Kathryn B. Fox is a member of the Labor & Employment practice group and Vice-Chair of the Franchise Law industry group in Buchalter's San Diego office. Ms. Fox advises employers on litigation avoidance and provides counseling on workplace law matters.  She has experience representing clients in single-plaintiff cases involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour issues. She also routinely advises and represents clients in class action and representative PAGA cases involving wage-and-hour allegations, including failure to pay regular and overtime wages, meal period and rest break violations, misclassification issues, piece-rate pay agreements, and reimbursement claims. Her representation of clients includes defending actions in state and federal court, in arbitrations, before the EEOC, DFEH, DLSE and EDD, and in mediation. Ms. Fox also provides trainings to clients on workplace privacy issues, preventing workplace harassment, and best practices for complying with California wage and hour laws.

Ms. Fox has been named a 2021-2025 "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers for her work in Labor and Employment Law: Management and Litigation. Ms. Fox was also recognized as a 2021 "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Bar Admissions

• California
• Texas

Education

• California Western School of Law, J.D., Concentration in Labor & Employment Law, with honors
• University of Southern California, B.A., Political Science, Minor in Law & Society

Highlights of Ms. Fox's work include:

• Second-chaired a multi-week jury trial defending a national startup company against claims of fraud and false promise, resulting in a unanimous defense verdict.
• Obtained summary judgment for national retailer and two individuals facing eleven causes of action, including claims for age and disability discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to engage, failure to accommodate, negligent supervision, breach of implied contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• Obtained summary adjudication of claim brought by former city councilmember alleging infringement of his civil rights and race discrimination.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of private school and church facing allegations of misconduct by a former teacher.
• Successfully obtained a full dismissal of all claims against a large biotech company after filing demurrers and minimal discovery.
• Obtained summary judgment for a large trucking client facing allegations of disability-based association discrimination, harassment and retaliation; age discrimination, harassment and retaliation; retaliation for engaging in protected activities; wrongful termination and declaratory relief.
• Successfully obtained an order that a plaintiff who lost on summary judgment pay the client's statutorily recoverable costs expended defending the action.
• Obtained summary judgment for three defendants (two companies and the plaintiff's manager) in a case involving allegations of age discrimination, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of implied contract.
• Negotiated and resolved several employment matters involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour issues, and other claims under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and California Labor Code.
• Resolved many claims pre-litigation through negotiations with opposing counsel, thus avoiding litigation.
• Provided advice and counsel to clients on employee terminations and discipline, employee handbooks, and various employer policies and practices.

• Buchalter Client Alert COVID 19: Department of Labor's New Regulations and Guidance on the Family First Coronavirus Relief Act ("FFCRA)
• Buchalter Client Alert COVID-19: Considerations for Employers Bringing Employees Back to Work in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Congress Passes the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act
• Are You My Employer?
• President Biden Signed into Law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act
• Staying in the FAST Lane: An Overview of New 2023 Employment Laws for California Franchisors and Franchisees
• California's AB 51, Which Sought to Ban Mandatory Arbitration Agreements, Is Preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act
• National Labor Relations Board Publishes Final Rule Significantly Expanding Definition of Joint Employer
• Buchalter Hosting New Year’s Resolutions for California Employers
• Kathryn Fox, Speaker at Buchalter’s San Diego Labor & Employment Seminar
• Kathryn Fox, Speaker at Buchalter’s Napa Labor & Employment Seminar
• Kathryn Fox, Speaker at the San Diego HR Forum
• Kathryn B. Fox and Hillary M. Dorne, Presenters at the Emerson Experience in Entrepreneurship (E3)
• Tracy Warren and Kathryn Fox, Panelists at Summer Legal Institute
• Buchalter Labor & Employment 2023 Seminar
• Tracy Warren & Kathryn Fox, Speakers at the Buchalter Labor & Employment 2023 Seminar
• Kathryn B. Fox, Presenter at Pincus Professional Education
• Kathryn B. Fox, Speaker at the 14th Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Conference
• Buchalter Labor & Employment 2024 Seminar
• Buchalter’s Labor & Employment 2023 Webinar