Eugene C. Ryu
Gene Ryu is a partner and practice area leader for the firm’s Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice. His role requires him to develop and implement business strategies for the practice, which also makes him an effective relationship partner who focuses on his client’s business needs. Gene’s clients are in all industries ranging from “unicorn” tech startups to companies with international workforces. Gene's practice includes both litigation (including complex wage and hour class actions, PAGA representative actions, harassment and discrimination claims) as well as advice and counseling on all employment-related topics.
For more than two decades, Gene has represented prominent employers and management in a wide range of matters. He frequently defends California employers in high stakes wage-and-hour class actions and private attorney general (PAGA) representative actions. In addition, Gene handles all forms of employment litigation including discrimination, wrongful termination and misclassification claims. Gene has experience defending “gig-economy” clients in litigation regarding independent contractor status. Gene is also deeply engaged in social media influencer agreements; he regularly advises clients on the intricate coordination of employment and intellectual property law involved with these agreements. Gene's clients span across various industries including technology, retail, transportation, and hospitality. Gene is experienced, highly responsive and knows how to successfully defend his clients.
- Named, Power List, Lawyers of Color, 2020
- Named, Most Influential Minority Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2019
- Named, Alumnus of the Year, Korean American Bar Association of Northern California, 2017
- Member, Adjunct Board of Advisors, US-Korea Law Foundation
- Member, Board of Directors, Korean American Bar Association of Northern California, 2008-2013
- Member, Board of Governors, Korean American Bar Association of Southern California, 2013 - 2015
- Member, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- Sponsor, Pasadena Angels, Inc., 2013 - 2014
- “Tech Under the Microscope- Scrutiny of Legal AI Risks,” 2025 Silicon Valley Technology Risk Forum, 5 March 2025
- “The Whirlwind of New Employment Laws in California: A Brief Summary and Analysis,” Celesq AttorneysEd Center, 16 November 2022
- “California’s New Pay Data Reporting Law: Are You Ready?” K&L Gates/Trusaic Webinar, 25 February 2021
- “Preparing Your Tech Company for 2019’s New Employment Laws” Los Angeles, CA, 30 January 2019
- “Preparing Your Tech Company for 2018’s New Employment Laws” Los Angeles, CA, 18 January 2018
- “Workplace Diversity: One Very Eventful Year Later” 14 November 2017
- “Let’s Be Blunt: What Does Medical & Recreational Marijuana Mean for the Workplace?” BB&T Insurance Services, 14 March 2017
- “Employment Law 2.0: How to Prepare Your Tech Company for 2017's New Employment Laws” Los Angeles, CA, January 5, 2017
- “Differences between U.S. and Korean employment laws through an analysis of worker misclassification” US/Korea Law Day, Irvine, CA, 25 July 2015
- “Navigating the Most Common Employment Law Issues for Start-Ups” Business Technology Center of Los Angeles County, Altadena, CA, July 22, 2015
- “Crafting Severance Agreements: Considerations for Tech Startups to Multinational Employers (and Everything In Between) to Prepare an Enforceable Release” Center for Competitive Management (C4CM) Webinar, 8 July 2014
- “The Employee From Hell” Littler Mendelson, San Francisco, CA, 29 January 2014
- "Employment Law Update” Labor & Employment Webinar Series - Littler Mendelson and BB&T, 29 January 2014
- “New Employment and Labor Laws for 2014 and 2015” Los Angeles, CA, 15 January 2014
- “Impact of Social Media on the Workplace: What are your employees doing on Facebook?” 25th Annual Convention - National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Kansas City, MO, 9 November 2013
- “Tech Startups To Family Owned Restaurants: How A Small Business Should Document Leaves Of Absences In California” Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA) Webinar, 18 October 2013
- “Non-Compete & Non-Solicitation Provisions in Employment Agreements and M&A Transactions: Comparisons between Korea, China & the U.S.” Conference - International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL), Seoul, Korea, September 27, 2013
- “A Comparison of Issues That Arise from Terminations in Korea and the U.S.” The 2013 US-Korea Law Day - US-Korea Law Foundation, July 27, 2013
- “California Workers’ Compensation Update and Intersection with Other Employment Laws” American Hotel & Lodging Association, 6 June 2013
- “Discrimination & Bias in the Law” International Association of Korean Lawyers, 14 September 2012
- “Managing the Aging Workforce” BB&T, Pleasanton, CA, 16 November 2011
- “Coordinating Employment Law and Workers' Compensation” BB&T, 26 January 2011
- 8 August 2024, “Resolving Litigation: L&E Lawyer Inadvertently Trained by Parents,” The Legal Intelligencer - Law.com
- 30 September 2022, “In Apparent First, Court Sites SCOTUS Arbitration Precedent in PAGA Case,” TheRecorder.com
