Stephen Franz

Counsel

I work hard, solve problems, and deliver results for my clients

Stephen counsels employers to anticipate, avoid, and mitigate employment disputes, and when litigation is unavoidable, he aggressively and creatively represents his clients' interests in court.

Stephen's expertise is in defending clients against wage-and hour-class actions and California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits. He also has significant experience representing employers in single-plaintiff litigation. In addition, he handles employment disputes before federal and state administrative agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, California Civil Rights Department, and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

While Stephen represents employers all industries, he has particular expertise in the entertainment, restaurant, and transportation spaces. Representative clients include A24, Amazon, Disney, Entertainment One, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros., and Universal Music Group. Stephen also has extensive experience representing multinational Korean enterprises on litigation and employment matters in America.

Practice Highlights

Wage and hour class actions and PAGA

Defends employers in wage-and-hour class actions and PAGA representative actions alleging unpaid off-the-clock work and overtime, meal and rest break violations, pay stub violations, waiting time penalties, unreimbursed business expenses, regular rate of pay violations, unfair competition, and civil penalties under PAGA.

Entertainment industry practice

Represents global media companies, record labels, talent agencies, and film and television production entities in wage-and-hour class actions, PAGA representative actions, single plaintiff claims, internal investigations, and administrative charges.

Advice and counsel

Provides day-to-day multistate employment and labor law counseling, risk mitigation and assessment, and strategy to human resources professionals and business leaders regarding wage-and-hour compliance, worker classification, leave and accommodations, discipline and termination, contingent workforce, COVID-19, and other employment law issues.

Wage-and-hour class actions and PAGA representative actions for California restaurants

Defending various multi-chain "fast casual" restaurants in wage-and-hour class actions and PAGA representative actions alleging unpaid off-the-clock work and overtime, meal and rest break violations, pay stub violations, regular rate of pay violations, waiting time penalties, and civil penalties. Secured favorable settlements of class and PAGA lawsuits. (Ongoing)

Secured favorable resolution for food manufacturer

Defended multinational snack manufacturer in PAGA representative action alleging meal and rest break violations, pay stub violations, unpaid wages, and waiting time penalties. Matter settled on favorable terms. (San Bernardino Cnty. (Cal.) Super. Ct. 2022)

Wage-and-hour class actions and PAGA representative actions for film, television, and music industry clients

Defending global media companies and film and television production entities in wage-and-hour class actions and PAGA representative actions alleging unpaid off-the-clock work and overtime, meal and rest break violations, pay stub violations, waiting time penalties, and civil penalties. (Ongoing)

Successfully resolved PAGA representative action for unicorn company*

Defended robotics company in PAGA representative action alleging meal break violations, pay stub violations, unpaid wages, and waiting time penalties. Matter settled on favorable terms. (San Francisco Cnty. (Cal.) Super. Ct. 2021)

Reached favorable resolution for television producer*

Defended production company in putative wage-and-hour class action alleging crew late pay claims. Negotiated favorable individual settlements for nuisance value. (Los Angeles Cnty. (Cal.) Super. Ct. 2020)

*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine

Admitted to Practice

California, 2013

Education

J.D., UCLA School of Law, 2013
- Editor-in-Chief, Pacific Basin Law Journal
- Executive Board, Asian/Pacific Islander Law Students Association
- Tribal Legal Clinic
B.A., History, Wheaton College, 2009
- Dean's List
- Phi Alpha Theta
- Varsity Football

Memberships & Affiliations

- Board Member, Japanese American Bar Association Educational Foundation
- Board of Governors, Japanese American Bar Association

Background

- Associate, Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp LLP, Los Angeles, 2019-2021
- Associate, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Los Angeles, 2018-2019
- Associate, Raines Feldman LLP, Los Angeles, 2017-2018
- Associate, Lathrop Gage LLP, Los Angeles, 2016-2017
- Associate, 2013-2016; Summer Associate, 2012 – The Zappia Law Firm, Los Angeles

02.08.24

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