Fermin H. Llaguno

Fermin H. Llaguno advises and represents clients in all areas of labor and employment law. With experience in all facets of the litigation process, from initial investigation and filing through trial and appeal, his practice includes both individual plaintiff and class action litigation in areas such as:

• Wage and hour
• Wrongful termination
• Sexual harassment
• Discrimination
• Whistleblowing/retaliation
• Employment status
• Employee benefits

In addition, he has represented numerous clients in proceedings involving the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.

Amidst a number of notable litigation successes, Fermin obtained a defense jury verdict following a six-week age discrimination and retaliation trial on behalf of a major automobile company that resulted in a defense attorneys' fees and costs award. He also obtained a defense bench trial verdict in a class action following a four-week trial on behalf of an interstate transportation company that resulted in a finding that the plaintiff class of truck drivers were independent contractors rather than employees.

Fermin regularly advises, counsels and provides training to clients in a wide range of matters, including:

• Day-to-day employer-employee relations
• Employment best practices
• Applicable legal standards
• Litigation avoidance

He also performs employment and payroll practice audits and revises and prepares all manner of employee handbooks and employment-related agreements for clients.

One of the firm's authorities on human resources investigations, Fermin provides training to numerous clients on this topic, along with management training in the areas of:

• Harassment avoidance
• Workplace investigations
• Wage and hour compliance
• Performance management

Fermin is the founder of Littler Mendelson's Orange County office. He is a founding member of Littler's Spanish Services Group and has served as a member of the firm's Board of Directors and Diversity and Inclusion Council since 2007. Fermin is an active member of Littler's Class Action Avoidance and Defense Practice Group and helped orchestrate Littler's first Class Action Summit in 2008.