Overview

Alan S. Levins is one of Littler Mendelson’s most experienced trial attorneys, having tried discrimination, wrongful termination and class action wage-hour cases. He began his practice focused on traditional labor law and has continued his practice in that area as well. He also counsels and defends clients in:

  • Complex litigation and jury trials
  • Sexual harassment and discrimination litigation and counseling
  • Class actions
  • Whistleblower litigation and counseling
  • Discipline and termination litigation and counseling

With extensive litigation experience in cases related to employment law, including numerous jury trials, Alan has appeared before the California Supreme Court on several occasions. He also practices before:

  • Federal, district, appellate and Supreme courts
  • Various state courts
  • The National Labor Relations Board
  • The Agricultural Labor Relations Board
  • The California Labor Commissioner
  • California's Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • The Employment Development Department

Alan works with a broad range of clients including:

  • Biotech
  • Real estate
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • Broadcast and print media
  • Trucking
  • Freight forwarding companies
  • Law firms

Alan is a member of Littler Mendelson's Traditional Labor, Class Actions, Whistleblower and Wage and Hour practice groups. He also lectures on traditional labor law, wrongful termination, and sexual harassment.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

National Labor Relations Act and Litigation committees

American Bar Association

Member

Developing Labor Law Subcommittee

American Bar Association

1975-present

Member

Bar Association of San Francisco

Member

State Bar of California

Former Board Member

Concordia/Argonaut

Former Officer

Concordia/Argonaut

Former Board Member

San Francisco Jewish Community Center

Former Board Member

Sherith Israel

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2013-2024

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

News, Analysis & Press

Are Student Interns Employees?

California Lawyer

January 9, 2018

Taxing Workplace Settlements

California Lawyer

April 1, 2015

Pleading a Claim under the False Claims Act

American Bar Association (ABA)

May 23, 2014

Are Unpaid Interns A Thing Of The Past?

Nob Hill Gazette

April 1, 2013

On-the-Job Tirades

Daily Journal

July 1, 2012

Judge rules in employer's favor on meal breaks

The Daily Journal

August 30, 2011

Food for Litigation: Companies Sued for Failing to Provide Meal Breaks

Wall Street Journal Law Blog

August 30, 2011

Graniterock wins class action lunch break case

San Jose Mercury News

August 30, 2011

Interns: Employees or Not

California Lawyer

The State Bar of California

August 1, 2008

Alan Levins Discusses Political Talk in the Workplace

KGO Morning Radio Show

November 3, 2006

Let's Not Waffle On The Issue: The State Labor Commissioner Is Not The EEOC

California Employment Report

April 2004

Will The California Courts March To The Requirements Of Due Process As Set Forth In State Farm?

California Employment Reporter

February 2004

It Wasn't a Flurry, It Was a Blizzard

California Employment Reporter

December 2003

There is Nothing Classic About Class Action Arbitrations

California Employment Reporter

October 2003

The Supreme Court Should, Once Again, Step In to Stop 'Tort Inflation'

California Employment Reporter

August 2003

It Is Time For The Demise of The 'Death Knell' Doctrine

California Employment Reporter

June 2003

Let's NOT Be Averse to Requiring 'Adverse Action' That Is Truly Adverse

California Employment Reporter

April 2003

May It Please The Court

California Employment Reporter

February 2003

Looking Back at 2002

California Employment Reporter

December 2002

Who Can Be Against Privacy?

California Employment Reporter

December 2002

Employers Beware! Ignorance is No Longer Bliss: The Case of the Immaculate Perception

California Employment Reporter

August 2002

Let's Be Fair About Punitive Damages for a Change

California Employment Reporter

June 2002

How Are You Doing With Those New Year Resolutions?

California Employment Reporter

February 2002

Survey of Employment Issues Pending Before the Supreme Court

California Employment Reporter

December 2001

Arbitration - A Policy for All Employees, Not Just the Newly Hired

California Employment Reporter

October 2001

Let's Review the Importance of Performance Reviews - Why They Must Be Performed Properly

California Employment Reporter

August 2001

Tenure Track Travails-Plaintiff Proves Pretext but Not Discrimination; Summary Judgment Affirmed

California Employment Reporter

June 2001

Playhut Plays With Fire and Gets Burned; What Did the Court Really 'Say?

California Employment Law Reporter

April 2001

The Boss's Survival Guide

McGraw-Hill

2001

Only Claims Without Merit Benefit From Jury System's Inefficiencies

Daily Journal

September 28, 1999

Law Needed to Stop Abuses by Unethical Class-Action Attorneys

S.F. Chronicle

August 9, 1999

Books & Book Chapters

  • The Boss's Survival Guide, McGraw-Hill, 2001

Speaking Engagements

San Francisco Breakfast Briefing

San Francisco, CA

February 12, 2020

Service Animal Accommodations

San Francisco, CA

October 19, 2017

A Special Labor Day 2013 Report: Is Labor Poised For Rebirth?

September 11, 2013

Wage-Hour Procedural Tactics, Pretrial and Trial Strategy: Update on the Developing Law

The 2012 Executive Employer® Conference

Littler Mendelson, Scottsdale, AZ

May 11, 2012

Brinker - The Final Decision: Healthcare

April 26, 2012

Lessons Learned from a Successful California Class Action

March 15, 2012

Preparing for Brinker - Healthcare Industry

February 8, 2012

Preparing for Brinker - Hospitality Industry

February 8, 2012

Northern California Employment Law Breakfast Briefing - San Francisco, CA

October 1, 2010

2010 Employment Law Update

March 25, 2010

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 1973
  • B.A., University of Illinois, 1969

Bar Admission

California

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • California Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California