Cathleen Yonahara, a partner at Freeman, Cooper & Foreman, LLP, concentrates her practice on employment and labor law. She has successfully represented employers in courts and before various government agencies, including the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the California Labor Commissioner. Cathleen has litigated all types of employment matters, including claims of discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate, retaliation, wrongful termination, breach of contract, violation of California Family Rights Act, misappropriation of trade secrets, and wage and hour violations.

In addition to her litigation practice, Yonahara also provides advice and counseling to employers on all aspects of the employment relationship in order to avoid potential legal disputes. She advises employers on the myriad legal requirements facing California employers including anti- discrimination and harassment laws, family and medical leave laws, wage and hour compliance, and proper classification of independent contractors and exempt employees. She conducts audits of her client’s employment practices, policies and agreements to ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws, and drafts employee
handbooks and personnel policies, and employment, arbitration, confidentiality and severance agreements.

Yonahara serves as the Assistant Editor to the California Employment Law Letter, a semimonthly newsletter focused on current labor employment cases in California. She is an experienced speaker and trainer on all aspects of the employment relationship.