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Julie Dunne

Julie Dunne

Partner
About

For more than three decades, Julie has represented leading employers and management, particularly in the retail industry, in a wide range of employment-related matters. She frequently defends employers in wage-and-hour class, collective and private attorney general representative actions under California laws and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Julie also advises employers on compliance with California wage-and-hour laws and the FLSA.

Areas of FocusEmployment
Bar admissionsCalifornia

EXPERIENCE

  • Currently defending a national discount retailer in a class and representative action for alleged failure to pay for all hours worked (time spent in health screenings and rounded time), failure to correctly calculate the regular rate of pay, failure to provide meal and rest periods, and failure to pay sick leave at the regular rate of pay
  • Currently defending a national specialty fashion retailer in a representative action for failure to pay for all hours worked (health screenings), failure to accurately calculate the regular rate of pay, failure to pay sick leave at the regular rate of pay, failure to provide meal and rest periods, and failure to provide suitable seats
  • Currently defending a national restaurant chain in multiple, overlapping class and representative actions for failure to pay for all hours worked, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, failure to pay reporting time, and derivative wage statement and final pay penalty claims; obtained voluntary dismissal of class claims based on the parties’ arbitration agreement
  • Currently defending a national car-care company in a class and representative action for failure to pay for all hours worked, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, and failure to correctly calculate the regular rate of pay; obtained voluntary dismissal of the class claims based on the parties’ arbitration agreement and moving to compel arbitration of the representative claim as well
  • Currently defending an advertising agency in a class and representative action for failure to accurately calculate the regular rate of pay, failure to provide meal and rest periods, and failure to timely pay final wages for talent appearing in a commercial
  • Defended a national delivery service company in a collective action in 2021 for alleged misclassification of Hub Supervisors; obtained voluntary dismissal of the collective claims and settled on an individual basis
  • Defended a national discount retailer in 2021 in a class and PAGA representative action for failure to pay for all hours worked and failure to provide meal periods; obtained voluntary dismissal of class and representative claims and settled on an individual basis
  • Defended a national fashion retailer in a PAGA representative action for alleged violation of California’s day of rest laws through trial and obtained a complete defense verdict in 2012; affirmed on appeals to the Ninth Circuit and the California Supreme Court in 2017
  • Defended a global technology company in a PAGA representative action for alleged violation of California’s meal, rest and final pay laws through trial and obtained a complete defense verdict in 2016
  • Defended a global technology company in a wage and hour class action for alleged violation of California’s meal, rest and final pay laws and obtained a defense verdict as to all claims except the meal period claim of one subclass in 2016
  • Defended a national restaurant chain in a class action regarding failure to pay for all hours worked and failure to provide meal periods and rest breaks and defeated class certification; affirmed on appeal in 2016
  • Defended a national fashion retailer in a class action for failure to pay for time spent in bag checks and defeated class certification in 2015
  • Defended a national fashion retailer in a class and representative action regarding failure to provide suitable seats and defeated class certification in 2014
Education
  • J.D., University of San Diego School of Law
  • B.A., Comparative Literature, University of Michigan

Awards

  • Named to Best Lawyers in America for work in Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment, Best Lawyers (2011-2024)
  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Recommended, Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2021-2023)
  • Recognized as 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation – Labor and Employment in San Diego, Best Lawyers (2022)
  • Recognized as "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2021-2024)
  • Named Top Lawyer – Labor & Employment, San Diego Magazine (2013-2022)
  • "BTI Client Service All-stars 2020," BTI Consulting Group (2020)
  • Named as Women in the Law, Top Peer Nominated Lawyers, Best Lawyers (2017)
  • Awarded AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ (2002-present)

Seminars

  • Employment Issues in the Entertainment Sector, National Retail Federation, July 2022
  • Navigating the Arbitration Landscape and Mitigating Employment Litigation Risks, March 2022
  • Wage and Hour Developments, DLA Employment Law Briefing, October 2021
  • Tips For California Employers: Three Court Decisions and What They Mean for Your Wage Statement Compliance, August 2021
  • Covid-19 and the ABC Test – Issues Affecting The Insurance Industry, July 2021
  • Are Covid-19 Health Screenings Considered Work Under Federal and California Law, National Retail Federation, March 2021
  • Meal Periods in California: New Rules for California Employers, March 2021
  • Employment In the Consumer Goods, Food and Retail Sectors in 2021 - What to Expect, February 2021
  • The Privilege Implications of Using Online Collaboration Tools, September 2020
  • Remote Work Challenges for The California Tech Industry, August 2020
  • Wage Statements, Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, May 2018
  • Retail Industry Roundtable, 2018 Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, May 2018
  • Retail Industry Roundtable, 2017 Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, May 2017
  • Wage-and-Hour Class Action Avoidance: Lessons from Trial Attorneys, 2017 Executive Employer Conference, May 2017
  • California Wage-and-Hour Update for Retailers, August 2016
  • Retail Industry Roundtable, 2016 Executive Employer Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona, May 2016
  • Keeping Track of Meal Periods in California, February 2016

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Member, National Retail Federation’s Committee On Employment Law, Chair of its Wage and Hour Subcommittee
  • Member, Legal Committee, Employers Group 
  • Former co-chair, Labor and Employment Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association

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