claims we handle
Wrongful Termination
Have you been wrongfully terminated because of your age, sex, race, religion, pregnancy, disability, time off requests, or because you reported harassment, discrimination, or illegal activities by your employer? Did your employer give you false or illegal reasons for your discharge? We are here to help.
Discrimination
California law fiercely protects employees from discrimination based on ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation in the workplace, and so do we.
Harassment
Have you been harassed or subjected to a hostile work environment by a co-worker or supervisor? Did human resources or a supervisor fail to take your complaint seriously? Did you suffer retaliation? We can help.
Unpaid Wages
Were you not paid all the money your employer owed you? Did your employer bounce a paycheck? Did you get shorted on commissions or a bonus agreement? Were you told you were an “independent contractor” while being treated like an employee? We can get you the money you are owed.
Breach of Contract
Did your employer breach a contract with you? Are you owed money for work you performed that was not properly paid? Did your employer terminate your employment earlier than agreed without paying agreed upon severance? We are available to take appropriate action.
Meal and Rest Breaks
Did your employer fail to provide 10-minute rest breaks or a 30-minute meal break as required by law? Were you told to clock out and then forced to work off the clock? Were you forced to clock out and take a meal break even when you did not want to? Employers that fail to follow California law are subject to penalties and damages.
Whistleblowers
Did you report or decline to participate in illegal activities at work, and then find yourself retaliated against? Have you made a complaint about unsafe working conditions? Is your employer putting you in a legal or ethical dilemma? Let us evaluate your case free of charge.
Public Employment
Are you a state or local government employee who has been discriminated, harassed or retaliated against at work? Has your employer caused harm to your expected Cal-PERS or Cal-STRS pension? Is your union ineffective at addressing your grievance? We specialize in handling the unique issues that arise in public employment.
what we are
Experienced
Adjudication of employment disputes can take place in many different forums, and it is important to grasp the subtleties of each one.
Mr. Lazarski has successfully litigated matters in California’s state and federal courts, before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the U.S. Department of Labor, the California Labor Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board. Mr. Lazarski also has extensive experience with private arbitration and mediation.
Specialized
Personal injury lawyers or general business litigators might call themselves employment litigators, but it takes a true specialist to understand the nuances of California’s complex labor laws and effectively handle matters related to employment.
Mr. Lazarski’s entire career has been devoted to the specialized area of employment litigation and he is keenly aware of its nuances.
Aggressive
Every lawyer claims to be a pitbull when pitching a client, but all too often, clients are disappointed when that same lawyer turns out to be lazy and unresponsive.
We limit our caseload to allow us to give each client personal attention. That allows us to be as aggressive as possible at every step of litigation, from pleadings through discovery and trial. The philosophy is simple: the more aggressive lawyer is usually the one who gets better results for his client.
Accessible
If we decide to take your case, you will not be assigned to a paralegal or junior associate. Mr. Lazarski maintains direct involvement in each of the firm’s cases.
He normally drafts all the motions, briefs, and correspondence himself, always appears in court personally, and works with you over the course of litigation to develop strategy and build the trial plan. He will give you his cell phone number and can be reached day or night to ask questions or float ideas. He will be your partner in the fight from start to finish.
about
Bryan Lazarski
Bryan Lazarski began his study of labor and employment law as an undergraduate, earning a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in 2002.
He attended the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating cum laude, where he concentrated on labor and employment law, arguing in the Wagner Labor Law Moot Court national finals, clerking for the National Labor Relations Board, and co-founding the Minnesota Workers Rights Clinic.
He began his practice with the nationally renowned employment firm Jackson Lewis, and went on to international firm Greenberg Traurig, where his department was named “Employment Group of the Year” by Law360 in both 2011 and 2013.
Mr. Lazarski’s experience includes employment matters in sports, entertainment, hospitals, restaurants, retail, apparel, and financial services. He has also litigated new-frontier issues in several published cases including Roth v. CHA Hollywood Med. Ctr., L.P., 720 F.3d 1121 (9th Cir. 2013), a nationally cited landmark decision regarding federal removal jurisdiction for class actions, and Hawkins v. TACA Int’l Airlines, S.A., 223 Cal. App. 4th 466, 167 Cal. Rptr. 3d 268 (2014), which has helped shape the pleading requirements under the California Labor Code.
In his free time, Mr. Lazarski enjoys spending time with his wife two young daughters, cooking spicy foods, playing tennis, basketball, and poker, and taking fantasy football way too seriously.
what we are not
A “Mill”
Many firms care more about volume of cases than quality of work, which is a gross disservice to their clients.
Lazarski Law only takes cases we believe have merit and that we have the capacity to pursue aggressively.
We litigate those cases to the fullest extent necessary to achieve optimal results. If that means taking the case through trial or filing an appeal, so be it.
Bloated
The old-fashioned, bloated overhead common to older firms is a relic that only inflates a client’s bill.
Lazarski Law stays lean and mean, keeping costs low and the quality of our work high. By staying current with the marketplace and technological advances, we cut unnecessary costs and use resources to the client’s maximum benefit.
We believe in investing money in your case where it is warranted, and we spare no expense in taking depositions, hiring experts, or putting on a first-rate trial presentation.
Complacent
Every lawyer claims to be a pitbull when pitching a client, but all too often, clients are disappointed when that same lawyer turns out to be lazy and unresponsive.
We are highly selective with our caseload by design, which allows us to give each client personal attention and be as aggressive as possible at every step of litigation, from pleadings through discovery and trial. The philosophy is simple: the more aggressive lawyer usually gets better results.
Testimonials
"Mr. Lazarski's experience, quality work product, and excellent representation warrant his [hourly rate]... Mr. Lazarski demonstrated exemplary skills in advancing his client's claims through this hotly contested matter."
Arbitration award
(Unpaid wages)
"Thanks again for your excellent work on [my case]... Restores my faith that there is still justice out there."
Satisfied Client
(Breach of Contract)
"[I am] proud to think that by standing up to them it made it possible for others to follow. And it would not have been possible without you, Bryan. I am proud and blessed to know you."
Satisfied Client
(Gender harassment and discrimination)
The Lazarski Law Practice in the news
Admitted to practice:
State of California
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Courts for the Central, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of California
