented companies in the biotechnology, manufacturing, airline, health, retail, hospitality, private and public schools, and entertainment sectors.

Apalla has represented both employers and amici in many significant trial court and appellate cases, including Chindarah v. Pick Up Stix, Inc., 171 Cal. App. 4th 796 (2009); Alch v. Superior Court, 122 Cal. App. 4th 339 (2004); Thomas v. Bristol Farms, Inc., 2003 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 11024 (2003); Wynn v. NBC, 234 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (C.D. Cal. 2002); and Fanaka v. Warner Bros., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19078 (2000).

Illustrative Professional Experience

• Represented the major Hollywood motion picture and television studios in a class action race discrimination lawsuit brought by an African American director; successfully moved to dismiss lawsuit
• Represented a major Hollywood studio and network in a class action age discrimination claim brought by television writers; successfully moved to dismiss lawsuit multiple times
• Represented a public school district in a high-profile multi-plaintiff federal lawsuit alleging peer-to-peer racial harassment
• Represented a Fortune 50 manufacturing company in multiple wrongful termination lawsuits; successfully moved for summary judgment on multiple causes of action
• Represented public hospital in collective bargaining negotiations with Service Employees International Union
• Representing four public and private companies in six wage and hour class actions which include a range of allegations from minimum wage, overtime, meal/rest and pay stub violations, to California's Unfair Competition Law and fraud
• Representing retail market chain in sexual harassment case
• Provides day-to-day labor and employment law advice to public and private employers
• Provides training in labor and employment law issues to public and private employers
• Acts as neutral investigator into allegations of whistleblowing and sexual harassment

Professional Activities

Judicial Extern, Honorable Charles Legge, US District Court, Northern District of California
Admitted, California
Admitted to Practice, US District Court, Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California
Member, American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section; American Employment Law Counsel; California Bar Association; California Employment Law Counsel; Institute for Corporate Counsel, Board of Governors (President 2008, Secretary 2007)
Honors, Selected as one of California's leading lawyers in the area of Management Labour & Employment by Who's Who Legal (2008).  Named a “Super Lawyer” in a survey conducted by Law & Politics Media Inc. and published in Los Angeles magazine (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).  Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for her Labor and Employment work (2011, 2010); Selected by the Daily Journal as a leading (defense-side) Employment Attorney (2010)
Recent Speaking Engagements/Papers, "Getting Choosy: How to find (and Be) the Right Neutral for the Job" (Los Angeles County Bar Association's 30th Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium, March 2010); “Regular Rate, Donning & Doffing and Audits: Missing the Basics Can Cost Dearly” (38th Annual Institute on Employment Law, Practising Law Institute, October 2009); "Strategically Managing Your Workforce—Adjusting to Changes on Wall Street and in Washington” (California Employment Law Council Conference, June 2009; Los Angeles County Bar Association, Corporate Law Roundtable, March 2009; Four-part O'Melveny & Myers Labor and Employment Seminar, January and February 2009); “Tips and Tactics for Responding to Threatened or Suspected Employee Theft of Trade Secrets,” (O’Melveny Seminar, May 2009); “Ethical Issues in Class Action and Other Settlement Negotiations” (LACBA’s 29th Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium, March 2009); Master of Ceremonies (Institute for Corporate Counsel, December 2008); “Applicant Screening: Legal Issues and Practical Solutions to Vetting Applicants in the Brave New World of Google, Facebook, and You Tube” (American Employment Law Council Conference, October 2008); “The Viability of Non-Compete Clauses Post Edwards v. Arthur Andersen LLP” (California Employment Law Council Conference, September 2008); “How to Conduct Internal Investigations: Lessons Learned From Recent Corporate Scandals” (California Employment Law Council Conference, June 2007); “Recent Developments in California and Federal Employment Law” (Los Angeles County Bar Association Symposium, March 2007)