Ace’s practice focuses on representing employers in individual, class and representative actions alleging wage and hour claims arising under the California Labor Code, Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) Orders, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and the Business and Professions Code’s Unfair Competition law. He has litigated these types of matters in state and federal court, arbitration and various administrative forums involving employees in industries ranging from security to trucking. In tandem with litigation defense, Ace provides practical advice and counseling and remediation strategy for compliance to prevent or reduce the risk of future litigation.
His unique background gives him the ability to provide holistic advice to clients that very few, if any, employment defense attorneys have. He can examine an issue from all angles that truly appreciates the potential risks and rewards of a proposed strategy or thoroughly evaluate a compliance issue, so that a client can make the best decisions for their short-term and long-term goals.
Prior to transitioning to employment defense and coming to MHS, Ace worked for a prominent plaintiffs and union side law firm in Sacramento with a statewide practice. He litigated FLSA collective actions as well as class and PAGA actions in state and federal court on behalf of employees in the public sector as well as private sector industries including but not limited to manufacturing, banking and aviation. Ace also handled traditional labor law matters including litigating unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board and Public Employment Relations Board on behalf of unions. He also handled grievance and discipline arbitrations.
Before transitioning to private practice Ace was a government regulator handling the very same claims he defends against today. He served as a deputy labor commissioner with the State of California’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement – Bureau of Field Enforcement. Ace investigated a wide array of California employers for compliance with the California Labor Code and IWC Orders and litigated enforcement of various PAGA civil penalties at administrative appeal hearings. This experience exposed him to the many challenges employers face with compliance in a wide range of industries from agriculture to construction to hospitality to health care.
Ace’s experience provides something that not many lawyers can offer – the ability to comprehensively assess risk by examining an issue or proposed strategy from all perspectives to develop the most effective course of action and execute on it.
In his spare time Ace enjoys spending time exploring wine country in Sonoma, Napa and Amador counties with his wife.
