Let's Talk PAGA: Understanding and Defending Class Action & PAGA Cases Thursday, March 10, 2022 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. California has seen a dramatic and sustained increase in representative wage and hour litigation over the past fifteen years – through both class actions and as representative claims brought pursuant to the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA).  Attorney Shannon Finley will provide an in-depth analysis of issues driving the prosecution, defense, and settlement of representative actions pursuant to California and federal class action statutes and California’s Private Attorney’s General Act (PAGA).  Shannon will also discuss best practices and recommended policies and strategies designed to enable HR professionals and employers to avoid and, when necessary, successfully minimize or resolve such claims.  Shannon Finley is a Shareholder with the law firm of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin. She focuses her practice on employment and retail matters. Ms. Finley is an experienced litigator who represents California employers in disputes ranging from single plaintiff wrongful termination cases to complex class actions, and everything in-between. In addition to defending employers in litigation, Ms. Finley provides guidance to employers to avoid lawsuits before they arise. Counseling services include implementation of best practices; on-demand consultation for discipline and termination of employment; assistance with implementation of leaves of absence; and crafting employer policies and employee handbooks. Ms. Finley is a speaker and author on issues including best hiring practices, wage and hour law, sex discrimination, leaves of absence, and social media. She was recognized as a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Rising Star by San Diego Super Lawyers, and she received the C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer Award from Lawyers Club of San Diego for her leadership and professionalism in the Legal Community and was recently honored as one of the 2020 Leaders in Law by the San Diego Business Journal.