Paul M. Smith

Paul Smith is of counsel in the Sacramento office of Ogletree Deakins. He crafts a practical, client-based approach to the defense of his clients in employment disputes spanning state and federal court, administrative proceedings, and arbitration.

Paul has experience working with small and large employers in matters of single and multi-plaintiff wage and hour disputes. He has also represented employers against allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and unfair labor practices.

Paul has developed a focus on defending employers against wage and hour class actions and representative actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act. These cases often involve claims asserting missed meal and rest breaks, off-the-clock work, rounding errors, overtime calculation errors, and unreimbursed business expenses, amongst others. Paul aims to quickly develop a strategy for litigating these cases for clients, including identifying potential strengths and weaknesses in their defense and preparing a plan to resolve the matter efficiently. Some of Paul’s recent clients include logistics companies, healthcare companies, and manufacturers.