Lara Graham

Senior Associate

San Francisco

lgraham@orrick.com

Read full biography at www.orrick.com

Lara Graham is an employment law attorney in Orrick's San Francisco office.

Lara defends companies in class action, multi-plaintiff, and single plaintiff lawsuits under California and federal law.  Lara has experience with litigation related to discrimination, pay equity, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage-and-hour claims. 

Lara also has extensive pro bono experience representing low-income individuals.  Through her pro bono work Lara gained trial experience, representing a pro bono client in federal court, and hearing experience, having argued in multiple state-court hearings on behalf of a pro bono client, and representing asylum seekers in immigration court. 

Prior to joining Orrick, Lara served as a law clerk for the Hon. Judge Vanessa Zecher.  

Posts by: Lara Graham

New Guidance Available for New Jersey Employers About the State’s Equal Pay Act

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The State of New Jersey’s Division on Civil Rights (“DCR”) recently issued new Guidance on the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act (“EPA”).  The EPA, which took effect July 1, 2018, was already the most sweeping equal pay legislation in the nation by strengthening already existing equal pay protections found in the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”).  As Governor Murphy announced on March 2, 2020, the Guidance goes even further and “make[s] clear our intentions to eliminate discriminatory pay practices in the Garden State that have historically prevented women and other marginalized groups from earning their fair share.” READ MORE →

Philadelphia Wage History Ordinance Green-Lighted

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On February 6, 2020 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld a Philadelphia pay equity ordinance banning employers from inquiring into prospective employees’ prior pay or relying on prior pay in making compensation decisions unless candidates knowingly and willingly disclose the information. In upholding the ordinance, the Third Circuit vacated a lower court decision that enjoined enforcement of the inquiry provision on the grounds that it violated employers’ First Amendment free speech rights. While the Third Circuit acknowledged that the ordinance implicated First Amendment rights, the court found that there was “a plethora of evidence” provided by the city to meet its burden of clearing intermediate scrutiny for commercial speech. Consequently, it was reasonable for the city to conclude that the inquiry provision would address gender and race-based wage gaps based on experiments, witness testimony, and historical research concluding as much. READ MORE →

Cert Denied in Potential Harbinger for California Equal Pay Act Class Actions

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On August 28, 2018, a judge in Los Angeles County Superior Court issued one of the first decisions – if not the first decision – on a motion to certify a putative class action under the state’s revised Equal Pay Act, Cal. Labor Code § 1197.5 (“EPA”).  See Bridewell-Sledge, et al. v. Blue Cross of California, No. BC477451 (Los Angeles Sup. Ct. Aug. 28, 2018) (Court’s Ruling and Order re: Pls.’ Mot. for Class Certification).  Specifically, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify classes of all female and all African American non-exempt employees of Anthem Blue Cross California and related entities.  The complaint alleged both violations of the EPA, as well as discrimination in promotions and pay in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (Cal. Gov. Code §12900 et. seq.).[1]

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