Julia extensively collaborates and partners with companies to solve complex employment issues. She has represented employers across wide-ranging industries in class, collective, representative and hybrid actions brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws. Her wage and hour experience includes litigation involving claims of misclassification, off-the-clock work and unpaid overtime, and meal and rest period violations. She has successfully limited class size and defeated class certification. Based on her in-depth knowledge of wage and hour laws, Julia also provides advice to clients concerning compliance and assists clients in litigation avoidance by conducting audits and assisting in the implementation of new practices focused on compliance with state and federal wage and hour requirements.

In addition, Julia has a significant amount of experience in defending claims of wrongful discharge, employment discrimination and other employment-related issues. Her extensive experience has resulted in obtaining defense verdicts at jury trials and arbitration hearings and favorable summary judgment rulings. She provides strategic advice and counsel to clients on a range of employment issues, including assistance in handling performance management, discharge and other employee matters and issues. She has created and revised employment manuals and personnel policies, and she has counseled employers in connection with workplace investigations.

Julia also has represented employers in complex employee benefits litigation, namely “stock drop” class actions brought under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Relevant Experience

• Successfully defended appeal before California Court of Appeal from summary judgment ruling by trial court dismissing PAGA action.
• Prevailed in jury trial on age discrimination claims under Texas state and federal law.
• Prevailed in arbitration hearing on disability discrimination claims under California state law.
• Prevailed in arbitration hearing on retaliation claims under California state law.
• Successfully achieved dismissal of cases at dispositive motion stage, including claims related to wage and hour practices, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and PAGA claims.

Education
BA, University of California, Los Angeles, 2000

• New COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for California State Employees and Health Care Workers

  By Julia Trankiem |August 2021

• CA DFEH Issues Guidance on Mandatory Employee Vaccination

  By Julia Trankiem |March 2021

• Proposal expands worker protections following mass layoffs; serves as a WARNing to California employers, Daily Journal
• Not Worth a Try: Courts Can Strike Unmanageable PAGA Claims Before Trial, The Recorder
• What California Employers Need to Know About the Silenced No More Act, SHRM
• Asking about criminals history is off limits during job interviews, Daily Journal
• New COVID rules for state employees, health care workers, Daily Journal
• Calif. 4-Day Workweek Proposal Would Fuel Employer Exodus, Law360
• California passes new noncompete legislation, Daily Journal
• How Does Recent Court Decision Affect Joint Employer Laws?, QSR Magazine
• For California Employers, New Year Means New Laws, The Recorder
• California Has New COVID-19 Notice And Record-Keeping Requirements, The Recorder
• How Justices’ Upcoming PAGA Ruling May Affect Employers, Law360
• SB 331: The Silenced No More Act, Daily Journal
• Key New California Privacy Laws, Law.com: The Recorder