Galen T. Shimoda
Shareholder
Contact Me:
Practice Areas:
- Litigation
- Class Action
- Private Attorney General Act
- Wage and Hour Claims
- Meal Period Violations
- Unpaid Commissions and Bonuses
- Minimum Wage
- Harassment
- Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Wrongful Termination
- Personal Injury
Biography:
Mr. Shimoda began his practice at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, L.L.P., representing large corporations. He primarily worked on wage and hour matters, including class action practice. Sensing a need to represent the unrepresented, Mr. Shimoda decided to switch sides and now represents individuals in labor and employment cases. The bulk of Mr. Shimoda’s practice involves prosecuting class and private attorney general wage and hour claims for overtime, meal period violations, unpaid commissions and bonuses, minimum wage, and reimbursement. Over the years, Mr. Shimoda and his firm have collected millions of dollars for California workers. Mr. Shimoda also has experience with disability/race/gender discrimination (and accommodation), sexual harassment, leave law, privacy rights, wrongful termination, and whistleblowing cases.
On a practical note, Mr. Shimoda has trial and litigation experience. He has handled numerous complex class actions lawsuits, including discovery, motions for certification, and settlements. He also has knowledge of Labor Commissioner and other administrative hearings.
Mr. Shimoda spends much of his time with his wife and three children. As an avid traveler, he frequently travels the globe with a desire to understand different cultures and people. Some of his favorite destinations are Cape Town (South Africa), Grindelwald (Switzerland), Kona (Hawaii), Singapore, Amsterdam (Netherlands), Graegle (California), Quepos (Costa Rica), and Banff (Canada).
Speaking Engagements:
- Lorman Military Leave Law, Speaker
- Restaurant Association, Annual Seminar (Los Angeles), Speaker
- 2015 Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Bar Association, Sacramento Chapter (March 2016)
- 2016 Year in Review, CEB – Employment Law Practice (January 2017)
- 2015 Year in Review, CEB – Employment Law Practice (January 2016)
- 2014 Year in Review, CEB – Employment Law Practice (January 2015)
- 2013 Year in Review, CEB – Employment Law Practice (January 2014)
- Real World Experiences from the Plaintiff and Defense Bar, Sacramento County Bar Association – Class Actions from the Trenches (February 2012)
- Going Beyond the Exemption Discussion, Sacramento Employer Advisory Council – Wage and Hour Workshop (April 2016)
- Emerging Trends and Issues, Sacramento County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section – PAGA Representative Litigation (May 2016)
- Overtime Rules, Sacramento Business Journal, Panel Speaker (June 2016)
- Calculation Exposure and Damages in Wage and Hour Cases, Association of Defense Counsel of Norther California & Nevada – Employment Law Update – Do the Math (August 2016)
- CELA – 15th Annual Advanced Wage & Hour Seminar, Panel Speaker (May 2020)
Representative Cases:
- Eicher v. Advanced Business Integrators, Inc., 151 Cal. App. 4th 1363, 2007
- Dayton v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5075 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 14, 2015)
- McFarland v. Almond Board of California, No. 2:12-CV-02778 (E.D. Cal.), 2015
Education:
- McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
- J.D.
- With Great Distinction
- Order of the Coif
- Traynor Society
- J.D.
- University of Utah
- B.A. – Asian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- B.S. – Business Management
Bar Admissions:
- California
- Utah
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Published Works:
- “Japan’s New Equal Employment Opportunity Law: Combating Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”, 16 Transnational Law. 215, 2002
- “The Underrepresented Worker”, Sacramento County Bar Journal, September, 2006
- “Abuses of Firm Technology Can Be Fatal Distraction”, L.A. Daily Journal, June, 25, 2004
Professional Associations:
- Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- California Employment Lawyers Association
- Sacramento County Bar, Labor and Employment, Member
- California Class Action Plaintiff Group (CPAG)
- Utah Employment Lawyers Association, President