|
Phyllis Kupferstein is a partner in McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s Los Angeles office. She is a member of the Trial Department and is West Coast head of Labor and Employment for the Firm. Phyllis concentrates her practice in employment-related matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, ERISA and wage and hour matters, and provides counseling and training to clients. An active trial lawyer, her complex litigation experience encompasses consumer, securities and employment class actions as well as qui tam matters.
Phyllis represents clients in a wide range of industries, including entertainment, health care, aerospace, construction and engineering, agriculture and insurance. She represents various government contractors in proceedings before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Phyllis has been recognized among the top lawyers in the fields of employment & labor, employment litigation defense and business litigation by the Southern California Super Lawyers for 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Prior to joining McDermott, Phyllis was a founding member and national director of employment litigation and counseling at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP.
Representative experience:
Obtained waiver of costs settlement on behalf of major insurance company sued by the husband of a discharged former executive for retaliation, discrimination and interference with prospective advantage arising from his own termination by a vendor to the company
Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of a private company sued by minority shareholders and former executives alleging claims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty, following the termination of their employment by majority shareholders
Obtained favorable settlement of public policy, disability and age discrimination claims brought by a long-term former employee who was not offered an alternative position after taking a medical leave of absence.
Defeated a federal class action filed by television writers against talent agencies, producers and networks alleging an industry-wide conspiracy of age discrimination, and obtained dismissal with prejudice of ADEA claims.
Obtained decertification of a nationwide consumer class action venued in Madison County, Illinois, that sought $200 million in damages against Mattel.
Obtained summary judgment on sex discrimination and retaliation claims brought by a record promoter against a record company.
Defeated a class action filed by patients against a hospital and HMO alleging they had been sexually molested by a pediatric endocrinologist.
Secured a low five-figure settlement for a defense contractor in a lawsuit brought by seven female workers, each of whom was over age 40, some of whom were disabled, who had been laid off while younger female and male employees were retained.
Achieved summary judgments in numerous employment discrimination and wrongful termination matters, including Owens-Page v. AMI, Ramon v. Aerospace Corporation, Timberlake v. Hughes, Bishena v. Marriott Corporation and Harvey v. Lockheed, which were affirmed on appeal.
Won defense awards in contractual arbitrations concerning disputes over retirement benefits for Northrop and Lockheed.
Has advised the boards of numerous public companies regarding the termination of high level executives.
While in law school, Phyllis was articles editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review.
Phyllis is admitted to practice in California. She is a member of the American Bar Association and its Litigation, Labor and Employment, and Health Law Sections, as well as the State Bar of California and its Litigation and Labor and Employment Law Sections. She is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Labor and Employment section. Phyllis also serves on the Executive Committee of the LACBA delegation to the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations. She is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.
Phyllis is an active member of the Los Angeles civic and charitable community. She has been serving as secretary and trustee for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for several years. She is a founder and member of the Inner Circle of the Center Theatre Group, a member of the President’s Circle of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and an active fellow of the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum.
Education:
Loyola Marymount University, J.D. (cum laude), 1982
University of California-Los Angeles, B.A., 1978 | 