Ann Marie Zaletel is a partner in the Los Angeles office and a key member of the Workplace Compliance Solutions Group at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Her practice is focused on the delivery of proactive, pragmatic solutions that help clients avoid litigation and develop internal compliance initiatives.
Ms. Zaletel has assisted numerous clients with business restructuring and workforce reductions; conducted large exempt status and pay practices assessments, under both federal and California law; helped clients develop and implement centralized leave of absence and disability accommodation management processes; and developed tools and systems for reviewing hiring and selection and termination processes. She advises employers on the protection of their intellectual property and related matters, independent contractor relationships, drug and alcohol testing, and workplace violence issues. Ms. Zaletel regularly counsels clients on compliance with California employment law peculiarities and is an expert on California wage-hour law as well as on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and the California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDL) and the interplay of these three statutes.
As a key member of Seyfarth Shaw’s Pay Equity Group, Ms. Zaletel counsels employers on best practices to guide fair pay practices and risk mitigation, including compliance with California’s especially stringent Fair Pay Act.
Ms. Zaletel has conducted extensive employee and management training, including anti-harassment training, leave management training, and wage-hour compliance training.
Ms. Zaletel also regularly conducts investigations related to allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage-hour violations, and safety violations.
Ms. Zaletel has extensive, broad-based employment litigation experience in California and federal courts, including jury trial experience. She has handled cases alleging wage-hour claims (including claims for unpaid overtime and California meal/rest period violations); failure to accommodate and disability discrimination claims; claims for violation of the FMLA, CFRA, and PDL; and race, sex, and age discrimination claims.
From 2003 to 2005, Ms. Zaletel served as a law clerk to the Honorable Carolyn Turchin, United States District Court for the Central District of California.
