Nannina Angioni

Nannina Angioni is a founding partner of Kaedian LLP. She focuses her practice on business, labor and employment litigation and compliance. Ms. Angioni advocates on behalf of companies, entrepreneurs, and management in all areas of business and employment relations throughout California and Nevada. Ms. Angioni also proactively advises businesses, provides guidance on human resources and discipline issues, trains management and supervisory staff, and conducts investigations as part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent litigation and facilitate clients’ growth.

Prior to forming Kaedian LLP, Ms. Angioni was a partner at a respected mid-sized law firm, where she managed an active civil litigation practice with a heavy caseload in both state and federal courts. Ms. Angioni’s practice covered a full spectrum of litigation in single and multi-plaintiff lawsuits and administrative hearings, involving claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower protection, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, Labor Code violations, disability accommodations, breach of contract, unfair business practices, and privacy rights violations. Ms. Angioni quickly established an impressive track record for her clients, obtaining summary judgment and early dismissals in numerous cases. Through effective use of investigation techniques, strategically aggressive discovery and motion practice, Ms. Angioni secured successful results that mitigated client exposure and facilitated business continuity. She was also instrumental in helping clients achieve compliance with applicable regulations by drafting and revising employee handbooks, personnel policies and procedures, contracts, and employee documents and also conducting mandatory trainings and employee investigations.

Early in her private practice career, Ms. Angioni worked as an associate at a boutique litigation firm that specializes in plaintiff-side employment and tort actions. At this firm, Ms. Angioni developed an understanding of what drives plaintiffs to file claims and ways in which businesses can proactively curtail litigation exposure. Handling a significant caseload also allowed Ms. Angioni to hone strategic and technical skills that she uses in and out of the courtroom to ensure swift action on all fronts.

Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Angioni served as a certified law clerk in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where handled preliminary hearings in criminal cases that still inform much of the crossover work she encounters when sharing the bench with Kaedian LLP’s other attorneys and co-counsel.

Ms. Angioni received her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Pepperdine University. While in law school, she served as an extern to Honorable Robert W. Alberts during his tenure with the United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California.

When not engaged in legal practice, Ms. Angioni is an active member of the community, an avid speaker and a frequent volunteer for causes she is passionate about. She is a member of the California Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section, an Advisory Board Member for the Catholic Charities of Los Angeles (Our Lady of Angels Region), a Preceptor for Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law First Year Law Students, an Assistant Group Leader for Provisors Brentwood Group, serves on the Diversity and Equity Inclusion Committee for Provisors, is a volunteer advocate for children in the Los Angeles foster care system through CASA of Los Angeles, and serves on several committees at her children’s school. Ms. Angioni has participated in many speaking engagements, including offering Continuing Legal Education seminars, harassment and discrimination compliance training and corporate leadership presentations on the legal implications of common human resources issues and updates on employment laws that affect business operations.

Ms. Angioni is admitted to practice law in both California and Nevada, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California, the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS:

• Selected to Super Lawyers, 2022-2023
• Selected to Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2009, 2018-2020
• Preceptor of the Year, 2018 Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
• Los Angeles Business Journal, Leaders in Law Award
• Pasadena Top Lawyers Award
• US News Best Lawyer Award
• Presenter, Account & Finance Show in Los Angeles – HR Essentials for a Compliant Workplace
• Presenter, Orange County Bar Association – “Employee v. Independent Contractor: Employment and Tax Law Considerations”
• Presenter, BLR CELU (California Employment Law Updates) Conference – Annual Appraisal Apocalypse: How to Manage Employee Performance and Disciplinary Documentation
• Presenter, BLR CELU (California Employment Law Updates) Conference – Predictive Scheduling: The Practical Impact of Newly Enacted Fair Scheduling Ordinances on “Clopenings” and Other Scheduling Issues
• Presenter, USC Tax Conference – Employee and independent contractor classifications
• Presenter, CalCPA Entertainment Industry Annual Conference
• Presenter, Intellectual Property CLA Conference – Avoiding the Crap Out: How Intellectual Property Intersects with Employment, Estate and Bankruptcy Laws
• Presenter, employment law compliance training for national law firm – AB5 A Review and Practical Compliance Tips
• Presenter, three part series, Employment Law Compliance – Basic Training, presented to national management and supervisor staff of publicly traded company
• Presenter, DFEH Harassment and Discrimination compliance training, including annual supervisory and non-supervisory employee required trainings – presented to employees and management teams for numerous clients
• Presenter, annual EEOC trainings on discrimination prevention and management responsibilities regarding EEO compliance
• Speaker, Harassment & Sensitivity Training
• Speaker, Joseph B. Campbell American Inn of Court, Discrimination in Employment (CLE event)
• Speaker, Elimination of Bias: Women in the Practice of Law (CLE event)
• Speaker, City Club of Los Angeles, Lawyers Lunch Meeting, “Top 10 Ways to Avoid Employee Lawsuits”
• Speaker, City Club of Los Angeles, Lawyers Dinner Meeting, “Protecting Your Business from Employee Claims”
• Author, “Feelin’ the Bern (or not) at Work?” published in the Daily Journal
• Author, “When the Boss is Watching: How Online Life is Changing the Scope of Management” published for Strategic HR
• Ms. Angioni is often quoted as a legal employment expert in publications, including articles by the Associated Press, Cronkite News, PeopleHR, The Economist, Society for Human Resources Management, The Hill, Monster.com, and French newspaper La Monde and NewsMax
• Featured on KTLA speaking on Politics in the Workplace and Cronkite News speaking on Gender Discrimination

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:

Wrongful Termination:

• Obtained defense jury verdict dismissing wrongful termination cause of action.
• Obtained arbitration hearing award dismissing wrongful termination claim.
• Obtained summary adjudication of wrongful termination in violation of public policy cause of action based upon alleged gender and race discrimination.
• Obtained pre-answer dismissal of lawsuit alleging wrongful termination.
• Obtained summary adjudication of wrongful termination cause of action based upon alleged retaliation for reporting unlawful conduct.
• Obtained dismissal of wrongful termination cause of action brought against corporation and its shareholders.
• Obtained pre-litigation dismissal, and complete walk-away from case threatened against corporation and its owner for alleged wrongful termination and gender bias.

Employment Discrimination and Harassment Causes of Action:

• Obtained summary adjudication and dismissal of plaintiff’s claims alleging pregnancy discrimination and gender-based harassment.
• Obtained summary adjudication and dismissal of plaintiff’s causes of action alleging discrimination and harassment based on race.
• Obtained complete dismissal of lawsuit alleging harassment and discrimination on account of plaintiff’s race, gender, and alleged disability.
• Obtained dismissal of employee claims brought through Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Wage and Hour Claims:

• Successfully defended corporations against wage and hour claims involving allegations that the companies failed to provide employees with meal breaks.

Wage and Hour Class Actions:

• Successfully obtained dismissal of case upon court granting demurrer without leave to amend in case alleging minimum wage and related Labor Code violations.
• Successfully defended corporations against wage and hour claims involving allegations that the companies failed to provide employees with meal breaks, rest periods, overtime pay, itemized wage statements, and reimbursements.
• Obtained dismissals in Labor Commission proceedings filed by former employees alleging meal break, rest period, and paycheck violations.

Retaliation for Complaining About Unlawful Conduct:

• Obtained summary adjudication and dismissal of plaintiff’s retaliation and whistleblower protection causes of action against a medical products company.
• Defended police department against claim that department retaliated against officer who complained about alleged unlawful conduct.

PAGA – Private Attorneys General Act Claims:

• Successfully obtained complete dismissal of PAGA claims brought by four plaintiffs against numerous defendants due to lack of manageability.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of several business owners named as defendants in PAGA lawsuits.
• Successfully obtained resolution on favorable terms of numerous lawsuits alleging PAGA violations based upon alleged meal break and rest period violations, pay stub deficiencies, and related Labor Code issues.

EEOC and NLRB Complaints:

• Successfully obtained dismissal of complaint filed with National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) alleging violations of law and interference with bargaining rights.
• Successfully obtained case closure notices and findings of no fault on numerous EEOC claims involving allegations of age, race, and gender discrimination as well as retaliation for reporting discrimination in the workplace.
• Successfully negotiated resolution of EEOC-initiated complaint, providing non-monetary relief only, on claims of age-based discrimination in recruiting and hiring practices.

Labor Law Compliance:

• Drafted, reviewed, and revised employee handbooks and employee forms for various companies including those in food and beverage, hospitality, restaurant, consumer packaged goods, technology, fashion, art, beauty, medical services, and real-estate industries, among others.
• Counseled corporate clients in connection with day-to-day labor and employment inquiries, personnel file audits, complaint handling, internal investigations, and management best practices.
• Conducted internal investigations for companies who receive employee complaints regarding harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and unfair business practices.
• Successfully defended companies in investigations conducted by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Breach of Contract, Misappropriation, and Related Business Claims:

• Obtained defense award after nearly two-week arbitration hearing dismissing plaintiff’s claims for conversion of stock, fraud in the inducement, and alter ego liability/single enterprise theory brought against technology company and its majority owner and founder.
• Obtained summary judgment of lawsuit alleging conversion, fraud, intentional interference with contractual relationships, and conspiracy.
• Obtained summary adjudication of breach of fiduciary duty cause of action brought against technology company and company’s founder.
• Obtained court order denying plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction in misappropriation of trade secrets case
• Obtained complete dismissal of lawsuit alleging medical business owner violated independent contractor agreement with physician.
• Obtained summary adjudication of cause of action alleging violation of Business & Professions Code § 17200, intentional interference with prospective contractual relations, and unfair business practices.
• Successfully represented produce distributor in defense of breach of contract claims by a foreign produce grower.
• Successfully represented interior design company for breach of contract claims against development and construction companies for failing to uphold promises regarding certain contractual benefits.
• Obtained dismissal of breach of contract and common count causes of action brought against technology distribution company.
• Obtained court order granting Anti-SLAPP motion in client’s favor in case involving allegations of fraud, breach of contract, and several business torts.

VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS:

Trial Verdicts:

• Obtained defense verdict, including complete dismissal, after one week trial on causes of action alleged against two individual employers including intentional misclassification as independent contractor; failure to provide meal breaks and rest periods; failure to furnish wage statements; failure to keep accurate payroll records; and related Labor Code penalties.
• ]Obtained complete defense verdict after a two-week jury trial in favor of technology company. Lawsuit alleged causes of action including wrongful termination, unpaid wages, and related Labor Code violations filed by a former Vice President of Sales.
• ]Obtained decision in favor of employer on certain provisions in collective bargaining agreement, following months’ long arbitration of CBA after impasse in negotiations.

Employment Discrimination and Harassment Causes of Action:

• Obtained dismissal of Wrongful Termination and Gender / Race Discrimination causes of action through court granting motion for summary adjudication on case filed by employee claiming the employer wrongfully terminated him based on his race and gender.
• Obtained successful resolution, which included a partial grant of summary adjudication of claims, for employer and two company owners accused of wrongful discrimination, race-based and national-origin based discrimination, retaliation, and various wage and hour violations.
• Obtained complete settlement and dismissal of lawsuit filed against employer, two company owners, and two company managers alleging liability for wrongful termination, hostile work environment and workplace harassment following summary judgment filing.

Wage and Hour Class Actions:

• Obtained complete dismissal of class action claim upon Court granting Demurrer without leave to amend finding employer had a complete defense to alleged wage and hour violations including failure to comply with Living Wage Ordinance, failure to pay overtime, and inaccurate wage statements.
• Obtained successful settlements and dismissals of wage and hour class actions in two cases, both alleging overtime, meal break, rest period, and failure to pay minimum wage violations.

PAGA Claims:

• Successfully obtained complete dismissal of three LLC entities named as defendants in two PAGA lawsuits upon the court granting motion for summary judgment of claims.
• Successfully obtained complete dismissal of PAGA claims via a Motion to Strike PAGA Claims on the grounds that such claims were unmanageable under September 2021 appellate court decision.

Title VII Claims:

• Successfully obtained dismissal of Title VII claims for quid pro quo harassment and retaliation filed in federal court by former employee through court granting motion for summary adjudication of claims.

Anti-SLAPP Motion:

• Successfully won Anti-SLAPP motion to strike claims filed by former employee accusing company and its owner of various business torts and employment contract claims, with ruling in the employer’s and owner’s favor.

NLRB Complaint:

• Successfully obtained dismissal of NLRB complaint filed against union employer alleging employer failed to engage in bargaining over key operational decisions and failed to comply with terms of existing CBA.

EEOC Complaint Investigations:

• Obtained finding of insufficient evidence of EEOC violation alleging discrimination and retaliation.