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Matthew C. Wallin Photo

Matthew C. Wallin

Partner
12100 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles, California 90025
2801 Townsgate Road,
Westlake Village, CA 91361-5965

424-317-4423

mwallin@gibbsgiden.com

Overview Professional Memberships Representative Matters Published Opinions

Professional Experience

Matthew Wallin is a partner in the Los Angeles and Westlake offices where he practices labor and employment law.  He has extensive experience defending private business and public entities in litigation involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour disputes. He also has experience defending employers against claims of assault and work place violence.

Mr. Wallin advises businesses and entities regarding best employment practices. He has assisted clients in developing and refining policies, procedures, employee handbooks, and severance agreements. He has assisted businesses regarding compliance with disability matters and wage and hour laws.   

Mr. Wallin has defended cases in both state and federal courts, and represented clients with matters before agencies, including the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Department of Industrial Relations, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. 

Mr. Wallin’s practice has also included appellate cases before the California Courts of Appeal.  He successfully argued the matter of Wassman v. South Orange County Community College District (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th 825.

PRACTICE AREAS

Education

  • Western New England College School of Law, (Now known as Western New England University) Springfield, Massachusetts (J.D.) May, 2009
    • Dean’s List, Top 15% – Fall 2007 & Fall 2008
  • Western Washington University, (B.A., History), Bellingham, WA, 2005

Bar Admissions

  • California Bar  Admitted 2009

Professional Memberships

  • California Lawyers Association Labor & Employment Section

Representative Matters

  • Risk Management 
  • The best way to defend against employment claims is to prevent them from happening in the first place.  Matt assists businesses of all shapes and sizes by assessing their compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.  This assessment includes thorough reviews of policies, payroll records, personnel files and other relevant documents to determine if a business is following wage and hour laws and Labor Code requirements.  Matt also advises companies on proper procedures when dealing with complex issues, such as reasonable accommodations for disabled employees, medical and non-medical leaves of absence, and complaints under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

 

  • Policies, Procedures, Handbooks, Training, and Agreements 
  • Every year, the California legislature passes new employment laws and updates existing laws.  It can be a full-time job keeping up with the changing laws and it is not uncommon for companies to have outdates policies and procedures.  Matt helps businesses to ensure their policies, procedures, handbooks, and other documents are up to date with current laws and regulations. Matt can review and revise existing handbooks or help companies implement entirely new handbooks.  Matt provides in-person and remote sexual harassment training to comply with California state requirements.  Matt also prepares transactional documents such as employment contracts and severance agreements. 

 

  • Civil Litigation and Administrative Hearings
  • Many California employment laws are written to favor and protect employees. As such, employers are often at a disadvantage when legal actions are brought against them.  Matt works to protect and defends businesses in employment lawsuits in state and federal courts.  Matt is experienced defending single plaintiff employment cases such as discrimination and retaliation cases under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.  Matt also defends class action wage and hour lawsuits as well as actions brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”).  Employees have many options to bring claims before various administrative agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, The California Occupational Health and Safety Administration, and the Department of Industrial Relations.  Matt navigates the complexities of these agencies and protects businesses at administrative hearings.  Sometimes, employers must take actions against employees, such as when employees take sensitive business information for their own benefit.  Matt represents business by bringing trade secret misappropriate actions to protect trade secrets and recover damages.

Published Opinions