Protecting Corporate & Government Employers

The Wins You Don’t Read About

For large employers, public or private, the real legal threats don’t always arrive with a lawsuit. Sometimes it starts with a heated complaint, a vague audit finding, or a misstep in how an investigation is handled. And sometimes, it’s already gone sideways by the time we’re brought in. These workplace challenges can disrupt operations, drain resources, and put reputations at risk.

Meyers Nave advises, represents, and trains some of the most visible employers in the country. We’re often called for the most sensitive and high-stakes matters. Whether that means preventing litigation or defending cases already in motion in state and federal courts across California, we help clients stay ahead of problems, minimize risk, protect their bottom line, and empower them to solve problems internally. Here’s what that looks like in practice.

A Professional NFL Team — High Stakes Arbitrations

Meyers Nave is lead counsel for a prominent professional football team on a range of high-stakes employment matters, including claims of discrimination, retaliation, and wage violations. Serious matters with brand-level risk.

Working alongside the team’s general counsel, we’ve guided the organization through multiple arbitrations, securing complete defense awards in cases that involve incredibly sensitive allegations and extensive witness testimony. Our strategy combines discretion, precision, and a deep understanding of both employment law and the unique dynamics of professional sports organizations.

Los Angeles Community College District — Overturning a $10 Million Verdict on Appeal

When a jury awarded $10 million to a plaintiff in an emotional distress case against the Los Angeles Community College District, Meyers Nave was the first call for the appeal. The trial judge had allowed inflammatory, inadmissible evidence into the record, at trial and again in the post-trial proceedings.

We took the case to the Second District Court of Appeal, which issued a published decision reversing the $10 million verdict entirely, on grounds of judicial misconduct and the erroneous admission of prejudicial evidence. Appellate reversals of this magnitude are rare. Delivering one is why employers facing a worst-case verdict call us.

City of Milpitas — Summary Judgment Won, and Defended on Appeal

A former City Manager sued the City of Milpitas for breach of contract, retaliation, and wrongful termination, a case that carried political weight alongside its legal risk. In June 2025 the trial court granted the City’s motion for summary judgment, disposing of every claim and awarding roughly $400,000 in fees and costs. We had handled a related writ proceeding earlier in the case, and we now serve as the City’s appellate advocate protecting the win.

Santa Clara Valley Water District — Sixty Claims, Two Reports, One Steady Process

When allegations of misconduct, bullying, and discriminatory harassment engulfed elected officials and executives at the Santa Clara Valley Water District, every charge and counter-charge was politically contested and closely covered by local media. We investigated more than sixty claims across two reports, each finding documented so decision-makers could act on facts rather than noise.

City of Antioch — Guiding a City Through Federal and State DOJ Scrutiny

When the U.S. Department of Justice and the California Department of Justice both opened investigations into the Antioch Police Department over officers’ text messages, the City turned to Meyers Nave. We guide the City through both investigations and the litigation surrounding them, matters where every step is public and every decision carries consequences for the community’s trust.

City of Modesto — When Employee Health Coverage Collapsed

The U.S. Department of Labor concluded that the health insurer covering City of Modesto employees had been operated as a Ponzi scheme, seized it, and placed it into receivership. More than 800 City employees and their families were suddenly without coverage, and the City faced more than $8 million in unpaid claims. Meyers Nave guided the City through the liquidation proceedings, pursued recovery from the wrongdoers, and helped move the workforce to new insurance.

University of California — Sensitive Investigations Amid Campus Unrest

For more than a decade, Meyers Nave has handled the University of California’s most sensitive and high-profile employment matters. When serious allegations arise, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, fraud, whistleblowing, or misconduct, university leadership turns to us for investigations that are thorough, defensible, and discreet.

We’ve conducted impartial investigations that equip decision-makers with the facts needed to determine appropriate next steps, from corrective actions to policy revisions. Our work spans multiple Southern California campuses and includes independent reviews tied to some of the university system’s most publicized controversies, including an investigation of racial bullying allegations involving Black students that drew public protests and the involvement of the NAACP.

In every case, the work is impartial, fact-based, and thorough, and the findings are documented to stand up to scrutiny, from courts and trustees to the media and the public.

Bear Valley Community Services District — Restoring Trust Through Strategic Labor Negotiations

As general counsel to the Bear Valley Community Services District in Kern County, Meyers Nave knows the District’s operations, budget, and governing board from the inside. That seat made the firm the natural Lead Negotiator when years of strained labor relations came to a head, and we delivered two key agreements: a three-year agreement with a newly formed staff union and a five-year agreement with the police union.

Our team led all “meet and confer” sessions involving terms and conditions of employment, handling complex issues with a steady hand and tactical clarity. Labor negotiations often unfold over late nights and multiple bargaining rounds, and we stayed at the table until both agreements were done. Alongside the negotiations, the firm coached a first-time General Manager stepping into the role of a public-sector executive.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) — Complex Case Unit Advocates

Meyers Nave was selected by the NCAA to be one of three law firms nationwide to participate in a pilot program called the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP). The IARP was established in response to the 2017 federal prosecutions arising from corruption in collegiate basketball.

In one case, the NCAA tapped Meyers Nave as independent counsel to investigate and prosecute violations in one of its highest-profile cases over allegations involving LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade. Our attorneys led this enforcement action through the IARP’s independent resolution track.

A Global Technology and Services Company — Full Defense Verdict

A former senior executive brought a barrage of claims against our client, a global technology and services company: age discrimination, constructive termination, unpaid commissions, and retaliation, with $2.8 million in damages at stake. At trial, we presented evidence that told a different story: poor performance reviews, a higher-paying role accepted before resignation, and commissions claimed on accounts the executive no longer managed. The court found for our client on every count. Not a single allegation held up, and not one dollar was awarded.

Where Clients Bring the Hardest Matters

Employment issues are inevitable. Choosing the right team is key. Meyers Nave is the go-to firm for California employers looking to stay ahead of challenges and focus on what they do best.