Ladera Ranch Employment Lawyers

Andrew Hillier is an experienced employment law litigator representing employees throughout California. He has helped plaintiffs navigate prosecution of claims for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage theft, rest and meal break violations, and whistleblower retaliation.

In addition to his legal practice, Andrew is an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law where he teaches trial advocacy techniques. When he isn’t working to protect the rights of workers or training law students, Andrew enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, football, and playing with his dog, Harley.

Sharmin Jalali is the president and managing attorney at Jalali Law APC. Sharmin was born in the United States, and raised in Tehran, Iran. At 17, she returned to the United States to pursue the practice of law. Her diverse background greatly influences her creativity and strategic thinking abilities. After becoming a resident of Orange County in 2010, she attended University of California, Irvine, appearing on the dean’s honors list every semester of her attendance until graduation. She obtained her JD at Chapman University, Fowler School of Law. Prior to becoming a California licensed attorney in 2017, Sharmin had already obtained...

Ann Cook brings a business-focused approach to Phillips ADR, leveraging a decade at Ernst & Young LLP, including two years as General Counsel. Experienced as both plaintiff and defendant, she understands dispute dynamics and has litigated, arbitrated, and mediated cases in accounting, securities, contracts, and employment. A creative problem solver, Ann advised on complex corporate initiatives, balancing risk and business goals, earning recognition as a tenacious leader. At EY, Ann managed legal strategy for a $20B firm with 50,000 employees, overseeing litigation and regulatory matters during high regulatory activity. She advised on public disclosure and bankruptcy issues for over 1,000 public...

I have more than ten years of experience handling employment and labor law matters. Prior to opening my law firm, I worked several years at The Castañón Law Group. There, I represented employers and employees in discrimination, including retaliation and harassment, and wrongful termination cases before the Superior Court and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). My experience representing employers and employees affords me valuable insights into seeking justice for aggrieved employees. I also worked several years at Millard Administrative Representation, where I assisted employees in discrimination, including retaliation and harassment, cases before the EEOC. Furthermore, I worked multiple years at...

I am a litigation associate at the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. I rejoined the firm in 2023 after completing my tenure as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez at the United States District Court for the Central District of California. I hold a law degree, earned summa cum laude from Southwestern Law School. Currently, I am an adjunct professor at the same institution, specifically in the Appellate Litigation Clinic. During my time in law school, I held the position of Editor-in-Chief of The Southwestern Law Review and served as Chair of the Moot Court...

Matt Falkenstein has been an attorney with Skapik Law Group since January 2021, having first joined the firm in 2020. Since entering the legal profession, Mr. Falkenstein has been a dedicated and zealous advocate for clients whose rights have been violated. He is committed to pursuing fair and just outcomes, bringing a strategic and client-focused approach to every case. Mr. Falkenstein has experience across a broad range of civil litigation matters, including cases involving excessive force and police brutality, police misconduct, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour class actions, and catastrophic personal injury. He is known for his creative legal...

For 17 years, I served as an insurance defense counsel, handling cases related to construction defects, general liability, and medical malpractice defense. Now, my practice is centered on consumer civil rights and employment law, where I also handle class actions in both fields.