Emily A. Mertes represents and advises employers in all aspects of wage and hour compliance and litigation. Emily has represented clients in a variety of industries, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Her experience ranges from successfully defending companies before state and federal administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), to representing employers in large and complex Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and wage and hour class actions, in both state and federal court.
In addition, Emily regularly performs wage and hour audits and provides clients with practical advice to ensure compliance with the rapidly evolving field of wage and hour law. While well-versed in all areas of the California Labor Code, Emily’s particular interests include creative and strategic advising on meal and rest break compliance, off-the-clock work, rounding of time, and the regular rate of pay, among other complex wage and hour issues. Emily particularly enjoys helping clients remediate their policies and practices to help avoid future litigation.