Eugene C. Ryu

Defended a California-based restaurant management group in three simultaneous wage and hour and PAGA class actions. The alleged damages would bankrupt the company. Two cases were consolidated and we sought a stay of the third case.

Represented a restaurant management company in a wage and hour class and PAGA action alleging numerous violations of California’s Labor Code. Disqualified the name plaintiff in a rarely used motion in California state court.

Represented a California property management company in a multiplaintiff arbitration claiming race discrimination/harassment from a co-worker allegedly putting a noose on another co-worker's desk.

Advised a multinational fast fashion retailer regarding allegations by a former Chief Human Resources Officer of race discrimination.

Represented a biotechnology company regarding allegations by a former Chief Science Officer of wrongful termination due to “whistleblowing”.

Assisted a US identity management company that provides cloud-based software to help companies manage and secure user authentication to access applications with all aspects of e-discovery in a high-stakes employment matter implicating a key former executive. Given that the issues in this matter arose during the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the relevant communications occurred using non-traditional forms of business communication, including personal text messages, Slack group channels, and one-on-one communications, which presented certain challenging and novel e-discovery issues. Recognized these issues very early on in the matter, and quickly identified and licensed state-of-the-art software to efficiently process, search, review, and produce these relatively novel data types, including more than 800,000 Slack messages. Pinpointed key communications for a significant positive impact on the litigation for our client.

Drafted and negotiated contracts for an influencer talent-management company, including issues involving talent agent licensure under California's Talent Agency Act.

Advised a global social media company on a wide array of issues, including influencer law, advertising, placements, employment law, agent licensure, and virtual currency.

Represented an international healthcare diagnostic company in various employment discrimination and wage and hour litigations across the globe, including wage and hour class action lawsuits in California. Assisted with single-plaintiff employment-related lawsuits in California, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Milan. Advised in a wage and hour class action charge filed with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Represented the client in commission-based lawsuits in California.

Defended a unified data and AI platform against a high-level technical employee's allegations of discrimination and wrongful termination. The plaintiff refused to agree to arbitration, claiming that the arbitration agreement was hidden within a confidentiality agreement and therefore unconscionable. In opposition to our motion to compel arbitration, plaintiff filed sensitive documents. Successfully moved to seal those sensitive documents and enforced the arbitration agreement.