Overview

Heather M. Vigil, currently the office managing shareholder of the Irvine office, is a global employment attorney located in Southern California. She is a trusted advisor to international employers. She also defends employers and managers in employment litigation in various forums, including federal and state courts as well as arbitration. She has a strong record of successfully defending companies in administrative hearings before various governmental agencies.

In addition, Heather regularly conducts employee and management training sessions and provides small, medium-sized, and multinational employers advice on workplace investigations, terminations, disciplinary actions, and other issues arising under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and California Labor Code.

Heather is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She is the former co-chair of Littler’s Hispanic/Latino affinity group, Reunión, and was the regional lead liaison for the Women’s Leadership Initiative.

Speaking Engagements

2019 Southern California Employer Conference

October 23, 2019

Staying Alive After AB5 - Can California Businesses Still ‘Depend’ on Independent Contractors?

August 8, 2019

Unconscious Bias in the Workplace

Irvine, CA

January 24, 2019

Southern California Legal Update Series - Costa Mesa

January 22, 2019

Global Trends and their Impact on HR Policies

California HR Conference, Long Beach, CA

August 2018

LGBT Global Mobility

California HR Conference 2018

August 2018

Diversity and Inclusion Summit 2018 - Part 2: The Training Trap: How Efforts to “Fix” Unconscious Bias Are Failing Employers

Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

May 2, 2018

Diversity and Inclusion Summit 2018 - Part 1: Should Affinity Groups Come with an Expiry Date?

Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

May 2, 2018

Southern California Legal Update - Costa Mesa

Los Angeles, CA

November 7, 2017

Southern California Breakfast Briefing - Costa Mesa

November 3, 2016

Bullying Be Gone!

CUPA-HR, SoCal Chapter

October 10, 2014

The Changing Legal and Litigation Landscape After the End of DOMA

Hispanic National Bar Association, Washington, D.C.

September 12, 2014

Top Trends and Legal Issues

Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA)

April 17, 2014

What Your Clients Don’t Know Can Hurt Them

CadenceCounsel, Beverly Hills, CA

March 24, 2014

Horses, Tattoos and Guns Accommodation Issues and Solutions for Today’s Workplace

Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA)

December 12, 2013

Employment Law Update

Irvine, CA

October 19, 2012

The Employee from Hell

Professionals In Human Resources Association, Newport Beach, CA

September 26, 2012

What Happens Overseas Doesn’t Stay Overseas: Measuring the Long Arm of the FCPA

2012 Annual Conference & Exposition - Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), Anaheim, CA

August 27, 2012

Global HR Issues: Social Media in the Workplace

Global HR News, Los Angeles, CA

March 7, 2012

Employment Law Update - Lunch and Learn

April 2011

Education

  • J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 2007
  • M.A., University of Amsterdam, 2002
  • B.A., San Jose State University, 1999

Bar Admission

California

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California