Laurie D. Rau

Admissions

• California State Bar, 1996
• California Supreme Court
• United States District Court, Central District
• United States District Court, Southern District
• United State District Court, District of Colorado
  
• Supreme Court of the United States of America

Education

• J.D., Western State University College of Law
• B.A., University of Southern California
• A.A., Fullerton College

Honors

• Top Lawyers in America since 2013
• Avvo Rated
• Gladiator Award - Farmers Insurance 2006 for Trial results
• Peer Rated with Martindale Hubbell
• Graduated with honors, University of Southern California
• Graduated with honors, Fullerton College
• Woman of the Year, Fullerton College
• Alpha Gamma Sigma, Fullerton College
• Student Ambassador, Mito, Japan, 1987
  
  

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Orange County Bar Association
• Business Litigation Section
• Labor and Employment Section
• Tort and Trial Section
• Board of Directors, Southern California Defense Counsel Association
• Board Chair Person Orange County and Committee Chairperson - Employment Law - 2000 through 2012
• Inns of Court of America, Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court - 1996 to present
• California Chamber of Commerce
• Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity
• National Charity League
• University of Southern California Alumni Association
• Orange County Trojan Club (Board member 2013-2016)
  
  

Publications

• Produced one hour documentary, "American Worker, American Life", 1991
• "When does liability attach when serving alcohol to a minor", Verdict Magazine 2003"
• Understanding the basics of USERRA", Verdict Magazine 2003
• "Obesity Litigation - Where is it all going" Verdict Magazine 2005

Teaching Positions 
& Seminars

• Taught seminars re: employment litigation to attorneys and insurance representatives through the Association of the Southern California Defense Counsel
• Taught program "How to avoid Medical Malpractice Actions", University of California at Irvine, Medical School (1998)
• Taught seminars re: how to avoid employment litigation claims in the workplace for employers, chamber of commerce members and care providers in Orange and Los Angeles Counties (2000 - present)
• Taught seminars re: construction defect litigation to insurance claims representatives
• Taught seminars for businesses regarding medical malpractice, business litigation and construction defect litigation.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Served as private mediator in over 50 matters to successful resolution.

Practice Values

Laurie Rau is an aggressive trial attorney, having successfully tried to jury verdict and obtained Court judgments in a wide variety of business and employment disputes, including countless arbitrations and mediations. She is well experienced in representing employers of all sizes in wage and hour class action and PAGA litigation matters, involving thousands of putative class members in a variety of industries.

Laurie also provides learned counsel to business owners, executives, human resource managers, and medical professionals on all aspects of compliance with federal and state employment laws and regulations, including litigation prevention, wage-hour, discrimination and harassment laws; reductions-in-force, employee investigations, discipline and termination issues; coordination of protected employee leaves, disability accommodations, employee safety, OSHA and privacy issues; and in developing or reviewing employment contracts, as well as human resources policies, handbooks, and procedures.

Laurie has also represented employees a wide range of employment law cases, including class actions and collective actions challenging unlawful pay practices, including wage and hour violations, claims for job discrimination, sexual harassment, disability accommodation, privacy rights, family and medical leave, whistleblower retaliation, and breach of employment contracts. Laurie also advises employees on employment agreements, proprietary information/non-disclosure agreements, non-solicitation agreements, and severance packages. 

Laurie also represents individuals and businesses involving litigation prevention as well as the entire spectrum of litigation, with a particular focus on complex business disputes. Laurie applies her extraordinary skill, creativity, and experience to solve legal problems facing individuals and businesses in achieving the client’s goals.

If claims are made or if litigation is necessary, Laurie's philosophy begins with defining the client’s interests and together mapping a strategy based on the client’s goals for a successful outcome with an understanding of the likely cost (both financial and simply personal) of obtaining the desired result. This is especially true in handling business disputes and understanding that, in many instances, an early business resolution is usually better than a prolonged war. Nevertheless, if the matter must go to trial or binding arbitration, Laurie has extensive business trial experience. Laurie’s practice is based on her core value of providing excellent lawyering, unparalleled client service, and attention to detail.