About
Paul Simpson has counseled and litigated on behalf of California businesses in labor and employment law matters for more than 40 years. His vast knowledge of the ever evolving and challenging legal landscape confronting California employers is utilized to provide clients with litigation avoidance solutions to complex human resource problems, as well as effective strategic litigation defense services.
Mr. Simpson has defended employers in state and federal trial courts in wage and hour class actions and PAGA civil penalty cases, as well as single plaintiff civil lawsuits. He has obtained multiple favorable state and federal appellate court decisions. In 2021 Mr. Simpson successfully represented a public works contractor in a precedent setting prevailing wage coverage case before the California Supreme Court in the case of Mendoza et v. Fonseca McElroy Grinding Co. 11 Cal 5th 1118 (2021).
Mr. Simpson also regularly represents businesses in matters before state and federal administrative agencies, including the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, California Civil Rights Department (formerly DFEH), National Labor Relations Board, EEOC, and the United States Department of Labor. He has represented multi-employer associations and individual employers in hundreds of labor-management arbitrations arising under union collective bargaining agreements and has defended union employers in Taft-Hartley trust fund audit and pension withdrawal liability disputes.
Mr. Simpson continues to speak before business and professional organizations on timely labor and employment law topics. He is highly regarded among his peers and business leaders for his expertise.
Areas of Practice
- 80% Employment Law
- 20% Labor Law
Litigation Percentage
- 65% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- California, 1978
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1978
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1981
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1981
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1982
Education
- University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California
- J.D. – 1978
- University of California, Berkeley, California
- B.A. – 1975
- Major: Political Science
Published Works
- Lowest Responsible Bidder: A Guide to Merit Shop Construction (Co-Author), Executive Enterprises, 1987
- A Contractor’s Guide To Prevailing Wage Law In California, 2000
- Construction Lawyer’s Guide to Labor & Employment Law, (Co-Author) , American Bar Association, 2001
Classes/Seminars
- Labor And Employment Law, California Continuing Education of the Bar
- Labor And Employment Law, Alliance of Chief Executives, Engineering & Utility Contractors Association
- Labor And Employment Law, Associated General Contractors of California
- Labor And Employment Law, Industrial Claims Association, Employers Group
- Labor And Employment Law, Associated Builders and Contractors
- Labor And Employment Law, American Bar Association Construction Law Section
- Labor And Employment Law, Lumber Merchants Association
- Labor And Employment Law, Institute of Business Law
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Associated General Contractors, Legal Advisory Committee
Past Employment Positions
- Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll, Thompson & Horn, Partner, 1988 – 1995
- Thierman, Simpson & Cook, Partner, 1982 – 1988
- National Labor Relations Board , Field Attorney , 1979-1981