Julia C. Riechert

The Recorder has named Orrick’s employment law group the California Labor & Employment Department of the Year since 2013. Julia and Lynne Hermle also won the 2017 California Lawyer of the Year award in Labor and Employment from California Lawyer for their defense verdict for SpaceX in a high profile sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and disability case. The Daily Journal also named their two jury trial wins for SpaceX as top verdicts in 2016 and 2017. Julia is also the Co-Office Leader of the Orrick Silicon Valley office. 

Julia defends companies in class action, representative action and individual wage-and-hour lawsuits under California and federal law, including claims of misclassification and for unpaid wages, off-the-clock work, meal and rest break penalties, expense reimbursement and vacation pay. Julia has successfully defeated class certification for employers in the retail and technology industries. Julia has expertise in defending against independent contractor misclassification and joint employment claims. Julia also defends companies and individual defendants in single plaintiff and multi-plaintiff lawsuits under California and federal law in cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, disability and leave claims. She also handles government agency charges and government audits, and has helped countless clients resolve pre-litigation matters arising from employment terminations and other complex workplace disputes, including #metoo allegations.

Julia provides employment counseling and strategic advice to small, medium and large companies on a variety of employment issues, including responding to employee complaints, reductions in force, terminations, compensation practices, performance management, independent contractor classification, joint employment and policy implementation. She also has extensive experience counseling clients on investigations regarding workplace complaints. Additionally, she provides company training, including California's mandatory sexual harassment training course and management best practices.