Joseph R. Lordan is the administrative partner in the San Francisco office of Lewis Brisbois and head of the Northern California Labor & Employment Practice. A trial attorney at heart, Mr. Lordan’s practice is dedicated to defending employers in employment and business litigation and providing preventative, individually-tailored advice and counseling.

Mr. Lordan’s practice includes defending employers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, ADA access, and trade secret litigation. His practice also includes a robust defense repertoire of PAGA and wage and hour class action claims. Mr. Lordan and his team also provide preventative counseling to employers regarding all employment practices, including drafting and auditing employee handbooks, preparing employment and severance agreements, presenting sexual harassment prevention seminars, conducting workplace investigations, and evaluating termination decisions. He takes pride in offering clients practical advice and insights that allow them to make wise business decisions and avoid unnecessary expense and litigation.

Mr. Lordan also has experience assisting both start-up and established companies in protecting, developing, and implementing their business plans. Sitting in San Francisco, many of his clients are in the technology, viticulture, transportation, health care, construction, retail, food service, and education spaces, amongst many other industries. In the wake of the #metoo movement, he has taken on many sexual harassment cases under the FEHA, Title VII and IX, and works to resolve these with an eye towards confidentiality and a sensitivity to the business practicalities in this current environment.

Mr. Lordan frequently lectures to the defense industry, companies, and their management on employment trends and best practices. Mr. Lordan also litigates and advises on business and corporate matters, handling breach of contract, consumer class action, and trade secret misappropriation litigation. He has litigated Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) class actions.

Mr. Lordan’s hobbies outside the office include road cycling and spending time with his wife and three young children.

Publications

Published Decisions

Professional Presentations

• Presenter, “AB 5, Prop 22, and AB2257,” October 2020
• Presenter, “AB5 Developments and Compliance,” August 2020
• Presenter, “Fostering A Great Workplace,” August 2020
• Presenter, “The Three Stages of Litigation,” July 2020
• Presenter, “New Employment Law Exposure and Considerations from COVID-19,” June 2020
• Presenter, “New Employment Law Exposure and Considerations from COVID-19,” May 2020
• Presenter, “New Employment Law Exposure and Considerations from COVID-19,” May 2020
• Presenter, “Tips for Preventing Employee Lawsuits,” March 2020
• Presenter, “Dynamex, AB5, and You,” October, November 2019
• Presenter, "Defending Against Wage and Hour Liability,” Lewis Brisbois Seminar, July 2019
• Presenter, “Human Resources Excellence,” June 2019
• Presenter, “Employment Issues and Compliance,” December 2018
• Presenter, “Times are Changing: Sexual Harassment Investigations in the #MeToo and Times Up Era,” September 2018
• Presenter, “Wrongful Termination Prevention,” June 2018
• Presenter, “Times are Changing: Sexual Harassment Investigations in the #MeToo and Times Up Era,” October 2018
• Presenter, “California Fair Claims Settlement Regulations,” June 2017
• Presenter, “Wage and Hour Practices and Pitfalls - Ignorance is NOT Bliss!” International LCT Trade Show, Las Vegas, February 2016
• Organizer and Sole Presenter, “Wage and Hour Roundtables,” 2013-2014
• Presenter, “Labor Law Compliance,” 2012-2020
• Presenter, “Wage and Hour 101,” 2011-2014
• Lewis Brisbois’ Employment Law Seminars, “Legislative and Case Updates” “Wage and Hour 101” “Wage and Hour 201” “Sick Leave Laws,” Multiple dates 2010 – 2020

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • California
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
• United States Courts of Appeals
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Admissions

California

United States District Court, Central District of California

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

United States District Court, Northern District of California

United States District Court, Eastern District of California

Associations

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Fraternity
• Member, California Department of Real Estate - Real Estate Broker
• Board Member and Secretary, Davis Rowing Alumni (501c3), 2016 - Present
• Member, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (inactive)

Awards & Honors

• Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, 2019.
• CALI Award for Highest Grade in: Patent Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Interviewing Counseling & Planning.
• Award of Excellence issued by the Greater California Livery Association, December 2013.

Education

Pepperdine University School of Law

Juris Doctor, magna cum laude

Pepperdine University School of Law

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Certificate in Dispute Resolution

University of California, Davis

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and American Studies