Michelle H. Le is a Principal Attorney in the firm’s Labor and Employment Group. She has a wide range of experience in business, complex commercial, employment, and insurance litigation. Michelle has represented private companies and public entities in a broad range of disputes. She handles single-plaintiff, class, and representative actions in state and federal court as well as arbitration.
Michelle defends employers against litigation involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower status, wage-and-hour violations, and claims under the Private Attorneys General Act, among others. She has succeeded on motions for summary judgment and motions for summary adjudication in defense of her clients. Michelle has also achieved case dismissals through successful demurrers, among other means. She regularly negotiates favorable and expeditious settlements for her clients, including through pre-litigation informal negotiations, before administrative agencies such as the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (California Labor Commissioner’s Office), in mediation, and during litigation and arbitration. She also provides proactive advice and counsel on employment law compliance. Clients and colleagues value Michelle’s depth of experience and strategic approach, drawing on her extensive background representing national and regional business entities, insurance companies, and individual clients. Her early career also included plaintiff-side work in civil rights and employment law, giving her a well-rounded perspective that informs her defense practice.
Michelle is a “Double Bruin” as she received both her undergraduate and her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She was accepted into UCLA School of Law’s highly competitive Early Decision Program. During law school, Michelle earned the UCLA School of Law Faculty Scholarship Award and the UCLA School of Law Graduate Opportunity Fellowship. She worked as an extern for the Honorable Margaret M. Morrow of the United States District Court, Central District Court of California. Michelle served as Managing Editor of the Asian Pacific American Law Journal and President of the Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association. After law school, she was awarded an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellowship. Michelle has also worked with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, other private sector law firms, and public sector entities.
As Michelle’s legal career became focused on defense litigation and advice and counsel, her prior plaintiff-side work in civil rights and employment law still informs her defense work, enables her to provide dedicated and tailored advocacy, and helps her to achieve the best possible results for her clients.