About John
John R. Giovannone is a partner in the Los Angeles office where he represents employers in the full range of employment law matters, from single plaintiff to class-based wage/hour, contract, discrimination, harassment, and licensing litigation, and including traditional labor proceedings as well. While his bedrock skill set lies in employment litigation and trial advocacy, a major component of his practice involves advice and counsel so as to position his clients to avoid disputes where possible, and to prevail via litigation when necessary.
Specifically, he has litigated class actions and single plaintiff matters on behalf of employers in a wide array of industries including manufacturing, outside service and repair, financial services, defense contracting, aeronautics, commercial banking, healthcare, education, childcare, retail, pharmaceutical, construction, telemarketing, retirement services and assisted living, information technology, package delivery, and uniform services.
Giovannone has successfully litigated class and collective actions ranging the gamut of statewide, regional, and local scope under a wide-range of employment laws including, but not limited to, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Title VII, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the California Labor Code including the California Private Attorneys’ General Act (PAGA), the California Education Code, the California Unfair Competition Law, the California Auto-Renewal Statute, and California’s Title 22 Child Care Licensing Regulations.
Giovannone also has extensive experience litigating issues pertaining to the interpretation and enforceability of arbitration agreements. He has represented management before federal and California state courts, as well as federal and state administrative agencies. He has successfully opposed numerous class certification attempts and has successfully brought motions for summary judgment, preemptive denial of class certification, class decertification, class action trial plan demands, reduction of the size of purported and certified classes (by as much 90%), terminating sanctions and to recover attorneys’ fees.
Giovannone also provides advice and counsel services to his clients regarding state and federal labor and employment law, including human resources training, policy drafting, and workplace investigations.
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Areas of Practice
Class Actions
Wage and Hour Issues
Traditional Labor Law - Unions and the NLRB
Wrongful Termination and Workplace Tort Litigation
EEO Litigation
Workplace Solutions, Advice and Training
Education
Loyola Law School at Los Angeles, J.D. 2005, Honors
- Editor & Published Author, Loyola Law Review
University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 2002, Honors
Publications
"Labor Board’s Pending Work Rule Change Muddles Employer Strategy," Quoted, Bloomberg Law, March 2022
"COVID-Related Wrongful Termination Cases & Tips For Avoiding Them," Engineering Contractors' Association Magazine, April 2021
"California's COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Requirements," Engineering Contractors' Association Magazine, December 2020
"Avoiding Pandemic-Driven Litigation in California," Bloomberg Law, November 2020
"New California Employment Laws That The Sports & Fitness Industry Should Know," Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), November 2019
Presentations
"What is Happening at the NLRB? What Companies Should Know," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, October 2023
"What’s the Deal? - California Employment Law Issues in Business Transactions and Restructurings," Panelist, CDF Webinar Series, May 2023
"Tackling Key California Labor and Employment Law Issues in Acquisitions & Mergers," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, August 2022
"What’s Happening At The NLRB - The Biden Agency That Unionized & Non-Unionized Employers Need To Be Most Focused On In 2022," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, February 2022
"What Healthcare Employers Can Expect from the NLRB Under the Biden Administration," Panelist, CDF Healthcare Education Webinar Series, October 2021
"COVID-19 Compliance for California Employers and Related Wage/Hour Issues," California Weddings and Events Heroes Monthly Meeting, October 2021
"Important NLRB/Traditional Labor Law Developments," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, August 2019
"Deposition Skills," National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), June 2019
"A Review of California Employment Laws That Affect the SPORTS & Fitness Industry," Co-Presenter, Sports and Fitness Industry Association, January 2019
Professional Affiliations/Leadership/Awards
Listed, Best Lawyers®, Employment Law - Management, Irvine, CA, 2023 - 204
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Listed, Pasadena Top Attorneys 2021 & 2022, Pasadena Magazine
Listed, Southern California Super Lawyers, 2017 - 2023
Listed, Southern California Super Lawyers - Rising Star, 2014 – 2015
Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Deposition Skills and Trial Examination
Civic Activities
Board Member, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California, 2017 - Present
- Chair, National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Dinner of Champions, 2021 - 2023
Board Member, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Los Angeles Chapter, 2008 - 2016
