We are pleased to announce that Sweta Patel, Jonathan Klein and Eileen Rice have joined the firm’s California office in the Employment & Labor, Pharmacy, and Litigation practices.
Ms. Patel has extensive experience advocating for management in various labor and employment disputes, and handling litigated cases before California state courts, Federal courts, and in arbitration. Ms. Patel's expertise extends to managing both single plaintiff and class action employment lawsuits, and covering a wide array of issues such as discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, and wage and hour disputes. She is particularly adept at navigating the complexities of Private Attorneys General Act representative matters. Beyond litigation, Ms. Patel is a trusted advisor to employers, offering strategic guidance on compliance with state and federal laws and collective bargaining agreements. She collaborates closely with management to develop policies and procedures that not only align with legal requirements but also advance business objectives.
In her pharmacy practice, Ms. Patel’s extensive experience in representing wholesalers, national and independent pharmacies, and pharmacists before the California Board of Pharmacy and Office of Administrative Hearings, sets her apart. She leverages her deep understanding of pharmacy law and litigation expertise to effectively advocate for her clients in regulatory enforcement actions and pharmacy-related contract disputes. She received her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and her B.A. from University of California at Berkeley.
Mr. Klein has more than three decades of extensive jury trial and arbitration experience, especially in labor and employment, pharmacy and commercial litigation. He counsels employers and employees on various compliance issues, including meal and rest break policies, non-competes, compliance with interactive process, and reasonable accommodations in the workplace. His practice focuses on labor and employment litigation, including wage and hour and ADA class action litigation, and advice and counsel work for employers.
His particular expertise is in the representation of health care providers, pharmacists and pharmacies, including Accusations filed by or discipline sought by various regulatory boards, including the California Board of Pharmacy, as well as in litigation involving alleged malpractice or violations of pharmacists' duties of care. Mr. Klein has been extensively involved in disputes with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). He often successfully represents employers seeking return of funds stolen or embezzled. Mr. Klein received his J.D., cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law, his B.A. from University of California at Santa Cruz and attended University of Sussex, Brighton, England.
Eileen Rice has represented corporations, small businesses, and pharmacies in the areas of employment, general commercial matters and pharmacy law for over two decades. Ms. Rice enjoys working closely with employers to develop policies and procedures that are legally compliant and support their business objectives, including employee handbooks and agreements. As an attorney investigator, Ms. Rice conducts independent workplace investigations into employee complaints of harassment, discrimination, and company policy violations.
Ms. Rice is a seasoned appellate attorney, having advocated for clients in the First, Second and Sixth District Courts of Appeal and before the California Supreme Court. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from Wake Forest University.
