Labor and employment attorney James A. Bowles advises employers in avoiding litigation and represents employers when employment claims arise. Jim represents employers of all sizes in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, telecommunications, construction, healthcare, and restaurants.

Jim has been a pioneer in developing and successfully enforcing arbitration agreements as a strategy to avoid class action and representative lawsuits and jury trials. He is the chairman of the firm’s Labor and Employment Law Department.

Jim offers clients options, such as separation agreements, early resolution settlement or mediation, or arbitration, but also defends employers through trial and appeal against a range of claims: wrongful discharge, sexual harassment, retaliation, disability discrimination, and wage and hour violations, among others.

Over four decades of experience at all state and federal courts including the Supreme Court of California and U.S. Supreme Court, Jim has achieved favorable outcomes for employers in numerous jury trials and arbitrations.

With the rise in Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits against California employers, Jim positions his clients with strategies to prevent and defend against this threat. He litigates and resolves a range of employment, labor, and contract disputes, including the defense of claims related to:

Wage and Hour
Discrimination
Retaliation
Harassment
Wrongful Termination
Disability Accommodation

Additionally, Jim appears before federal and state administrative agencies, including the California Labor Commissioner, California Civil Rights Department, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Because employment issues can occur at all hours, Jim makes himself available whenever clients need his counsel and guidance.

On the labor front, Jim represents employers in union avoidance, collective bargaining, and grievance arbitration. He regularly represents multi-employer associations in their labor negotiations. While earning his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, Jim was a law clerk to the judges of the National Labor Relations Board.

Practice Area

Labor & Employment

Education

Georgetown University Law Center – J.D. 1979
Indiana University – A.B. 1976

Representative matters

Defense Verdict in Jury Trial

Obtained a defense verdict in favor of a large employer in a jury trial by a terminated employee alleging disability discrimination and wage and hour violations.

Defense of Disability Discrimination and Failure to Accommodate Claims

Prevailed in arbitration for a large, national employer in arbitration by terminated employee alleging disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and wrongful termination.

Defeat of Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Claims

Represented a large, national employer in arbitration by former employee alleging sexual harassment and gender discrimination; prevailed in arbitration.

Arbitration Win on Age Discrimination and Retaliation Claims

Prevailed for a large, national employer in arbitration by former employee alleging age discrimination and retaliation.

Appeal on Employment Arbitration Policy to the CA Supreme Court

Represented large employer in an appeal before the Supreme Court of California to defend the enforceability of the company’s employment arbitration policy.

Motions to Compel Arbitration

Brought over 100 motions to compel arbitration of pending FEHA, class action, and PAGA claims in state courts.

PAGA Litigation and Mediation

Represented over 100 employers, including manufacturing companies, construction companies, healthcare providers, and restaurants in litigating and resolving representative PAGA actions.

Employee Handbook Review

Review and revise handbooks and policies for large and small employers to ensure compliance with California and federal employment laws.

Multi-Employer Bargaining

Successfully negotiated multi-employer bargaining agreements in the construction industry containing arbitration of wage and hour disputes and PAGA exemptions.