Jamie ChaninPollaci
Partner
Labor & Employment
jpollaci@seyfarth.com
Jamie thoroughly investigates and evaluates her clients' employment matters to best advise them on corporate policies and personnel decisions. She successfully defends her clients against high-stakes, single-plaintiff lawsuits.
More About Jamie
As employers know (especially in California), employment lawsuits are inevitable. When clients are sued, they retain Jamie to accomplish their litigation strategy, whether that is engaging in early settlement negotiations or working up a case with an eye toward trial.
To avoid lawsuits, both on an individual and class basis, employers focus on compliance. Beyond that, many look to foster a positive culture for their employees, which ultimately leads to greater employee satisfaction, and maximizes retention and productivity. Jamie assists these clients by providing sound advice and counsel in making individual personnel decisions and implementing company-wide policies and practices. Clients also look to Jamie to conduct investigations, including those involving #MeToo harassment allegations and pay equity matters.
Jamie's litigation practice focuses on litigating various employment law issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, FMLA/CFRA leave, medical accommodation, and wage and hour cases. Jamie also has substantial experience litigating contract, noncompete and trade secret matters.
Jamie's trial experience gives her a unique perspective on employment law matters, and how a given set of circumstances would play out in front of a jury. This allows Jamie to tailor her advice and counsel at the pre-litigation stage, to realistically evaluate cases for clients at the outset, and to be strategic with investigation and discovery during litigation for the best chance of obtaining summary judgment or a defense verdict at trial.
Jamie's career track record in obtaining complete summary judgment, for motions that went to decision, is over 75%. Jamie won all three appeals she handled at Seyfarth, one before the California Court of Appeal and two before the Ninth Circuit.
Jamie strives to provide top-quality legal work and excellent client service, in the most efficient framework possible. To do this, she utilizes Seyfarth's innovative legal technology, including case trackers and budgeting tools.
While Jamie thrives during oral arguments and in trial, she most enjoys negotiating favorable settlements for her Seyfarth clients pre-litigation or early on in a case. This allows clients—including their executives and managers—to focus on running their business, rather than worrying about litigation spend and risk.
To avoid lawsuits, both on an individual and class basis, employers focus on compliance. Beyond that, many look to foster a positive culture for their employees, which ultimately leads to greater employee satisfaction, and maximizes retention and productivity. Jamie assists these clients by providing sound advice and counsel in making individual personnel decisions and implementing company-wide policies and practices. Clients also look to Jamie to conduct investigations, including those involving #MeToo harassment allegations and pay equity matters.
Jamie's litigation practice focuses on litigating various employment law issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, FMLA/CFRA leave, medical accommodation, and wage and hour cases. Jamie also has substantial experience litigating contract, noncompete and trade secret matters.
Jamie's trial experience gives her a unique perspective on employment law matters, and how a given set of circumstances would play out in front of a jury. This allows Jamie to tailor her advice and counsel at the pre-litigation stage, to realistically evaluate cases for clients at the outset, and to be strategic with investigation and discovery during litigation for the best chance of obtaining summary judgment or a defense verdict at trial.
Jamie's career track record in obtaining complete summary judgment, for motions that went to decision, is over 75%. Jamie won all three appeals she handled at Seyfarth, one before the California Court of Appeal and two before the Ninth Circuit.
Jamie strives to provide top-quality legal work and excellent client service, in the most efficient framework possible. To do this, she utilizes Seyfarth's innovative legal technology, including case trackers and budgeting tools.
While Jamie thrives during oral arguments and in trial, she most enjoys negotiating favorable settlements for her Seyfarth clients pre-litigation or early on in a case. This allows clients—including their executives and managers—to focus on running their business, rather than worrying about litigation spend and risk.
- JD, Pepperdine University School of Law
Magna cum laude
Pepperdine Law Review, note and comment editor - BA, Columbia University
- California
- 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
- US District Court, Southern District of California
Related Services
Blogs
- Prevailed at trial in single-plaintiff whistleblower case alleging retaliation and wrongful termination, and involving sensitive business practices.
- Prevailed on summary judgment, and prevailed on appeal in single-plaintiff case alleging disability discrimination and failure to accommodate.
- Prevailed on summary judgment in single-plaintiff case alleging misclassification of a store manager, breach of contract and disability discrimination.
- Moved for partial summary judgment on all non-wage claims and prevailed in single-plaintiff case alleging thousands of hours of unpaid overtime due to misclassification, wrongful constructive discharge and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Prevailed on summary judgment, and prevailed on appeal in single-plaintiff case alleging retaliation and wrongful termination.
- Represented employer in contentious class action case alleging overtime and failure to pay minimum wage, failure to provide second meal and third rest breaks, and wage statement and waiting time penalties.
- Prevailed on summary adjudication of all individual claims in single-plaintiff case involving contract and tort claims, with add-on PAGA representative claim.
- Represented employer in putative class and PAGA action, alleging various wage and hour claims, stayed pending individual arbitration.
- Represented employer in single-plaintiff case alleging race and national origin harassment and retaliation.
- Represented employer in class action alleging unlawful deductions and failure to provide meal and rest periods and pay split-shift premiums.
- Represented employer in class action alleging claims for meal and rest periods, commissions and overtime wages for all non-exempt employees.
- Defended class action alleging unpaid off-the-clock work before and after shift and failure to reimburse expenses.
- Defended single-plaintiff case alleging claims for defamation and interference with contract.
- Represented employer in multi-plaintiff case alleging age discrimination, disability discrimination and failure to accommodate.
- Defended current-employee-plaintiff, employed for 20+ years, alleging sex discrimination, retaliation and violation of California equal pay statute.
- Defended single-plaintiff case alleging sexual harassment and retaliation
- Defended single-plaintiff case with both wrongful termination and wage and hour (misclassification, overtime, meal and rest periods) components.
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Firm News
Jan 23, 2017
Seyfarth Promotes 18 as Partners
-
Blog Post
Mar 12, 2014
The Not-So-Wild West: Practical Tips for California Investigations
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2023-2025)
- “The Not-So-Wild West: Practical Tips for California Investigations,” California Peculiarities Employment Law Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 12, 2014)
- “Just Say No! Protection for Workplace Medical Marijuana Use Up in Smoke,” California Peculiarities Employment Law Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 3, 2013)
- “Chargebacks of Advanced Commissions Remain Valid in California, Despite Novel Legal Argument,” Seyfarth Shaw LLP - One Minute Memo (July 31, 2012)
- "What is it Good For? Absolutely Nothing: Eliminating Disparate Treatment of Third Party Sexual Harassment and All Other Forms of Third Party Harassment," Pepperdine Law Review (January 2006)
- Seyfarth Shaw Pro Bono Committee member
- Seyfarth Shaw Charitable Committee, office chair
- Supervises 10-15 pro bono cases per year, typically in adoption and asylum cases
"You missed Jamie’s masterful deposition today. Pitch perfect." —From in-house employment counsel of Fortune 100 insurance company, who sat in on a plaintiff's deposition Jamie took
"Wanted to offer a very hearty THANK YOU for the great result at today's summary judgment hearing. I look forward to hearing the details, but wanted the team to know ASAP that the court will be granting our motion in its entirety." —From in-house employment counsel at Fortune 100 medical company
"Outstanding! Well done! Thank you all!" —From national restaurant client in response to Jamie and her team securing a nuisance value settlement prior to filing a motion to compel arbitration
Jamie thoroughly investigates and evaluates her clients' employment matters to best advise them on corporate policies and personnel decisions. She successfully defends her clients against high-stakes, single-plaintiff lawsuits.
More About Jamie
As employers know (especially in California), employment lawsuits are inevitable. When clients are sued, they retain Jamie to accomplish their litigation strategy, whether that is engaging in early settlement negotiations or working up a case with an eye toward trial.
To avoid lawsuits, both on an individual and class basis, employers focus on compliance. Beyond that, many look to foster a positive culture for their employees, which ultimately leads to greater employee satisfaction, and maximizes retention and productivity. Jamie assists these clients by providing sound advice and counsel in making individual personnel decisions and implementing company-wide policies and practices. Clients also look to Jamie to conduct investigations, including those involving #MeToo harassment allegations and pay equity matters.
Jamie's litigation practice focuses on litigating various employment law issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, FMLA/CFRA leave, medical accommodation, and wage and hour cases. Jamie also has substantial experience litigating contract, noncompete and trade secret matters.
Jamie's trial experience gives her a unique perspective on employment law matters, and how a given set of circumstances would play out in front of a jury. This allows Jamie to tailor her advice and counsel at the pre-litigation stage, to realistically evaluate cases for clients at the outset, and to be strategic with investigation and discovery during litigation for the best chance of obtaining summary judgment or a defense verdict at trial.
Jamie's career track record in obtaining complete summary judgment, for motions that went to decision, is over 75%. Jamie won all three appeals she handled at Seyfarth, one before the California Court of Appeal and two before the Ninth Circuit.
Jamie strives to provide top-quality legal work and excellent client service, in the most efficient framework possible. To do this, she utilizes Seyfarth's innovative legal technology, including case trackers and budgeting tools.
While Jamie thrives during oral arguments and in trial, she most enjoys negotiating favorable settlements for her Seyfarth clients pre-litigation or early on in a case. This allows clients—including their executives and managers—to focus on running their business, rather than worrying about litigation spend and risk.
To avoid lawsuits, both on an individual and class basis, employers focus on compliance. Beyond that, many look to foster a positive culture for their employees, which ultimately leads to greater employee satisfaction, and maximizes retention and productivity. Jamie assists these clients by providing sound advice and counsel in making individual personnel decisions and implementing company-wide policies and practices. Clients also look to Jamie to conduct investigations, including those involving #MeToo harassment allegations and pay equity matters.
Jamie's litigation practice focuses on litigating various employment law issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, FMLA/CFRA leave, medical accommodation, and wage and hour cases. Jamie also has substantial experience litigating contract, noncompete and trade secret matters.
Jamie's trial experience gives her a unique perspective on employment law matters, and how a given set of circumstances would play out in front of a jury. This allows Jamie to tailor her advice and counsel at the pre-litigation stage, to realistically evaluate cases for clients at the outset, and to be strategic with investigation and discovery during litigation for the best chance of obtaining summary judgment or a defense verdict at trial.
Jamie's career track record in obtaining complete summary judgment, for motions that went to decision, is over 75%. Jamie won all three appeals she handled at Seyfarth, one before the California Court of Appeal and two before the Ninth Circuit.
Jamie strives to provide top-quality legal work and excellent client service, in the most efficient framework possible. To do this, she utilizes Seyfarth's innovative legal technology, including case trackers and budgeting tools.
While Jamie thrives during oral arguments and in trial, she most enjoys negotiating favorable settlements for her Seyfarth clients pre-litigation or early on in a case. This allows clients—including their executives and managers—to focus on running their business, rather than worrying about litigation spend and risk.
- JD, Pepperdine University School of Law
Magna cum laude
Pepperdine Law Review, note and comment editor - BA, Columbia University
- California
- 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
- US District Court, Southern District of California
Related Services
Blogs
- Prevailed at trial in single-plaintiff whistleblower case alleging retaliation and wrongful termination, and involving sensitive business practices.
- Prevailed on summary judgment, and prevailed on appeal in single-plaintiff case alleging disability discrimination and failure to accommodate.
- Prevailed on summary judgment in single-plaintiff case alleging misclassification of a store manager, breach of contract and disability discrimination.
- Moved for partial summary judgment on all non-wage claims and prevailed in single-plaintiff case alleging thousands of hours of unpaid overtime due to misclassification, wrongful constructive discharge and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Prevailed on summary judgment, and prevailed on appeal in single-plaintiff case alleging retaliation and wrongful termination.
- Represented employer in contentious class action case alleging overtime and failure to pay minimum wage, failure to provide second meal and third rest breaks, and wage statement and waiting time penalties.
- Prevailed on summary adjudication of all individual claims in single-plaintiff case involving contract and tort claims, with add-on PAGA representative claim.
- Represented employer in putative class and PAGA action, alleging various wage and hour claims, stayed pending individual arbitration.
- Represented employer in single-plaintiff case alleging race and national origin harassment and retaliation.
- Represented employer in class action alleging unlawful deductions and failure to provide meal and rest periods and pay split-shift premiums.
- Represented employer in class action alleging claims for meal and rest periods, commissions and overtime wages for all non-exempt employees.
- Defended class action alleging unpaid off-the-clock work before and after shift and failure to reimburse expenses.
- Defended single-plaintiff case alleging claims for defamation and interference with contract.
- Represented employer in multi-plaintiff case alleging age discrimination, disability discrimination and failure to accommodate.
- Defended current-employee-plaintiff, employed for 20+ years, alleging sex discrimination, retaliation and violation of California equal pay statute.
- Defended single-plaintiff case alleging sexual harassment and retaliation
- Defended single-plaintiff case with both wrongful termination and wage and hour (misclassification, overtime, meal and rest periods) components.
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Firm News
Jan 23, 2017
Seyfarth Promotes 18 as Partners
-
Blog Post
Mar 12, 2014
The Not-So-Wild West: Practical Tips for California Investigations
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2023-2025)
- “The Not-So-Wild West: Practical Tips for California Investigations,” California Peculiarities Employment Law Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 12, 2014)
- “Just Say No! Protection for Workplace Medical Marijuana Use Up in Smoke,” California Peculiarities Employment Law Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 3, 2013)
- “Chargebacks of Advanced Commissions Remain Valid in California, Despite Novel Legal Argument,” Seyfarth Shaw LLP - One Minute Memo (July 31, 2012)
- "What is it Good For? Absolutely Nothing: Eliminating Disparate Treatment of Third Party Sexual Harassment and All Other Forms of Third Party Harassment," Pepperdine Law Review (January 2006)
- Seyfarth Shaw Pro Bono Committee member
- Seyfarth Shaw Charitable Committee, office chair
- Supervises 10-15 pro bono cases per year, typically in adoption and asylum cases
"You missed Jamie’s masterful deposition today. Pitch perfect." —From in-house employment counsel of Fortune 100 insurance company, who sat in on a plaintiff's deposition Jamie took
"Wanted to offer a very hearty THANK YOU for the great result at today's summary judgment hearing. I look forward to hearing the details, but wanted the team to know ASAP that the court will be granting our motion in its entirety." —From in-house employment counsel at Fortune 100 medical company
"Outstanding! Well done! Thank you all!" —From national restaurant client in response to Jamie and her team securing a nuisance value settlement prior to filing a motion to compel arbitration