Keith Rasher Honored as 2024 Top Labor and Employment Lawyer

Los Angeles partner Keith Rasher was named to the Daily Journal’s 2024 Top Labor & Employment Lawyers list. The annual list honors top-performing lawyers in California.

In a profile by the publication, Keith shared details about his start in law, recent notable cases, and a growing trend in employment law.

“Initially, I attended law school intending to pursue entertainment law and soon discovered a significant overlap between entertainment and employment issues,” Keith told the Daily Journal. “This overlap, along with friends’ stories about their complex and challenging cases, piqued my interest and led me to explore employment law further.”

One of his most notable cases was the defense of First Honda of Simi Valley. The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) case spanned more than five years and centered on allegations that a dealership’s pay plan unlawfully used bonuses to meet minimum wage requirements, he said. He secured a complete defense verdict, awarding over $17,000 in costs to the defendants. The outcome was significant given the rarity of these types of complex PAGA cases going to trial, he said.

Keith noted a growing trend in the legal landscape regarding meal and rest period compliance. He said recent decisions by the California Supreme Court have increased the burden on employers to maintain precise records of employees’ breaks.

“This trend underscores the importance of employers having robust compliance policies and diligent record-keeping practices,” he said.