Li-An Leonard is a member of the Firm’s Labor & Employment practice group in the San Diego office. Ms. Leonard counsels clients on a wide range of employment matters, from hiring employees to terminating the employment relationship. She assists clients in complying with California and federal wage and hour laws. She also guides clients through the maze of California and federal statutes and regulations which govern the various leaves employers are required to provide eligible employees.

Ms. Leonard regularly reviews and prepares offer letters, employee policies and handbooks, employment agreements, and severance and release agreements. She also prepares confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements to help clients protect their proprietary information.

Ms. Leonard has ample experience counseling clients on discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims. She assists with administrative proceedings before California and federal agencies on employment-related issues, which includes responding to charges or claims filed with such agencies.  She also represents clients in the investigation and response to unfair labor practice claims filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

Ms. Leonard also assists clients in reviewing and negotiating commercial leases and related documents.

Highly regarded by her peers and contemporaries, Ms. Leonard has an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating® by Martindale-Hubbell for Labor & Employment Law, and has been recognized as Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (2011-2015). She has also been named a “San Diego Top Lawyer in Labor & Employment” from 2015-2021.

Bar Admissions

• California

• California Employers Take Heed – Employees Will Have Rights Surrounding Their Personal Information
• Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: The Comeback is Complete 2022 California Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
• New Year . . . New Laws
• Brinker . . . Finally! (California Supreme Court clarifies meal period and rest break rights & obligations)
• Willful Misclassification of Independent Contractors