Kent J. Sprinkle

San Diego Office Managing Partner
San Diego Office
ksprinkle@cdflaborlaw.com
(858) 646-0007, ext 1519
Download VCARD
Download Bio

CLAY Award for Class Actions, 2015

Born and raised in Woodland, California, Yolo County

If I Wasn't A Lawyer, I'd Be: A Psychologist

Favorite Quote: “A lawyer is a person who writes a 10,000-word document and calls it a ‘brief.’” - Franz Kafka (allegedly)

Learn More about Kent and Areas of Practice

About Kent

Representing companies with workforces in California ranging from Fortune 500 global companies to small business owners, Kent Sprinkle understands the employment law and business considerations impacting employers in a wide variety of industries including technology, finance, retail, hospitality, construction, healthcare, and consulting.  Kent brings nearly twenty years of employment law defense experience to his litigation, advice, and counseling practice. He understands that businesses are made up of people and that navigating California’s employment laws can be stressful and challenging for those charged with managing employees.  Kent’s experience and knowledge – combined with his approachability, responsiveness, and humor – personalizes the attention given to each client and minimizes the strain of litigation and decision-making on employment-related matters. Kent’s clients receive the high caliber legal and client service they expect, along with a true business partner they can count on.

Kent has aggressively defended and resolved numerous employment disputes, including individual, class action, and representative action cases, with expansive trial and appellate work in both state and federal courts, including claims of alleged wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour violations. In addition, his practice also focuses on advising employers on personnel decisions and policies on a wide spectrum of employment law topics from wage and hour compliance to hiring and terminations, to ensure compliance with the myriad of California-related employment laws and regulations to avoid potentially costly litigation.

One of the few California employment lawyers with extensive class action trial and appellate experience, Kent’s practice has helped to shape California class action law, with multiple published decisions resulting. He was part of the trial and appellate team that won a landmark California Supreme Court decision that formulated class action certification and trial management principles in employment cases. Kent has also successfully argued before the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit in employment class action cases, addressing topics ranging from attorney conflicts of interest to whether state employment laws apply on oil drilling rigs operating off the coast of California on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Kent enjoys learning about new industries, technologies, and advising on the unique employment-law issues facing employers of all types and sizes.

contact me

Education

University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 2003

  • Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly
  • Tony Patiño Fellow

University of San Francisco, B.A., cum laude, English Literature, 2000

Written Opinions

Melena v. ASRC Indus. Servs., LLC, 2022 WL 423493 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 19, 2022)

Mauia v. Petrochem Insulation, Inc., 5 F.4th 1068 (9th Cir. 2021)

Duran v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n (“Duran II”), 19 Cal.App.5th 630 (2018)

Trahan v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass'n, 2015 WL 75139 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 6, 2015)

Duran v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass'n, 59 Cal. 4th 1 (2014)

Mazzei v. Regal Entertainment Group, 2013 WL 6633079 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 13, 2013)

Byrnes v. Lockheed-Martin, Inc., 2005 WL 3555701 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 28, 2005)
 

Presentations

"Top 10 Employment Issues for California Employers Dealing with Remote Workers," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, July 2021

"Legal Updates and Strategies For Defending Wage & Hour Class Actions and PAGA Lawsuits,” Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, October 2019

"Complying with Prop 11 - Managing and Preventing Staffing Level, Meal Period and Rest Break Issues," Co-Presenter, California Ambulance Association (CAA), 2019 Annual Convention, September 2019

“Managing Employees – Make The Law Work For You,” California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) Spring Conference, San Diego, April 2018

"How California Employers Can Protect Themselves from the Coming Wave of PAGA Litigation: Not a Joking Matter," CDF Webinar Series, April 2015

"Social Media in the Workplace," California Restaurant Association, July 2012

Professional Affiliations/Leadership/Awards

Received CLAY Award for being recognized as one of the Attorneys of the Year, Class Actions, California Lawyer, 2015

Listed, Super Lawyers Southern California, 2024

Listed, Super Lawyers Northern California Rising Star, 2013 - 2018

Civic Activities

Board of Trustees of the UC Hastings College of the Law Foundation, 2017 - 2020

The Tony Patiño Fellowship, Board Member, 2008 - present

  • Nonprofit organization that awards law-school scholarships at UC Hastings, University of Chicago and Columbia University

UC Hastings Law Alumni Association, San Diego Chapter Co-Leader, 2020 - Present

Pro Bono

Boys Hope Girls Hope, San Francisco Bay Area, Ongoing Counsel, 2009 - 2019



Why CDF

Our clients can rest assured that our attorneys will protect their time, protect their dime and protect their peace of mind, so they can focus on maintaining productive and rewarding workplaces to remain competitive and successful in their marketplace. CDF - Attorneys you can Trust. Experience you can Trust. Results you can Trust.

learn more

CDF Labor Law LLP © 2024

Why CDF What We Do Attorneys Case Studies News & Events Offices Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy