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Overview

Chris Jalian is a partner in the Employment Law practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Admitted to practice in California and New York, Mr. Jalian often acts for national and international companies with workforces spanning the United States. His clients include financial institutions, major manufacturers, hotels and hotel management companies, healthcare providers, entertainment houses, and technology companies.

Wage and Hour Class, Collective, and Representative Actions: Lauded in The Legal 500 for his wage and hour collective action work, Mr. Jalian regularly litigates class, collective, and representative action lawsuits.  A frequent speaker on these areas of law, Mr. Jalian is often called to represent employers facing novel legal challenges in relation to their hourly workforce.  Mr. Jalian has secured dismissal of multiple class and representative actions in the pleading stage, successfully limited the broad grant of discovery in a Private Attorneys General Act representative action leading to an employer-favorable resolution, and has defended employers against unions regarding interpretation of wage provisions in their collective bargaining agreements. Mr. Jalian also counsels employers and revises employers’ policies to ensure compliance with federal and state wage and hour requirements.

Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Litigation: Mr. Jalian represents employers against claims involving federal and state antidiscrimination, harassment, and whistleblower retaliation laws. Clients routinely engage Mr. Jalian when facing such claims brought by or concerning their top executives. Mr. Jalian successfully navigates these high-profile discrimination and retaliation claims, while mitigating media fallout.

Government Investigations and Enforcement: Mr. Jalian represents employers in high-profile government investigation and enforcement actions, including defending claims of systemic discrimination, retaliation, and violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and/or the Fair Chance Act. Mr. Jalian has successfully secured dismissal of multiple governmental investigations, including threatened systemic claims spanning his clients’ entire workforces.

Mr. Jalian received his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2012, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as the Executive Editor of the Columbia Journal of European Law. He received his B.A. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles, cum laude, in 2008.

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 USA, Labor and Employment Disputes Including Collective Actions: Defense (2022)
  • California Super Lawyer Rising Star (2018–2023)

Education

  • Columbia Law School, J.D., 2012
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 2008

    insights

    Engagement & Publications

    • Your Questions Answered: Preparing Your Witness for a Deposition," American Bar Association, May 2013
    • Beverly Hills Bar Association, “The Latest Developments Regarding the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004,” March 27, 2018
    • California Lawyers Association, “Wage and Hour Basics,” February 7, 2019
    • “Beware Cost of Meal and Rest Break Noncompliance in California,” Law360, February 22, 2019
    • Beverly Hills Bar Association, “The Latest Developments Regarding the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004,” May 30, 2019
    • “Offshore Rig Ruling Checks State Claims at Shore,” Law360, June 19, 2019
    • Los Angeles County Bar Association, “COVID-Era Wage & Hour Basics for Employment Lawyers Who Don’t Do Wage & Hour Cases,” May 28, 2020
    • Beverly Hills Bar Association, "The California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act" (March 18, 2021)
    • California Employment Law Council, "The California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act" (May 18, 2021)
    • Beverly Hills Bar Association, "2022 PAGA Update—PAGA’s Past, Present, and Future" (April 13, 2022)

    Practice Areas

    Litigation

    Employment Litigation

    Employment Counseling and Preventive Advice

    Employment Law


    Languages

    Armenian

    English


    Admissions

    California Bar

    New York Bar


    Education

    Columbia Law School, J.D. 2012

    University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. 2008