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Patricia Kinaga

She/Her

Counsel

T 213.655.9633 Los Angeles
M 213.218.8287
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Patricia Kinaga has over three decades of experience representing employers in high stakes litigation, as well as helping them effectively and efficiently navigate the ever-changing landscape of employment law. She is highly regarded for her considerable jury and bench trial experience, and for obtaining favorable results in state and federal courts, and in arbitrations.

In addition to representing employers in court, Patricia represents clients before administrative agencies, including California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the U.S. Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her clients have ranged from international companies, to national employers, new businesses, and non-profit corporations.

Patricia's client base has included the restaurant, retail, financial, healthcare, entertainment, telecommunications, manufacturing, risk management and transportation industries; private and public higher education institutions, water and school districts and large municipalities.

A former prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles, Patricia also has considerable experience as an investigator into workplace issues, including sexual harassment and discrimination allegations. She has also served as a lecturer and trainer on a wide variety of topics, including sexual harassment prevention, how to conduct workplace investigations, disability leaves, wage-and-hour and independent contractor classification issues, discipline and termination issues, age discrimination, the intersection of DEI and discrimination law, and litigating high profile cases.

Practice Highlights

Employer advice and counsel

Patricia brings to clients her vast range of experience—a former prosecutor; an advice and counsel attorney as well as a seasoned trial and appellate litigator; her private and public sector employment experience at large, medium and boutique law firms; her previous experience as the owner of her own law firm; her experience as a defense and plaintiff's attorney; her experience in handling numerous high-profile matters; her background in drafting and analyzing public policies; and her years of experience as a community leader. As a result of this diverse and rich background, she is able to provide insightful, efficient, and practical counsel and representation to a diverse range of clients.
*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
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Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1984
  • M.A., City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley, 1977
  • B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1975

Memberships & Affiliations

    • Advisory Council and Past President, Japanese American Bar Association, 2017-present
    • Advisory Council, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, 2010-present
    • Board of Directors, Federal Bar Association, 2019-present
    • Co-Founder and Chair, Asians and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California, 1994-present
    • Co-founder and past Chair, Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center
    • Japanese American Leadership Delegate, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2006
    • Commission on Disability Rights, American Bar Association, 2015-2019
    • Chancery Club of Los Angeles, 2017-present
    • President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, 1998-2000

Professional Recognition

    • Peter E. Haas Public Service Award, University of California at Berkeley, 2011
    • Woman of the Year Award, selected by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA 28), 2018
    • Public Service Award, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, 1997
    • Community Service Awards from NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, Big Sisters of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles Asian Pacific Heritage Month
    • ABC News, “Who is Making Asian American Pacific Islander History," 2021

Background

    • Partner, Frandzel Robins Bloom & Csato L.C., Los Angeles, 2018-2021
    • Partner, LTL Attorneys LLP, Los Angeles, 2016-2018
    • Owner, Kinaga Law Firm (formerly Kinaga Olivarez, 2009-2010; Kinaga Porcaro, 2008-2009), Los Angeles, 2008-2016
    • Partner, Jones Day, Los Angeles, 2003-2008
    • Partner, Seyfarth Shaw, Los Angeles, 1994-2003
    • Deputy City Attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Los Angeles, 1985-1994
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