Source: https://www.orrick.com/People/3/2/7/Joseph-Liburt
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 16:28:56+00:00

Document:
During the past two decades, Joe built a reputation as a top employment litigator by approaching each case with a fresh perspective - uncovering unique facts, unearthing hidden dynamics and relentlessly unraveling the plaintiff’s case. He has represented companies such as Sears, Microsoft and Oracle in their most challenging and complex employment matters.
These and other clients also turn to Joe again and again as a creative problem solver and trusted advisor in helping them achieve their goals quickly and efficiently.
For example, in a wage class action for Sears, Joe quarterbacked an unusual strategy to dismiss the case. The team discovered that the plaintiff had filed for bankruptcy, and filed a motion to dismiss because the plaintiff no longer owned the lawsuit, the bankruptcy trustee did. But the plaintiff argued he might re-acquire the lawsuit in bankruptcy court, and the district court allowed him to try. In the bankruptcy court, Joe had Sears buy the lawsuit (an asset of the plaintiff’s bankruptcy estate) for a nominal amount, and then returned to the district court where Sears, now the owner of the class action against itself, dismissed the case with prejudice.
In Pao v. Kleiner Perkins, the high-stakes gender discrimination and retaliation case that garnered intense national scrutiny, Joe led the trial team's work on jury instructions and expert witnesses.
Joe is praised by clients, co-counsel and colleagues for his collaborative approach and ability to bring out the best work from the team.
In addition to earning his J.D. from Berkeley School of Law, and B.A. from Haverford College, Joe completed a two-year course at Deep Springs College, which is built upon the pillars of academics, self-government and manual labor. The latter reflects the college’s unique position as a working cattle and alfalfa ranch. During this time, Joe developed glorious forearms from milking cows by hand every morning and afternoon, a deep appreciation for a livelihood gained through hard work, and the virtue of persistence in the face of adversity.
Class Actions. Joe has extensive class action expertise representing employers in retail, technology and manufacturing including Sears, International Paper, Juniper Networks and Home Depot. He has repeatedly defeated class certification in wage-and-hour class actions for Sears. And in 2014, he persuaded two federal courts to reject the California Supreme Court's Iskanian decision and compel individual arbitration of representative PAGA claims.
Individual Claims. Joe has successfully defended employers such as Microsoft, Twitter, Genentech, and NVIDIA in high-visibility matters, frequently obtaining summary judgment or substantial summary adjudication.
ERISA & Benefits Litigation. Joe has litigated various ERISA and state law benefits claims for plans and sponsors including Oracle, Robert Half International, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the University of California. Joe has special expertise in change-in-control severance claims, including defending Oracle in numerous ERISA arbitrations regarding change-in-control severance plans in which employees sought change-in-control benefits after Oracle acquired Siebel Systems.
Fortune 10 Technology Company. Joe has represented this employer for 20+ years and successfully defended various single-plaintiff and class action cases.
Genentech. Joe represented Genentech in the trial of Cefalu v. Genentech, which resulted in a jury verdict in Genentech's favor on all claims, including disability discrimination, reasonable accommodation, interactive process, CFRA retaliation, and bonus wages.
L.L. Nunn Trust/Deep Springs College. Joe represented the dissenting Trustees of Deep Springs College seeking to protect the donor’s intent set forth in the charitable trust that governs the College.
"Me too" evidence in employment litigation", Strafford webinar, January 2018.
"Trends in California Class Action Employment Litigation," PLI, 2017.
"Forecasting the Impact of the Trump Administration on Employment Law," PLI, 2017.
"The Fair Credit Report Act - Overview & Recent Developments," Bridgeport, 2017.
"Latest EEOC Guidance on National Origin Discrimination," C4CM webinar, 2017.
"Privacy Rights in Employment Litigation," San Francisco Bar Association, 2017.
"2017 Legal Update," Central Coast HR Association, 2017.
"Ethics: The Fiduciary Exception to Attorney-Client Privilege and Other Ethical Considerations," ACI ERISA Litigation Conference, 2016.
"Pleadings", State Bar of California webinar, 2016.
"Pao v. Kleiner Perkins," Central California Employment Round Table, 2015.
"California's Myriad New Employment Laws: Complying with Significant Changes to Discrimination, Leave and Wage Laws," Strafford webinar, 2015.
"Workplace Privacy 2015: What’s New and What Employers May Expect," Major Lindsey & Afrika, 2015.
"Wage and Hour Update", 2014.
"Impact of Bankruptcy on Labor and Employment Law," panel moderator, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, 7th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, 2013.
"Top 10 Hidden Wage & Hour Issues," Employers Group webinar, 2013.
"Preparing for the Battle of the Experts: A Beginner's Guide to Expert Discovery," panelist at ABA 6th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, 2012.
"The Future of Employment Law in Light of Dukes v. Wal-Mart and AT&T v. Concepcion," panelist at 2012 Yosemite Conference of The Labor and Employment Law Section of The Bar Association of San Francisco, 2012.
"Title VII Litigation: Persistent Evidentiary Challenges -- Stray Remarks, Similarly Situated Comparators, Better Qualified Candidates and Other Issues," Strafford webinar, 2012.
"View From the Bench: Federal and State Judicial Perspectives on Class Certification Issues, Settlement, the Latest Plaintiff Theories & Emerging Defense Strategies," moderator of panel of six federal and state judges, ACI 13th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, 2011.
"A Focus on Health & Welfare Benefit Claims: Administration of Claims, Strategies for Resolving and Defending Litigation with Plan Participants," panelist at ACI ERISA Litigation Conference, 2011.
"The Interpretation, Administration & Litigation of Health and Welfare Benefit Plans," panelist at ACI ERISA Litigation Conference, 2010.
"Top Wage & Hour Traps for Employers," 2010.
"The Privileged Few: The Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney Client Privilege in ERISA Litigation," Bloomberg Law, 2016.
"Seven Unresolved PAGA Issues," Bender's California Labor & Employment Bulletin, March 2016.
Quoted, "Disability bias suits surge even before Web push," Business Insurance, June 21, 2015.
"Another Fine Mess: Individual PAGA Action and Removal of PAGA Actions After Iskanian," Bender's California Labor & Employment Bulletin, January 2015.
"Key Questions Remain After Iskanian," Bloomberg BNA Daily Labor Report, October 24, 2014.
"Tax Neutralization: Can An Employer Properly Be Charged With the Tax Consequences of a Lump Sum Damages Award?" Bender's California Labor & Employment Bulletin, February 2013.
Co-author, "Bankrupting Employment Class Action Claims," Law360, February 2012.
"California Minimum Wage Law: Re-thinking Armenta and Subsequent Cases," Bloomberg Law Reports - Labor & Employment, December 19, 2011.
"Discovery After Met Life v. Glenn: A Survey of How the Courts are Deciding the Scope of Discovery Outside the Administrative Record," ACI ERISA Litigation Conference, 2011.
"Discovery After MetLife v. Glenn: How Courts Are Deciding The Scope of Discovery Outside The Administrative Record," ACI ERISA Litigation Conference, 2010.
"Distinguishing Employees From Independent Contractors," Chapter in California Employment Law Deskbook.

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