Olivia Goodkin represents companies of all sizes in a variety of employment, business and trade secret matters. Olivia has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts and before arbitrators and administrative officers to successful conclusion. Whenever appropriate, Olivia strives to reach cost effective resolution through arbitration, mediation and negotiation. She also utilizes prejudgment remedies and other preliminary relief to achieve success for her clients.

Olivia counsels clients on multiple employment law issues facing companies including wage and hour claims, leaves of absences and terminations. Olivia also assists clients in building value for their intellectual property by applying for registration of their trademarks and copyrights and creating programs to protect companies from the theft of trade secrets by departing employees.

Olivia and her husband, Lee Schwartz, live in Los Angeles and are avid football fans. Their older son plays for the Minnesota Vikings.  Their younger son recently was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Industries Served

Aircraft Finance
Apparel/Textile
Communications
Construction
Direct Response/Infomercial
Distribution/Transportation
Financial Services
Food & Beverage
Health & Beauty
Manufacturing
Media
Professional Services
Real Estate
Technology

• Drafts cutting edge social media policies for companies in diverse industries
• Regularly advises companies regarding terminations and discipline of employees
• Drafts protective severance agreements
• Drafts executive compensation packages
• Obtained injunction for company in shareholder dispute and trade secret misappropriation case involving departing employee
• Prevailed in defending manufacturer before the Labor Commissioner on claim that employee was due over $85,000 in overtime pay
• Successfully resolved sexual harassment cases for both manufacturing and professional services companies prior to litigation
• Counsels numerous clients on leave of absence policies and wage and hour claims
• Creatively resolved multi-million dollar case brought by union against employer for misassignment of work to employees of the wrong union, which resulted in new collective bargaining agreement and agreement of greatly reduced payments of monetary damages over time
• Moved to compel arbitration on behalf of large employer defending disability discrimination case and arbitrated case, obtaining complete defense award
• Represented Sales Manager before Labor Commissioner regarding unpaid commissions exceeding $100,000
• Reduced OSHA penalties after trial before the administrative agency
• Advised numerous clients of all sizes regarding layoffs, furloughs, WARN Act issues and other labor cost-cutting measures
• Created trade secret program for manufacturing company, including drafting of confidentiality agreements for employees and independent contractors
• Drafted employee handbooks including drug and alcohol testing policies to comply with laws applicable to clients' industries
• Negotiated severance agreements for executives at a Fortune 500 firm

• Represented aircraft finance lenders in repossessing aircraft collateral and obtaining deficiency judgments
• Obtained relief from bankruptcy stay on multiple occasions to proceed with litigation on behalf of clients
• Pursued breach of lease claims on behalf of Fortune 500 retailer concerning extensive real estate holdings in Southern California
• Advised and litigated claims involving breach of manufacturing, service and supply contracts
• Represented corporate general partner in partnership dispute
• Represented hotel chain in defending breach of a contract providing for convention facilities
• Obtained defense summary judgment in case involving shareholder dispute and responsibility to lender

• Registered and prosecuted hundreds 100's of trademarks
• Represented companies in adversary proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
• Obtained summary judgment in trade dress case in federal court
• Represented companies in trademark, trade dress and copyright litigation in federal court
• Obtained injunction for company in shareholder dispute and trade secret misappropriation case involving departing employee
• Created trade secret program for manufacturing company, including drafting of confidentiality agreements for employees and independent contractors

• Author, "The Silver Bullet to Avoid Class Actions," The Laboring Oar, May 2011
• Author, "Genetic Discrimination: Can a Health Risk Put Your Job at Risk?," Aol Jobs. May 9, 2011
• Author, "Clarifying 'GINA'," The Laboring Oar, January 2011
• Author, "Beware the Complaining Employee," Manage Smarter, December 23, 2009
• Author, "Employers Should Cautiously Rejoice Over the Gross v. FBL Financial Services Case," The Laboring Oar, June 2009
• Author, "Employers Providing Family Medical Leave Must Revise Their Handbooks and Notice Procedures," The Laboring Oar, February 2009
• Co-Author, "In Focus: Layoffs - Legal Protection for Employers," Area Development Magazine, November 2008
• Author, "Covenants not to Compete Revisited," The Laboring Oar, September 2008
• Author, "Viewing Employees' Text Messages May Be Illegal," The Laboring Oar, June 2008
• Author, "Reimbursement of Employees Expenses," Legalcatch.worpress.com, March 13, 2008
• Author, "Reimbursement of Employees' Expenses,," The Laboring Oar, December 2007
• Author, "How To Conduct an Employee Investigation," The Laboring Oar, July 2007
• Author, "Prevention of Claims For Missed Meal and Rest Periods," The Laboring Oar, May 2007
• Author, "What To Expect When Your Employee Is Expecting," The Laboring Oar, March 2007
• Co-Author, "Minimum Wage Increase Coming Soon," The Laboring Oar, December 2006
• Co-Author, "Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Minimum Wage Increase."