Karina B. Sterman

 

Karina B. Sterman is a partner in the Litigation and Employment Law Departments of ECJ.  A published author and frequent guest speaker on employment law matters, Ms. Sterman has been recognized by her peers as a Rising Star in the Field of Employment Law, as published by LOS ANGELES magazine, from 2004 through 2011.  Ms. Sterman represents employers in all types of employment litigation and related matters.

A creative and ardent advocate for her clients, Ms. Sterman defends employers in state and federal lawsuits as well as in administrative proceedings that range from sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination matters to statutory wage and hour and unfair competition class actions.

Ms. Sterman also has significant experience in “behind the scenes” counseling on wage and hour and other employment law compliance, drafting employment related documents, and participating in business minded employment strategy to avoid litigation and costly long-term mistakes.  Ms. Sterman also builds Trade Secret and Property protection plans for employers to maximize the value of their investment in their intellectual property.

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner

Areas of Practice

• Employment Litigation and Counseling
• Trade Secret Protection
• General Business Litigation

Representative Defense Matters

• Obtained full summary judgment win for a Southern California parts manufacturer in a wrongful discrimination and harassment case which resulted in award of costs for the employer.
• Defended and tried on behalf of several Beverly Hills luxury retail companies in multi-party employment contract lawsuit and won full defense jury verdict.
• Obtained summary judgment win for California professional services company in a complex sex harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit.
• Negotiated numerous speedy and very favorable class action settlements for hospitality and restaurant employers in complex, multi-location wage and hour lawsuits in which hourly workers alleged failure to pay wages and overtime.
• Obtained full summary judgment win for international manufacturing company in reverse discrimination and wrongful termination case brought by two managers.
• Participated in numerous “behind the scenes” counseling of employers in lawfully and strategically responding to employment complaints for harassment, discrimination, and wrongful retaliation with full satisfaction to employer and no compensation owed to employee.

Published Opinion

• Comedy Club, Inc. v. Improv West Associates, D.C. No. CV-03-08134-WMB (January 29, 2009)

Education

• University of Southern California Law Center, Los Angeles, California, 1997
  J.D.
  Law Journal: Review of Law and Women’s Studies Journal, Staff Member
• University of California at Los Angeles, 1993
  B.A.
  Honors: Magna Cum Laude
  Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
  Honors: Dean’s List
  Honors: Golden Key Society
  Major: English Literature
• University of Exeter, Devon, England
  Study Abroad

Guest Speaking Engagements

• Exempt v. Non-Exempt Employee Audits for the Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA);
• Sexual Harassment Training (compliant with CA mandatory training requirements) for numerous private organizations;
• New Employment Laws for 2010 for the California CPA Education Foundation;
• Nuts and Bolts of Employment Law for the Los Angeles County Bar Association;
• Enhancing Your Balance Sheets: Protecting Your Trade Secrets for Executive Forums;
• Managing Medical Leaves for California Employers for the California CPA Education Foundation
• Employment Law Essentials for the Small Business Owner for the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE);
• Understanding the Paid Family Leave Act for the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce;
• The Hiring Process for The Retail Council.

Published Works

• California Forms of Jury Instruction on Trade Secrets (co-author), California Forms of Jury Instruction, Mathew Bender & Company, Chapter 44, May 2008 (attorney practice section of the Judicial Council Publication, recommended for use by all Superior Court judges throughout the State of California)
• “Evolving Employment Law” chapter in The Impact of Recent Regulatory Developments in Employment Law, Aspatore Books, 2009
• “Optimizing Employee Training To Account For Cultural Differences,” Author, Corporate Compliance Insights, September 4, 2009
• “Civil Procedure: High Court Case Summaries,” Co-author, West Group
• Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine, Contributor
• “Employers Beware: The Threat of Nationwide Class Actions,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 6, 2011
• “U.S. Supreme Court Works Its Magic On Class Actions One Case At A Time, But Offers No Magic Bullet For Employers Just Yet,” Employment Law Reporter, Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, August 2011

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association
  Member
• California Bar Association
  Member
• Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA)
  Member
• California Women Lawyers
  Governor (Past)
• National Employment Law Council
  Member
• ProVisors (Professional Association of Trusted Advisors)
  Member