Professionals

Jeff Michalowski helps businesses, universities, and public entities navigate legal challenges at all levels of the state and federal judiciary.  Jeff has deep roots in employment law, class actions, and civil rights — he authored multiple chapters of the leading treatise on California employment law, he has tried cases to defense verdicts in both state and federal courts, he teaches civil rights law, and has served on the faculty of the National Employment Law Institute.  Jeff represents employers in the full spectrum of employment disputes, but has particular expertise in wage-hour class actions, as well as retaliation,  whistleblowing, and disability discrimination.

Jeff is also an experienced appellate advocate, and chairs the appellate practice at Paul Plevin  He has served as lead counsel in dozens of writs and appeals in the Ninth Circuit and California Courts of Appeal, and has handled matters in the California Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court.  He has helped Fortune 500 clients and leading universities win writs and appeals in employment law matters.  But he also serves as an appellate generalist, handling appeals in cases involving freedom of speech, free exercise of religion, contract disputes, torts and injuries, attorney fee awards, and the full run of section 1983 cases against public entities.

Jeff is also an active member of the legal community, serving as an appointed member of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee, and serving on the executive committee of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section.  He has also achieved significant pro bono victories.  Most recently, he brought a petition for writ of mandate on behalf of two public benefits recipients, and obtained a settlement resulting in modification of a public benefits Ordinance, and payment of back benefits to over a thousand individuals .  Previously, he obtained relief from the Ninth Circuit for a political refugee seeking asylum in the United States.

Prior to joining Paul Plevin, Jeff worked as an associate in the employment law department at Paul Hastings LLP for seven years.  He also spent two and half years leading the appellate and Supreme Court practice for the County of San Diego.