Douglas J. Farmer

Mr. Farmer currently serves or has recently served as lead defense counsel in a number of significant California wage and hour class actions, including:

• Nationwide discrimination class action against one of the world’s largest technology staffing firms alleging billion-dollar liability; defeated class certification
• Nationwide class action against a major airline for alleged failure to make contributions to pilot pension and sick leave plans in violation of USERRA
• Multiple California class and PAGA actions involving wage and hour claims against one of the nation’s largest janitorial and building maintenance companies
• California class action against one of the world’s largest apparel and footwear manufacturers for alleged wage statement and meal break violations.
• Nationwide class investigation by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) of alleged independent contractor misclassification of “last-mile” delivery drivers by a major international transportation and logistics firm.
• California/FLSA class action against a Fortune 10 company alleging off-the-clock, overtime, bonus, PAGA, and meal and rest period violations on behalf of convenience store managers.
• California class actions against a Fortune 100 food manufacturing company for off-the-clock, donning/doffing, PAGA, and meal and rest period violations (eight class actions).
• California wage and hour class action against Fortune 200 clothing retailer alleging unpaid off-the-clock work by store managers and assistant store managers.
• Class action against Fortune 500 manufacturer for off-the-clock, overtime, PAGA, and meal and rest period violations (two class actions).
• Multiple class actions against a Fortune 500 industrial supply company for misclassification of store managers, failure to pay overtime, and meal and rest period violations (three class actions).
• California wage and hour class action against a Fortune 500 electrical supply company alleging unpaid overtime, PAGA, and meal and rest period violations as to warehouse and driver employees.
• Class investigation by DOL of the world’s largest convenience store chain for alleged minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping violations at 1500 California stores.
• Multiple consolidated class actions against one of the world’s largest transportation logistics companies for failure to pay drivers for hours worked, meal and rest period violations, and related penalties.
• Multiple consolidated class actions against a nationwide trucking and logistics company for failure to pay mechanics for all hours worked, meal and rest period violations, PAGA, and related penalties.
• Multiple consolidated wage and hour class actions against a major California janitorial and maintenance company for failure to meet minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, provide required meal and rest breaks, comply with state wage statement requirements, and comply with PAGA (12 class actions).

Lead trial attorney:

• Month-long bench trial involving claims by multiple employees for unpaid off-the-clock work, PAGA violations, meal and rest period violations, wage statement violations, and waiting time penalties.
• Two-week bench trial involving claims for disability discrimination, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, and FMLA/CFRA violations.
• Three-week jury trial involving claims for pregnancy discrimination by a female executive producer for a television production company.
• Two-week bench trial involving claims of promissory fraud by a mortgage industry executive.
• Three-week jury trial involving claims for sexual harassment and retaliation against the chief financial officer of a major corporation;
• Two-week jury trial involving claims for age discrimination against a major employer;
• Multiple arbitrations involving a range of employment matters.

Education

• J.D., Harvard Law School, 1986
• A.B., magna cum laude, Harvard College, 1982

Admission to Practice

• California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California

• California State Bar (Employment Law Section)
• San Francisco Bay Area Boy Scout Council (Counsel to Board of Directors)
• Civil Service Commission, City of Piedmont, CA (Commissioner and Past Chair)
• OPARC (Board of Directors)
• East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation (Board Member, Past President, and Chair)

• Navigating California Employment Law – “You Need to See This! Communicating Effectively With the C-Suite on the Importance of California Employment Law Compliance” – Napa – February 29, 2024
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Real Solutions for Managing California Class Action and PAGA Risks” – San Diego – May 11, 2023
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Pay Transparency and Equal Pay in California: Strategies for Compliance” – Napa – March 3, 2023
• Harvard Law School Association of Massachusetts – “Psychiatric Disabilities and Reasonable Accommodation In the Legal Profession” – Boston – January 26, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “California Wage and Hour Class and PAGA Lawsuits: Top 10 Ways to Avoid Litigation” – September 20, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “California Meal and Rest Break Trifecta: Donohue, Ferra, and Naranjo” – June 27, 2022
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Interview with Former California Supreme Court Justice Ming W. Chin” – Napa – March 3, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “California Meal Break Requirements: Donohue v. AMN Services, LLC” – March 9, 2021
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Don’t Forget About California Pay Equity Compliance” – March 5, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “California Update: What the Recent State and Local Orders Mean for Your Business” – March 24, 2020
• California Employment Law & Cabernet – “California Wage and Hour Quandaries: The Five Biggest Mistakes Employers Make (and Keep Repeating)” – Napa – March 6, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Golden Days – Top 10 California Developments” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “Discrimination and Harassment in the #MeToo Era: Complying With California’s Web of Prevention Requirements” – Napa – March 1, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Stop California Dreaming and Wake Up to the State’s New Laws” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “Surfin’ Safari – Riding the Wave of California Wage and Hour Claims” – Napa – March 1, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Welcome to the Golden State-for Wage and Hour Plaintiffs!” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “Paycheck to Paycheck – California’s New Fair Pay Act Amendments and Audit Strategies to Manage Risk” – Napa – March 2, 2017
• ACC – “The Top 10 Employment Law Compliance Developments for In-House Counsel” – San Francisco – June 17, 2016
• The State Bar of California – “Newest Developments in Wage and Hour Law: Hot Topics” – Berkeley – April 21, 2016
• NFP Insurance Services, Inc. – “San Francisco’s Healthcare Security Ordinance: Who is Getting Prosecuted and Why?” – San Francisco – September 17, 2015
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “New California Employment Law Developments and How They Impact Your Business” – September 15, 2015
• California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) – “Employee Handbooks” – Monterey – September 3, 2015
• California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) – “Wage & Hour Law Compliance” – Monterey – September 3, 2015
• California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) Webinar – “Bullying in the Workplace: California’s New Training and Prevention Requirements” – August 27, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Hits Keep Coming – California Employment Law Update” – San Antonio – May 15, 2015
• Northern California Human Resources Association (NCHRA) – HR West 2015  – “Top 10 Employment Law Cases Affecting California Employers” – Oakland – March 3, 2015
• California Employment Law & Caberne – “Sick and Tired – Integrating Your Sick Leave and PTO Policies With California’s New Paid Sick Leave Law” – Napa – February 26, 2015
• Ultimate Software HR Workshop – “2015 Employment Law Update” – San Jose – February 10, 2015
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “Inclement Weather Pay Policies” – January 14, 2015
• Center for Competitive Management (C4CM) Webinar – “California Leave Law Update: Navigating the Golden State’s New Paid Leave Legislation and Changes to the CFRA/FMLA, PDL, and PFL” – November 19, 2014
• National Business Institute, Inc. – “Human Resource Law From Start to Finish – ”Recruitment and Hiring – California” – Oakland – November 5, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Headline News – Recent Developments in Employment Law and Legislation” – San Francisco – November 4, 2014
• ProVisors – Silicon Valley Mergers & Acquisitions Group – “The Top 10 Labor and Employment Law Pitfalls in M&A Deals” – Palo Alto – October 27, 2014
• NFP Insurance Services, Inc. – “Employment Law Compliance for Restaurants” – San Francisco – October 22, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “CA Transportation Industry: The Top Three California Law Challenges for Transportation Companies” – October 14, 2014
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “California Dreaming: Updates from the Golden State” – Dana Point – September 18, 2014
• NFP Insurance Services, Inc. – “2014 California Employment Law Update'” – San Francisco – July 30, 2014
• Center for Competitive Management (C4CM) Webinar – “2014 California Employment Law Update” – July 25, 2014
• California Employment Law for Multistate employers Bootcamp Webinar – “California’s Unique and Complex State Employment Law Requirements: Avoiding Employment Law Surprises” – June 26, 2014
• Testimony before United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – “Growth of the Non-English Speaking Workforce and Recommendations for Change to EEOC National Origin Regulations and Enforcement Guidance” – Washington, D.C. – November 2013
• Vistage CEO Roundtable – “Making Peace with HR: The Role of the CEO in Employment Law Compliance” – San Francisco – July 2013
• Lorman Education Services (Audio Conference)  – “California’s New Sales Compensation Guidelines” – May 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Wage and Hour Litigation – California Style!” – New Orleans – May 2013
• California Employment Law Council – “Armenta – Payment for Contract Hours & Minimum Wage in Piece Rate and Commission Compensation” – Sacramento – April 2013
• Lorman Education Services – “Understanding the Overlap of CA Workers’ Comp, Disability and Leave of Absence Laws” – Oakland – March 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Wage and Hour Litigation in California – Avoiding Million Dollar Mistakes” – Napa – March 2013
• Serra Center – “Mandated Reporting and Worker’s Compensation” – Fremont – February 2013
• Lorman Education Services – “Essential Forms and Policies to Manage Disability and Leave Issues” – Oakland – 2013
• Center for Competitive Management Webinar – “California Labor and Employment Law Update for 2013” – January 2013
• Lorman Education Services – “Essential Forms and Policies to Manage Disability and Leave Issues” – San Francisco – January 2013
• Lorman Education Services – “Understanding the Overlap of California’s Workers’ Compensation, Disability and Leave of Absence Laws” – San Francisco – January 2013
• Lorman Education Services (Audio Conference) – “Inclement Weather Pay Policies” – January 2013
• Serra Center – “Mandated Reporting and Worker’s Compensation” – Fremont – January 2013
• Center for Competitive Management Webinar – “Caution: Pregnant Women at Work: Ensuring Compliance with California Labor Law” – December 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “California Sales Commission Agreements” – December 2012
• California Employment Law Council – “Independent Contractors Are They Really Your Employees? Joint Employer Issues” – Los Angeles – November 2012
• HR.Com and Clear Path Webinar – “Getting Ready for 2013: 7 Tips to Build Your Business Case for a 1099 Independent Contractor Compliance Program” – November 2012
• Lorman Education Services (Audio Conference) – “CA New Commission Pay Rules for 2013” – November 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Payment of Regular and Final Wages, Deductions from Wages, and Computing Rates of Pay” – November 2012
• Bridgeport’s Annual Wage & Hour Litigation & Management Conference – “Alternatives to Class Actions” – San Francisco – October 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Eye on Employment Law: A Review of CA Legal Developments and How They Impact Your Business” – San Francisco – October 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Determining ‘Hours Worked,’ Recordkeeping, and Timekeeping System ‘Best Practices'” – October 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “CA Meal and Rest Periods, Wage Statements, and Methods of Wage Payment” – September 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Addressing Transgender Issues In The Workplace” – July 1, 2012
• Business Forums International – “The 8 Deadly Sins of Personnel Mismanagement” – San Francisco – July 2012
• Lorman Education Services – “Employment Law Update” – Oakland – July 2012
• Lorman Education Services (Audio Conference) – “California Wage and Hour Update” – July 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “California Focus: Wage And Hour Claims And Class Action Suits” – Phoenix – May 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Doing Business In California Is Unique – Basic Blocking And Tackling” – Phoenix – May 2012
• Practicing Law Institute – “Top 5 Employment Issues for Non-Profits” – San Francisco – May 2012
• California Employment Law Council – “The Evolving Employment Relationship – Wage & Hour Liability For Your Subcontractor’s Violations” – Sacramento – April 2012
• Center for Competitive Management Webinar – “Pregnant Workers: What’s Legal, What’s Not In California” – April 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Employee Handbooks: Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them” – San Francisco and San Jose – April 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Meal And Rest Periods After Brinker: What Employers Need To Know To Comply” – April 2012
• Lorman Education Services – “Wage And Hour Law For Companies Doing Business In California” – San Jose – March 2012
• Golden Gate Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators – “Preventing Employer Liability In The Expanding Blogosphere” – San Francisco – February 2012
• HR.Com and ClearPath Webinar – “Contingent Workers – New CA Misclassification Law” – January 2012
• Levinson Benefits Group  – “Benefits, Payroll And HR Developments” – San Francisco – January 2012
• Lorman Education Services (Audio Conference) – “Essential Payroll Practices For Companies Doing Business In California” – January 2012
• Lorman Education Services (Audio Conference) – “Inclement Weather Pay Policies” – January 2012
• HR.Com and ClearPath Webinar – “Urgent Legislative Update on Contract Labor: Focus California” – December 2011
• California Employment Law Council – “Dealing With The Obama Agencies – EEOC, NLRB, OFCCP” – San Francisco – November 2011
• California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) – “California Employment Law Fundamentals” – San Francisco  – October 2011
• California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Employment Law Fundamentals Conference – “California Wage And Hour Law” – San Fransisco – October 2011
• California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Two Employment Law Fundamentals Conference – “Drafting California Employment Policies & Handbooks” – San Francisco – October 2011
• Association of Otolaryngology Administrators – “EEOC and the Disgruntled Employee – The Strategic Response To Complaints Of Discrimination” – San Fransisco – September 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Essential Payroll Practices for Companies Doing Business in California” – September 2011
• Lorman Education Services (Audio Conference) – “California Wage And Hour Law – Essential Payroll Practices For Companies Doing Business In California” – July 2011
• Manager Training Program – “Hiring & Termination — Training For Partners And Principals” – San Francisco – June 2011
• Identifying And Preventing Sexual Harassment And Other Types Of Discrimination – A Management Responsibility – “A.B. 1825 Training, Various Employers” – May 2011
• Non-Profit Manager Workshop – “Supervisor Training – Hiring; Leaves Of Absence; Termination & Discipline; Wage And Hour” – San Francisco – May 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar (Moderator) – “Medical Marijuana in The Workplace” – Chicago – May 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Developments In California Wage And Hour Law – Wage Statement Defenses And Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) Claims” – San Francisco – April 2011
• Levinson Benefits Group – “Top Employment Law Issues Facing California Restaurant Owners” – San Francisco – March 2011
• Lorman Education Services – “Effective Employee Documentation Strategies” – San Francisco – March 2011
• Ultimate Software Human Resources Program – “Wage And Hour Law – Trends In California Litigation” – San Jose – February 2011

• Fellow, The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
• Fellow, The American Bar Foundation
• Stand-Out Lawyer, Thompson Reuters
• Northern California Super Lawyers (2012-present)
• Silver Beaver Award, San Francisco Bay Area Boy Scout Council (Board of Directors)
• Philanthropist of the Year, OPARC (Board of Directors)
• Rotary Graduate Scholar – Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, 1982-83