Trial-tested employment defense counsel with wage and hour focus
Aaron Buckley has over 25 years of experience representing employers. A member of the Wage & Hour Defense Institute, an invitation-only group consisting of top management-side wage and hour litigators throughout the United States, he focuses on:
- Employment counseling
- Employment litigation, including class and PAGA actions
Aaron is known for providing practical, common-sense advice to clients facing litigation in California’s state and federal courts, focusing on each client’s unique needs and objectives. He also works closely with clients on compliance and litigation avoidance strategies, helping them navigate California’s complex web of often-confusing Labor Code requirements.
Prior to beginning his legal career, Aaron was an infantry officer in the United States Army.
Experience in Action
- Defending employers from of a wide range of employment claims, including wage and hour, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
- Representing employers in class actions in California and federal courts involving wage and hour and other issues.
- Advising employers on a full range of employment law compliance issues, including wage and hour, employee discipline and termination, and other human resources matters.
- Representing employers in dozens of cases involving representative claims for civil penalties brought under the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).
- Providing training to management on human resources and litigation avoidance topics.
Successes
- Achieved defense verdict in a wage and hour misclassification trial on behalf of an insurance provider.
- Achieved dismissal of a statewide PAGA lawsuit involving retail workers.
- Successfully opposed class certification in a wage and hour class action involving shipyard workers; denial of certification affirmed by Court of Appeal.
- Achieved dismissal of a Fair Credit Reporting Act class action on behalf of a shipyard contractor.
- Achieved summary judgment in an employment discrimination case on behalf of a temporary staffing company.
- Achieved decertification of a class of technology workers in a wage and hour misclassification case; decertification affirmed by Court of Appeal.
- Achieved dismissal of a wage and hour class action on behalf of a public entity employer based on constitutional immunity (U.S. District Court, Southern District of California).
- Achieved defense verdict in a wage and hour misclassification trial on behalf of a wireless communication company; judgment affirmed by Court of Appeal in published opinion.
- Defense counsel in over 50 statewide class actions based on alleged violations of the California Labor Code, including claims for unpaid wages, misclassification, meal and rest breaks, and wage statements.
Capabilities
Professional Recognitions
- San Diego Super Lawyers® (2019-present: Employment Litigation: Defense)
- Best Lawyers in America® (2023)
Professional & Civic Activities
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, member
- State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Sections, member
- San Diego County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, member
- Wage & Hour Defense Institute, member
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Authors a monthly column, “Wage & Hour Advisor,” which is published in Bender’s California Labor & Employment Bulletin
Speaking Engagements
- Wage and Hour Update, PPSC Annual Employment Law Update, December 2022
- California Employment Law Update, National Employment Law Institute, July 2019
- New Developments, PPSC Annual Employment Law Update, November 2018
- California Employment Law Update, National Employment Law Institute, July 2018
- New Developments, PPSC Annual Employment Law Update, October 2017
- California Employment Law Update, National Employment Law Institute, July 2017
- July 12, 2017: NELI: 41st Annual Employment Law Update
- The California Fair Pay Act, HR Academy for Professional Excellence, May 2017
- Off-the-Clock Claims in the New Economy, American Conference Institute, January 2017
- January 27, 2017: ACI National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions
- Wage and Hour Developments, PPSC Annual Employment Law Update, October 2016
- The New Overtime and White-Collar Exemption Regulations, American Conference Institute, September 2016
- Wage and Hour Class Actions: Hot Buttons to Watch for in 2016, The Knowledge Group, June 2016
- New Pay Equity Laws in New York and California, American’s Conference Institute’s 27th Wage and Hour Claims and Class Actions Conference, June 2016
- September 26, 2016 - September 27, 2016: ACI's 28th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims & Class Actions
- New Laws, Regulations and Executive Orders, PPSC Annual Employment Law Seminar, October 2015
- Dealing with Employee Classifications, PPSC Annual Employment Law Seminar, October 2015
- Defending and Managing the Latest Off-the-Clock Claims Involving the Use of Smartphones/Mobile Devices Outside of Scheduled Hours, the Continuous Work Day, Working Remotely and Alternative Working Arrangements, American Conference Institute’s National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, September 2015
- New Developments, PPSC Annual Employment Law Seminar, November 2014
- Effectively Managing Wage and Hour Class Actions, Association of Corporate Counsel, September 2014
- Iskanian v. CLS Transportation: New Pronouncement on Contractual Class Action Waivers and PAGA Representative Actions, San Diego County Bar Association, July 2014
- The Million Dollar Chair and Other Wage and Hour Trends, PPSC Annual Employment Law Seminar, October 2013
- Arbitration Agreements and Class/Collective Action Waivers, Wage and Hour Defense Institute, October 2013
- Quarterly Update on Developments in Wage & Hour Law, Wage and Hour Defense Institute, February 2013
- Wage and Hour Update, State Bar of California’s Advanced Wage and Hour Conference, July 2012
- California’s New Wage Notice & Commission Agreement Requirements, Association of Corporate Counsel, April 2012
News & Insights
Education
- Southern Illinois University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1996)
- United States Military Academy (B.S., 1986)
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- California State Courts
- U.S. District Court, All Districts of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- Arizona State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- Missouri State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
- Illinois State Courts