Apalla Chopra is Chair of O’Melveny’s Labor and Employment Practice and a partner in the Firm’s Los Angeles office. She specializes in litigating complex multi-plaintiff and class action discrimination and wage and hour cases. Her experience is broad as she has represented clients in cases regarding employee allegations of invasion of privacy, wrongful discharge, and discrimination based on age, race, sex, national origin, physical handicap, and related matters. Apalla also has represented clients in traditional labor matters under the National Labor Relations Act and Educational Employment Relations Act, and has experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements and executive employment contracts. She has appeared in state and federal courts in the civil and criminal context, as well as before various administrative agencies.
Apalla’s industry experience is likewise broad, as she has represented companies in the biotechnology, manufacturing, utility, health, retail, hospitality, private and public schools, and entertainment sectors.
Apalla has represented both employers and amici in many significant trial court and appellate cases, including Chindarah v. Pick Up Stix, Inc., 171 Cal. App. 4th 796 (2009); Alch v. Superior Court, 122 Cal. App. 4th 339 (2004); Wynn v. NBC, 234 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (C.D. Cal. 2002); and Fanaka v. Warner Bros., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19078 (2000).
Apalla has repeatedly been recognized by Chambers USA, Legal500, and the Daily Journal as a top woman lawyer and defense-side labor and employment law practitioner. She also has been recognized as “Rainmaker” by Diversity & the Bar and in “Women Worth Watching” by Diversity Journal.
