Elisabeth (Liz) C.Watson
Partner
Labor & Employment
ewatson@seyfarth.com
Liz represents and advises employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.
More About Liz
Liz has extensive experience representing employers in single plaintiff and class action litigation involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, False Claims Act and other whistleblower claims, independent contractor/common law employee status, unfair labor practices, OSHA, unfair competition and trade secret claims, and wage and hour issues. Liz also spends significant time on the counseling, preventive planning, and defense of wage and hour class actions and representative actions under California Business and Professions Code § 17200.
In addition, Liz has successfully defended employers against administrative claims (such as discrimination charges filed with the EEOC and DFEH, Labor Code Section 132a retaliation charges before the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, tax assessments by the Employment Development Department, and wage claims before the Labor Commissioner) and has counseled employers with respect to OFCCP and other government audits.
Liz also has extensive experience drafting employment contracts and severance agreements, reviewing personnel policies, preparing affirmative action plans, and advising employers with respect to terminations, large-scale reductions in force and reorganizations, trade secrets, and other employment-related issues.
Liz has conducted workplace investigations and provided corporate training regarding a wide array of employment topics, such as common law employee/independent contractor issues, sexual harassment, conducting workplace investigations, legal compliance issues for HR personnel, and wage and hour issues.
In addition, Liz has successfully defended employers against administrative claims (such as discrimination charges filed with the EEOC and DFEH, Labor Code Section 132a retaliation charges before the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, tax assessments by the Employment Development Department, and wage claims before the Labor Commissioner) and has counseled employers with respect to OFCCP and other government audits.
Liz also has extensive experience drafting employment contracts and severance agreements, reviewing personnel policies, preparing affirmative action plans, and advising employers with respect to terminations, large-scale reductions in force and reorganizations, trade secrets, and other employment-related issues.
Liz has conducted workplace investigations and provided corporate training regarding a wide array of employment topics, such as common law employee/independent contractor issues, sexual harassment, conducting workplace investigations, legal compliance issues for HR personnel, and wage and hour issues.
- JD, Georgetown University Law Center
Cum laude
The Tax Lawyer, member - BA, Wellesley College
Cum laude
- California
- Not admitted to practice in North Carolina
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
Related Services
- Class & Collective Actions
- Employment
- Complex Discrimination Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Workplace Safety & Environmental
- Reductions in Force & Business Restructuring
- Employee Relations & Cultural Assessments
- Wage Hour Class & Collective Actions
- Termination Counseling
- Workplace Crisis Response & Investigations
- Discipline & Performance Management
- Post-Pandemic Recovery & Renewal
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Related News & Insights
-
Blog Post
Oct 27, 2022
Changes Coming to CA COVID-19 Requirements
-
Legal Update
Nov 15, 2021
Impacts of 5th Circuit Extension on Employers' OSHA ETS Compliance
-
Media Mentions
Nov 15, 2021
Seyfarth’s OSHA ETS Checklist featured in Editor & Publisher
-
Blog Post
Nov 12, 2021
What Must Employers Do to Comply with OSHA’s ETS? Check out our Checklist for Answers
- American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law
- Co-Author, "Strategies For Developing A Return To Work Action Plan," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 17, 2020)
- Co-Author, "CDC Provides New Guidance For Returning Critical Infrastructure Workers To Work Following Potential Exposure To COVID-19," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 9, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Recent Amendments to the California State False Claims Act Expand Its Reach for Both Qui Tam and Whistleblower Retaliation Claims," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 19, 2012)
- Contributing Editor, "Employment Contracts," California Practice Guide: Employment Litigation (The Rutter Group)
- Co-Presenter, "Critical Return to Work Issues for Employers," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 23, 2020)
- "Independent Contractor Misclassification and Joint Employment Issues -- When Does A Worker Become Your Employee?," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC-SoCal), Irvine and Torrance (May 2013)
- "Recent Developments in False Claims Act and Whistleblower Litigation," Breakfast Briefing, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Los Angeles, CA (June 2013)
- Panel Moderator, "Contingent Workforce Issues--When Does a Worker Become Your Employee?," Advanced Labor and Employment Conference for In-House Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, San Francisco, CA (September 2013)
- Panel Moderator, "Contingent Workforce Issues--When Does a Worker Become Your Employee?," Advanced Labor and Employment Conference for In-House Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, San Francisco, CA (October 2012)
- Member of the Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica
Liz represents and advises employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.
More About Liz
Liz has extensive experience representing employers in single plaintiff and class action litigation involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, False Claims Act and other whistleblower claims, independent contractor/common law employee status, unfair labor practices, OSHA, unfair competition and trade secret claims, and wage and hour issues. Liz also spends significant time on the counseling, preventive planning, and defense of wage and hour class actions and representative actions under California Business and Professions Code § 17200.
In addition, Liz has successfully defended employers against administrative claims (such as discrimination charges filed with the EEOC and DFEH, Labor Code Section 132a retaliation charges before the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, tax assessments by the Employment Development Department, and wage claims before the Labor Commissioner) and has counseled employers with respect to OFCCP and other government audits.
Liz also has extensive experience drafting employment contracts and severance agreements, reviewing personnel policies, preparing affirmative action plans, and advising employers with respect to terminations, large-scale reductions in force and reorganizations, trade secrets, and other employment-related issues.
Liz has conducted workplace investigations and provided corporate training regarding a wide array of employment topics, such as common law employee/independent contractor issues, sexual harassment, conducting workplace investigations, legal compliance issues for HR personnel, and wage and hour issues.
In addition, Liz has successfully defended employers against administrative claims (such as discrimination charges filed with the EEOC and DFEH, Labor Code Section 132a retaliation charges before the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, tax assessments by the Employment Development Department, and wage claims before the Labor Commissioner) and has counseled employers with respect to OFCCP and other government audits.
Liz also has extensive experience drafting employment contracts and severance agreements, reviewing personnel policies, preparing affirmative action plans, and advising employers with respect to terminations, large-scale reductions in force and reorganizations, trade secrets, and other employment-related issues.
Liz has conducted workplace investigations and provided corporate training regarding a wide array of employment topics, such as common law employee/independent contractor issues, sexual harassment, conducting workplace investigations, legal compliance issues for HR personnel, and wage and hour issues.
- JD, Georgetown University Law Center
Cum laude
The Tax Lawyer, member - BA, Wellesley College
Cum laude
- California
- Not admitted to practice in North Carolina
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
Related Services
- Class & Collective Actions
- Employment
- Complex Discrimination Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Workplace Safety & Environmental
- Reductions in Force & Business Restructuring
- Employee Relations & Cultural Assessments
- Wage Hour Class & Collective Actions
- Termination Counseling
- Workplace Crisis Response & Investigations
- Discipline & Performance Management
- Post-Pandemic Recovery & Renewal
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Related News & Insights
-
Blog Post
Oct 27, 2022
Changes Coming to CA COVID-19 Requirements
-
Legal Update
Nov 15, 2021
Impacts of 5th Circuit Extension on Employers' OSHA ETS Compliance
-
Media Mentions
Nov 15, 2021
Seyfarth’s OSHA ETS Checklist featured in Editor & Publisher
-
Blog Post
Nov 12, 2021
What Must Employers Do to Comply with OSHA’s ETS? Check out our Checklist for Answers
- American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law
- Co-Author, "Strategies For Developing A Return To Work Action Plan," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 17, 2020)
- Co-Author, "CDC Provides New Guidance For Returning Critical Infrastructure Workers To Work Following Potential Exposure To COVID-19," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 9, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Recent Amendments to the California State False Claims Act Expand Its Reach for Both Qui Tam and Whistleblower Retaliation Claims," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 19, 2012)
- Contributing Editor, "Employment Contracts," California Practice Guide: Employment Litigation (The Rutter Group)
- Co-Presenter, "Critical Return to Work Issues for Employers," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 23, 2020)
- "Independent Contractor Misclassification and Joint Employment Issues -- When Does A Worker Become Your Employee?," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC-SoCal), Irvine and Torrance (May 2013)
- "Recent Developments in False Claims Act and Whistleblower Litigation," Breakfast Briefing, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Los Angeles, CA (June 2013)
- Panel Moderator, "Contingent Workforce Issues--When Does a Worker Become Your Employee?," Advanced Labor and Employment Conference for In-House Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, San Francisco, CA (September 2013)
- Panel Moderator, "Contingent Workforce Issues--When Does a Worker Become Your Employee?," Advanced Labor and Employment Conference for In-House Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, San Francisco, CA (October 2012)
- Member of the Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica