Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Nate Kowalski is an accomplished litigator who represents employers in both the private and public sectors.  Mr. Kowalski has litigated dozens of labor and employment cases in state and federal court and has achieved remarkable results for clients in hearings, arbitrations, trials and appeals.  Among his victories is a case in which the United States Supreme Court  ruled unanimously in favor of his client. 

Mr. Kowalski's representation of employers encompasses a wide array of issues, including defamation, trade secrets, unfair competition, privacy and leaves of absence.  He has also successfully defended employers against discrimination and harassment claims based on gender, race, religion, age, and disability.

In addition, Mr. Kowalski represents private and public sector employers in wage and hour litigation, including class actions. He has developed a unique expertise concerning the application of California's wage and hour laws to public agencies and has been able to obtain dismissal of California Labor Code and Wage Order claims filed against his public sector clients.

Mr. Kowalski also has extensive experience with traditional labor law matters.  He handles recognition and unfair practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and the Public Employment Relations Board, and represents employers in labor arbitrations, collective bargaining and union elections. 

From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Kowalski has been named a "Southern California Rising Star" by Law & Politics and Los Angeles Magazine, based on a poll of selected Southern California lawyers.  This recognition honors exceptional Southern California attorneys under the age of 40.     

Mr. Kowalski has published articles in the California Labor and Employment Review, California Public Employee Relations Journal and California Lawyer. In addition, Mr. Kowalski has given presentations to a number of industry and professional groups, including the National Human Resources Association, the National Employment Law Institute, the International Public Management Association and the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association.  

Mr. Kowalski earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan.  He was a trumpet performance major as an undergraduate and performed with various ensembles throughout college and law school. 
 

Areas of Practice

• Employment Law
• Municipal Law

Representative Cases

• AFT vs. San Diego CCD (2001) 25 PERC 32099 (use of internal mail by employee organizations)
• Claremont POA vs. City of Claremont (2006) 39 Cal. 4th 623 (the duty to bargain and the managerial prerogative doctrine) (counsel for amicus Metropolitan Water District of Southern California)
• Directors Guild Pension & Health Plans vs. Harmony Pictures (1999) 32 F.Supp. 2d 1184 (restrictive endorsements under the Uniform Commercial Code)
• In re Digital Domain Productions (1998) 111 LA 137 (mutual mistake of fact in execution of collective bargaining agreement)
• Marquez vs. Screen Actors Guild (1998) 525 U.S. 33, 159 LRRM 2641 (union security provisions in collective bargaining agreements)
• Morrison vs. Housing Authority (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 860 (public meetings of government bodies)
• Riverside Sheriffs Association vs. County of Riverside (2004) 29 PERC 21 (surface bargaining)
• SAG Pension & Health Plans vs. Materna (1999) 70 F.Supp. 2d 1082 (equitable relief under ERISA)
• Upland Police Officers Association vs. City of Upland (2003) 111 Cal App. 4th 1294 (law enforcement disciplinary investigations)

West Practice Categories

Age Discrimination, Collective Bargaining, Constitutional Law, Disability & Illness Discrimination, Discrimination, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Labor Law, National Origin Discrimination, Race Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment

Bar Admissions

• California, 1995
• U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1995

Professional Associations and Memberships

• U.S. Court of Appeal: 9th Circuit, D.C. Circuit
• U.S. District Court: Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California

Education

• University of Michigan, 1994
  J.D.
• University of Michigan, 1991
  B.A.
  Major: Trumpet Performance

Published Works

• Banning Off-Duty Smoking, 2007
• Entering the Labyrinth of Pregnancy Leave Laws, 2004

Address

12800 Center Court Drive, Suite 300
Cerritos, CA 90703

Phones

(562) 653-3200 (Business Phone)
(714) 826-5480 (Other Phone)

Faxes

(562) 653-3333 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.aalrrlaw.com