Emilio Rodriguez focuses his practice on defending California employers in high-stakes employment litigation, particularly wage and hour class actions and representative PAGA matters. He represents businesses throughout California in complex workplace disputes and also defends claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, failure to accommodate, and related employment issues.
Emilio develops litigation strategy around an understanding of the client’s business, not simply the allegations in the complaint. He works closely with business owners, executives, and human resources professionals to understand how an employer operates, determine how California employment law applies to those operations, assess exposure, and develop a strategy designed to achieve the most effective outcome.
His experience spans the full lifecycle of employment litigation, including early case assessment, pleadings, discovery, depositions, mediation, dispositive motions, class certification, arbitration, pretrial proceedings, and trial.
Emilio also serves as a strategic advisor to employers outside the courtroom. He counsels businesses regarding wages and hour compliance, employment policies, discipline, terminations, and other workplace decisions. Drawing on his litigation experience, he helps employers recognize where operational practices can create legal exposure and address those issues before they become lawsuits.
Emilio has particular knowledge of California’s agricultural industry and represents growers, farm labor contractors, vineyards, vineyard management companies, and wineries. His experience working with agricultural employers gives him an understanding of the industry’s operational realities and allows him to provide employment advice and litigation strategy tailored to the way these businesses actually operate.
A regular speaker on California employment law, Emilio presents to employer and industry organizations throughout the state, including the California Farm Labor Contractor Association, and the Agricultural Personnel Management Association. He delivers several major industry presentations each year and conducts regular educational programs for agricultural employers addressing California wage and hour requirements and other developing employment law issues.
Fluent in Spanish, Emilio counsels employers and presents on California employment law in both English and Spanish.