Overview

Stacey E. James' practice focuses on assisting clients with state and federal wage and hour compliance, as well as defending employers in wage and hour class, representative, mass and single actions, and enforcement of arbitration agreements. She has successfully and efficiently defended hundreds of lawsuits alleging wage and hour violations, including multiplaintiff, representative (PAGA) and class action lawsuits. In addition, Stacey counsels employers on wage and hour compliance, audits payroll practices and evaluates classification determinations. She has also defended clients against claims of wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination and harassment.

As co-chair of Littler’s national Wage and Hour Practice Group, she oversees the training and development of more than 450 counsel across the nation, as well as ensuring the practice group provides education and assistance to clients through external webinars and trainings.  She also works closely with the leadership of Littler’s national Class Action Avoidance and Defense Practice Group to develop strategic initiatives to respond to the ever-growing expansion of class, collective, mass and representative complex actions in the wage and hour space.

Stacey’s practice is primarily focused on defending clients in all areas of California wage and hour litigation, as well as assisting clients with wage and hour compliance, including the specific areas of regular rate, overtime, meal and rest periods, and alternative workweek schedules under California law. Her recent successes include convincing the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to deny class certification of a putative class action alleging wage and hour violations against a large healthcare facility, and defeating class certification in state court and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for that same entity.

Additionally, Stacey concentrates on incentive compensation. She works closely with clients to develop and structure incentive compensation plans. Currently, she serves as chair of Littler’s Shareholder Compensation Committee. She also has served on the firm’s Board of Directors and is a core member of its Hospitality and Health Care industry groups.

Prior to attending law school, Stacey worked in human resources and payroll. She was previously certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

American Bar Association

Former Co-Chair

Labor and Employment Law Section

San Diego County Bar Association

Member, Board of Directors

Mama's Kitchen

Former President and Board Member

Mama's Kitchen

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2013-2025

Named, Most Influential Women of San Diego County

The Daily Transcript

2020

News, Analysis & Press

Calif.: Salaried Exempt Employees May Be Required to Use PTO for Partial Day Absences

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

August 11, 2014

Minimum wage hike’s cost to employers weighed

San Diego Source/The Daily Transcript

July 29, 2014

The "Bring Your Own Device" to Work Movement

Littler Report

May 10, 2012

About Stacey E. James

ASAP

January 15, 2009

2009 Minimum Wage Increases

ASAP

December 19, 2008

Stacey James Urges Employers to Review Military Leave Laws

San Diego Business Journal

April 9, 2007

Welcoming Troops Home: Compliance Concerns Under Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

San Diego Daily Transcript

April 2007

MLRC 50-State Survey: Employment Libel and Privacy Law (California Chapter)

Media Law Resource Center

November 2005

Can Corporate Officers and Directors Be Sued Personally By Individuals For Wage Claims?

San Diego Business Journal

August 29, 2005

Do Employers Have To Tell Employees About Their Right to Military Leave?

San Diego Business Journal

April 25, 2005

Are Employers Required To Provide Sexual Harassment Training To Supervisory Employees?

San Diego Business Journal

January 31, 2005

California Breaks New Ground: Paid Family Care Leave

Sheppard Mullin Labor and Employment Update

September 2004

Non-Union Employees May No Longer Assert Weingarten Rights

Sheppard Mullin Labor and Employment Update

June 2004

Sexual Harassment: California Supreme Court Reinforces Strict Liability Standard But Announces New Defense of 'Avoidable Consequences'

Sheppard Mullin Labor and Employment Update

November 2003

Making Downsizing More Difficult: California's New WARN Act

Sheppard Mullin Labor and Employment Update

September 2002

Losing Employees To The Military

Monthly Newsletter (reprint), American Subcontractors Association

September 2001

Losing Employees To The Military

Sheppard Mullin Labor and Employment Update

September 2001

Speaking Engagements

Show Me the Money! Incentivizing the Workforce of the Future

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

Retail Roundtable

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 10, 2023

Healthcare Industry Roundtable

Littler Executive Employer Conference

May 10-12, 2023

Regular Rate in the Golden State: The Math Problem With Serious Consequences

2022 California Virtual Regional Employer Conference

November 2, 2022

Hospitality Industry Roundtable

Littler Executive Employer Conference

May 4, 2022

2021 California Virtual Regional Employer Conference

Sacramento, CA

October 28, 2021

The Impacts of Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel (CA Supreme Court): Meal and Other Premiums Must Be Paid at the Regular Rate

September 2, 2021

When Every Day is "Blursday" - Wage and Hour Compliance for a Remote Workforce

July 13, 2021

2020 Virtual California Employer

November 19, 2020

Paying Bonuses to Employees in the Golden State? Then You Need to Know California’s Flat Sum Bonus Overtime Rules

July 22, 2020

Wage and Hour Considerations for Reopening Your Business

May 21, 2020

Practical Considerations for Getting Your Employees Back to Work

May 14, 2020

Southern California Legal Update Series - San Diego

January 14, 2020

Death of the De Minimis Rule in California and the Impact on the Hospitality Industry

April 17, 2019

Southern California Legal Update Series - San Diego

San Diego, CA

January 8, 2019

Timely Talk About Wage and Hour Law: 'Tis the Season for Updating Incentive Plans

December 11, 2018

Southern California Legal Update - San Diego

San Diego, CA

December 7, 2017

Southern California Breakfast Briefing - San Diego

San Diego, CA

January 5, 2017

New Employment and Labor Laws for 2016 - San Diego

San Diego, CA

January 7, 2016

California Mandatory Paid Sick Leave: Are You Ready?

May 13, 2015

New Employment and Labor Laws for 2015

San Diego, CA

January 6, 2015

New Employment and Labor Laws for 2014 and 2015

San Diego, CA

January 7, 2014

Littler’s Labor & Employment Law Breakfast Series, Employment and Labor Laws Update

Los Angeles, CA

January 16, 2013

Labor and Employment Law Update

San Diego, CA

January 15, 2013

Labor and Employment Law Update

Irvine, CA

January 10, 2013

Complying with California’s New Written Commission Plan Requirements

January 9, 2013

Complying with California’s New Written Commission Plan Requirements

December 13, 2012

Managing the Contingent Workforce in 2013

San Diego, CA

October 25, 2012

2012 Southern California Legal Update

January 24, 2012

The Truth About the Workplace of the Future: Debunking the Myths Surrounding Flexible Work

July 15, 2011

Employment Law Update

February 2, 2011

2010 Legal Update

January 13, 2010

Big Bucks for Breaks: Meal and Rest Period Requirements for California Employers

August 29, 2007

Compliance Solutions from the Boardroom to the Courtroom

April 26, 2007

Education

  • J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, 1996
  • B.S., San Diego State University, 1991

Bar Admission

California

Courts

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California