Sanders Roberts, LLP

Trial lawyer, specializing in business and employment law before all courts in California and arbitration.  

Relevant Expertise: 
•	Outside General Counsel services.  

•	Employment Law/Personnel Investigations (e.g., harassment, discrimination, wage and hour, etc.)  

•	Lead counsel on litigation matters, including single-plaintiff, class action, PAGA, and general liability lawsuits.

•	FINRA arbitrations.

•	Traditional labor evidentiary hearings. 

•	Labor Commissioner evidentiary hearings.

Representative Trial Experience:

•	Second chair retaliation trial in Federal court resulting in defense-favorable verdict (examined witnesses and wrote and argued multiple trial motions including non suit which led to dismissal of three claims); 

•	Second chair high profile, four-week Whistleblower retaliation trial in Los Angeles Superior Court resulting in 12-0 defense verdict (examined witnesses and wrote and argued multiple motions including non suit); and
 
•	First chair labor commissioner hearing with multiple witnesses and submissions

Trial Lawyer + Partner + Head of Employment Law Practice Group

CSULB College of Continuing and Professional Education

Instruct HR professionals regarding the legal aspects of human resources management.  Lectures focus on California and Federal laws and best practices for identifying and navigating issues related to harassment, discrimination, retaliation – Including leaves of absence, interactive process, hiring, Fair Pay Act, Paid Sick Leave, terminations, investigations, workplace violence, and general employee conflict resolution.

Human Resources Management Certification Program Instructor

Abrolat Law PC

Recovered $10+ M for clients through trial victory and settlements in a two-attorney law firm.

Trial Attorney

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

Provide ongoing labor and employment advice and counsel.  Manage cases at various stages of litigation from RFP response to resolution in Federal courts, California courts, arbitration, and before the National Labor Relations Board including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, wage and hour class actions, unfair labor practices charges and unit clarification petitions.

REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:

•	TRIAL: Second chair three-day labor trial, representing major television studio in New Mexico against IATSE member in unfair labor practices allegation;

•	ADVICE AND COUNSEL: Counsel regarding employee discipline, policies, investigations, wage and hour compliance, employee contracts, EEO compliance, pre-litigation demand letters, and unique and novel employment issues; 

•	LITIGATION MANAGEMENT: Prepare litigation plan and budget and manage case from inception.  Specifically, draft and respond to pleadings, written discovery and related motions, removals, motions to compel arbitration, motions for summary judgment, and mediation briefs.  Prepare witnesses for deposition, defend witness depositions, manage communication with clients and opposing counsel;

•	DUE DILIGENCE: Conduct investigation, request and review all relevant documents, identify and interview all key witnesses, prepare risk analyses, and manage discovery to budget; and 

•	THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: Regularly publish client-oriented articles regarding significant changes in law and prepare and conduct in-person training and client seminars on various employment and labor issues (see below for link to publications).

Labor and Employment Defense Attorney

Littler Mendelson

Regularly counseled clients regarding employment issues and managed cases at various stages of litigation in Federal, California and arbitration matters, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wage and hour class action matters.  

REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:

TRIAL:  Achieved dismissal with prejudice on first day of trial as first chair in California Fair Employment and Housing Act Harassment matter;  

LITIGATION MANAGEMENT: Independently drafted and argued various motions, including two Anti-SLAPP motions and various discovery motions;

DEPOSITIONS:  Took three plaintiff depositions.  Took and defended more than 30 witness depositions; 

DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS:  Prepared five summary judgment motions; 

MEDIATION:  First-chaired mediation to positive resolution for National client; 

SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATION:  Independently managed requests for settlement authority and negotiated settlement of various matters; and

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Developed and managed multi-client book of business.

Attorney

Payne & Fears LLP

Manage cases at various stages of litigation from litigation proposal to settlement in Federal, California and Arizona, and arbitration matters, including wage and hour class actions, harassment, discrimination, retaliation and general business litigation matters. 

REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:

•	WAGE AND HOUR CLASS ACTION: Second-chaired successful motion to strike class action allegations (prior to any plaintiff certification motion) in state-wide meal and rest break class action for international hotel chain.  Independently managed four attorney team, including myself, who conducted more than 100 employee interviews and prepared declarations in both English and Spanish languages throughout the California;  

•	DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS:  Drafted numerous motions for summary judgment;

•	MANAGE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:  First-chaired hearings for and independently negotiated settlement of Labor Code 132a matters.  Also, prepared position statements rin response to EEOC and DFEH Administrative Charges of Discrimination;  

•	ADVICE AND COUNSEL:  Advising clients about various subjects including employee best practices, Federal WARN Act, employee handbooks, employee contracts, entity formation, and other subjects; and

•	BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:  Originate and manage small book of business.

Labor and Employment and Business Litigation Attorney

As a trial lawyer and partner at Sanders Roberts, LLP, I specialize in business and employment law before all courts in California and arbitration. I have been practicing law for over 10 years, and I have recovered over $10 million for my clients through trial victory and settlements.

My core competencies include outside general counsel services, employment law, personnel investigations, lead counsel on litigation matters, FINRA arbitrations, and traditional labor evidentiary hearings. I also instruct HR professionals regarding the legal aspects of human resources management at CSULB College of Continuing and Professional Education. My mission is to serve as my clients' legal partner and to drive employment and business litigation at all stages with excellence, integrity, and professionalism.

Taplio

Melvin L. Felton II's Linkedin Analytics

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Taplio

.css-1jgreyo{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39,43,72,1) 0%, rgba(33,47,183,1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Melvin L. Felton II's Linkedin Analytics

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Melvin L. Felton II's Linkedin Analytics