S. Sean Shahabi

Sean Shahabi counsels and represents employers in all aspects of federal and state employment law, in both state and federal court and before administrative agencies. Mr. Shahabi has extensive experience defending employers against wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour claims.  Mr. Shahabi also regularly counsels employers on wage and hour and personnel issues, and in the preparation of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks.

Professional Highlights

• Obtaining a complete defense verdict in a disability discrimination and accommodation lawsuit brought against a major regional hospital.
• A successful trial defense on behalf of a national mortgage lender in a high stakes wage and hour lawsuit.
• Obtaining summary judgment in a wage and hour class action pending in federal court in favor of a post-secondary technical and vocational educational services company.
• Obtaining summary judgment on behalf of a client sued for race and gender discrimination, which was later upheld on appeal to the California Court of Appeal.
• Bringing numerous successful summary judgment and dismissal motions on behalf of employers in a broad array of industries, including retail and financial services.
• Obtaining a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction on behalf of a financial services client against two former employees, a senior investment manager and his associate, who left to join a competitor and who were attempting to compete using trade secrets.

Prior to joining Hodel Briggs Winter LLP, Mr. Shahabi worked at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, as an associate in the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group.

In the Community

Mr. Shahabi is a member of the Orange County Bar Association – Labor & Employment Section and the Iranian American Bar Association.

Education

Mr. Shahabi graduated from Harvard Law School in 1999 and has practiced employment law ever since. Prior to law school, he attended the University of California at Irvine, where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.