Guillermo Emilio Ortiz is an experienced labor and employment attorney. He has represented insurance companies and employers in a wide range of workers’ compensation cases, including 132a and serious and willful misconduct claims, from initial client referral through trial. Prior to joining Littler, Guillermo handled more than 300 workers’ compensation cases. He has also taken hundreds of applicant depositions, and has successfully cross-examined medical practitioners. In addition to his workers’ compensation practice, Guillermo has successfully resolved wage and hour claims in superior court, as well as single-plaintiff cases in the same forum. He has handled claims before the Labor Commissioner, including matters under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), and has defended employers in cases involving allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination.
Among his notable achievements, Guillermo secured a waiver of costs in a single plaintiff tort action involving a workers’ compensation component. He has provided strategic advice and counsel to staffing agencies regarding workers’ compensation claims and personnel issues. He successfully defended a food manufacturer in a case where the staffing agency initially denied liability for a workers’ compensation claim, ultimately resulting in the staffing agency accepting responsibility. Furthermore, he has represented a general contractor before the Department of Insurance in a workers’ compensation premium audit.
Guillermo began his career defending immigrants in immigration court and has helped hundreds of individuals stay in the United States pending deportation proceedings. Additionally, he has reunited families after securing freedom for their family members being detained by the Department of Homeland Security. He has represented immigrants before the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Guillermo also has experience in criminal courts, representing individuals while taking into consideration the immigration consequences of any criminal convictions.
