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Charles Urena

Charles J. Ureña Associate

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Los Angeles – Century City T +1 310 956 3441 F fax +1 310 956 3131
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Charles represents and advises clients in all aspects of employment-related litigation. His practice is focused on defending employers in wage and hour class, collective, and representative actions under the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Charles also has extensive experience representing companies and managers in actions involving claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblowing claims in federal and state court.

In addition to litigation, Charles provides advice and counseling to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, drafts national handbooks and other employment policies, and advises clients on personnel management decisions.

Charles received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2019 and served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Experience

  • Worked closely with trial partners in obtaining complete defense verdict of individual PAGA claims in arbitration, preventing representative PAGA action from proceeding in court against national apparel retailer.*
  • Obtained orders compelling individual arbitration of putative Age Discrimination in Employment Act collective action members in federal court on behalf of multinational information technology company, resulting in dismissal of individual claims or low value individual settlements. *
  • Obtained complete summary judgment dismissing fourteen causes of action, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and defamation, brought against one of the nation’s largest hospital systems in federal court, which was later upheld by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. *
  • Secured dismissal of discrimination claims on statute of limitations grounds following successful appeal to state supreme court on behalf of large technology company. *
  • Defended and obtained favorable settlements in numerous administrative wage claims before the California Labor Commissioner. *
  • Drafted nationwide compliant handbooks and employment policies for multiple national employers. *

*Experience handled prior to joining McGuireWoods.