Ben Jakovljevic is Counsel on the Class Action Counsel team and is based in California. He is responsible for partnering with trial teams to conduct the fact and legal investigation and exposure assessment for class, collective, and representative actions, including PAGA matters. Ben prepares a full evaluation of the case based on the needs of the client and trial team. The assessment includes an analysis of the client’s wage and hour and/or other employment policies and practices, fact witness interviews, and an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the client’s case, including opportunities for remediation. He also partners with data analysts to conduct damages modeling and exposure assessments. Ben drafts answers and evaluates matters for potential removal to federal court, and because of his knowledge of the factual and legal issues of the matter, remains involved in the litigation through opposition to class certification and settlement.
Ben began practicing employment law in 2017 and has defended employers in wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, trade secrets, and whistleblower and retaliation matters, in courts, arbitrations, and before government agencies. Ben has also provided day-to-day counseling to employers on best employment practices, the drafting of employee handbooks and separation agreements, engagement of early-stage dispute resolution, and other issues pertaining to human resources relations. During law school, he gained experience in a variety of workplace settings, including his law library, a small business clinic, the general counsel’s office of a national laboratory, a capital defense nonprofit, and as a judicial extern.
