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LCW
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore is California’s premier labor, education, and employment law firm. We provide training, education, and legal representation to hundreds of public agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations across the state of California. LCW also provides expert and cost-effective investigation services to California businesses.
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T. Oliver Yee

Partner
310.981.2044 | oyee@lcw.wpxnew.riefmedia.com

Oliver provides representation and legal counsel to Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s public agency, education, and nonprofit clients. He leads the firm’s Audit Services Practice Team. In addition, Oliver’s practice involves representing and advising clients on a variety of labor and employment issues including labor negotiations, personnel rules and policies, the Fair Labor Standards Act, laws and regulations of public employment retirement plans, the Brown Act and Public Records Act, unfair labor practices, employee grievances, leave and disability issues, and disciplinary actions. He regularly advises executive management, governing bodies and human resources management on complex legal issues and matters.

Oliver is an experienced labor negotiator, having represented clients as their chief negotiator in all aspects of the negotiations process, from the pre-negotiations planning phase up to and including impasse and fact finding. Oliver has also successfully navigated through an employee strike, serving as lead counsel and chief negotiator. He has also successfully represented clients before the Public Employment Relations Board, and regularly provides advice and counsel on negotiations and labor relations strategy. In addition, Oliver regularly provides advice and counsel on retirement issues, and has successfully represented clients on appeals involving CalPERS and disability retirement determinations.

Oliver also specializes in providing audit services. He relies on his vast experience in labor relations and litigation to bring thoughtful and innovative review and analysis to the audit process. He is an author of the Liebert Model Personnel Policies, a set of model personnel policies for public agencies, and regularly audits personnel rules, administrative policies, and employee handbooks. In addition, Oliver’s successful representation of clients in FLSA litigation enables him to be an effective auditor on FLSA-related issues.

Oliver has successfully represented clients in class action matters involving the FLSA, and single plaintiff litigation employment matters in both state and federal court from inception through discovery, pre-trial proceedings, and settlement or trial. He has also successfully defended agencies in disciplinary actions, and regularly advises clients on disciplinary matters.

Oliver is a prolific and dynamic presenter in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s training program. He regularly trains governing bodies, managers, supervisors and human resources personnel. He also frequently presents at public sector conferences on relevant labor and employment topics. Oliver relies on his extensive training experience to provide proactive and preventative advice and counsel to clients.

Professional and Community Involvement

Oliver serves as the Personnel Chapter Chair of the League of California Cities Municipal Law Handbook.

Oliver is a member of the California Council of School Attorneys (CCSA).

Recognitions

Oliver was selected as a Southern California Super Lawyers’ Rising Star in 2013-2015.

Photo team member

Expertise

Education

JD, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis

MA, Washington University, St. Louis

BA, Washington University, St. Louis

Did You Know

Oliver and his family love to hit the slopes on their skis.

Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, et al. (2012) – Handled a Fair Labor Standards Act collective/class action case where the U.S. District Court granted a County law enforcement employer’s summary judgment motion. The lawsuit involved the “donning and doffing” claims of approximately 3,000 deputy sheriffs in two different, yet consolidated, collective action lawsuits filed against the County and its Sheriff (collectively “the County”). The district court also granted the County’s motion to decertify the remaining “off-the-clock” work claims. The district court’s rulings effectively ended two large collective/class action lawsuits after several years of litigation.

Rosales v. County of Los Angeles (2011) – This FLSA collective action sought compensation for unreported overtime and certification of a class of 700 IHSS social workers who evaluated IHSS recipients’ needs and made recommendations regarding the services to be performed by IHSS providers.  We successfully defeated plaintiffs’ attempt to certify the class and limited the case to just one social worker.  The case then settled for nuisance value.

Petersen Law Firm v. City of Los Angeles (2009 and 2013) – Represented City and individual defendants in an action in which they prevailed on an Anti-SLAPP motion in a case challenging investigation of police officers. After the matter was appealed and remanded, the trial court reconsidered the City’s motion for attorney’s fees and ruled that the City was entitled to recover the entire amount of attorney’s fees and costs it requested.

Bentley v. County of Los Angeles, et al (2009) – In a federal lawsuit a County client defeated a motion for conditional certification of a collective action filed by a potential lead plaintiff in a Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) wage and hour action.

City of Santa Barbara – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the City’s public safety units.

City of West Covina – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the City’s public safety units and miscellaneous employee units.

City of La Verne – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the City’s public safety units.

City of Redlands – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the City’s public safety units.

City of Whittier – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the City’s miscellaneous employee unit.

City of Cudahy – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the City’s miscellaneous employee unit.

City of Bell Gardens – Oliver has provided advice and counsel over the years during the City’s collective bargaining agreement negotiations and in its labor relations with its employee groups.

City of Sierra Madre – Oliver has provided advice and counsel over the years during the City’s collective bargaining agreement negotiations and in its labor relations with its employee groups.

Barstow Community College District – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the District’s faculty and miscellaneous employee units.

The Accelerated School – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the School’s teacher and miscellaneous employee units.

The Oakwood School – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the School’s teacher unit.

Orange County Cemetery District – Oliver served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the District’s miscellaneous employee unit.

Tips from the Table: Managing The Governing Body During Negotiations
08/02/2022
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

We are excited to continue our video series – Tips from the Table. In these videos, members of LCW’s Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented at your bargaining tables. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful...

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CalPERS Audits: What Should a Public Agency Expect?
08/24/2021
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

This article was originally published in June 2014.  The information has been reviewed and is up-to-date as of August 2021.
It is a common phrase that most in the public sector have heard of – a “PERS audit.”  However, despite having heard of CalPERS (“PERS”) audits occurring, many have not...

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Prevention, Prevention, Prevention! It’s Time to Audit Your Agency’s Personnel Rules
06/15/2021
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

This article was reviewed in June 2021 and is up-to-date.
Prevention of liability starts with auditing your agency’s personnel rules.  Indeed, in an employment-related lawsuit, the applicable personnel rule is often “Exhibit A.”  Each year, public agencies face changes to employment laws and...

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Wage & Hour: Key Issues for Exempt Employees
06/11/2021
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

We are excited to introduce our video series – Wage & Hour Issues in the Workplace. In these videos, members of LCW’s Wage & Hour practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented in your workplace. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful!

This...

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Governor Signs AB 2257 Updating AB 5 Independent Contractor Law: What Private Schools Need to Know
09/15/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

AB 5, which went into effect January 1, 2020, codified in the Labor Code the “ABC” test for determining independent contractor status that the California Supreme Court adopted in its 2018 decision in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903. Our bulletin regarding the...

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Governor Signs AB 2257 Updating AB 5 Independent Contractor Law
09/15/2020
LCW Special Bulletin

AB 5, which went into effect January 1, 2020, codified in the Labor Code the “ABC” test for determining independent contractor status that the California Supreme Court adopted in its 2018 decision in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903. Our bulletin regarding the...

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Financial Assistance for Employee Housing: Legal Considerations for California Public Agencies
08/06/2020
Bender's California Labor & Employment Bulletin

Partners Heather DeBlanc and T. Oliver Yee and Associate Kelly Tuffo authored the Bender’s California Labor & Employment Bulletin article, “Financial Assistance for Employee Housing: Legal Considerations for California Public Agencies,” discussing the legal considerations for...

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Anticipating Legal Issues in a Post-COVID-19 Work Environment
07/14/2020
American City & County

Partner T. Oliver Yee and Associate Alysha Stein-Manes authored the American City & County article, “Anticipating Legal Issues in a Post-COVID-19 Work Environment,” addressing the legal risks and considerations that many public agencies will face in a remote work environment. Read...

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Adapting to the “New Normal”: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for a Post-COVID 19 Workplace
07/13/2020
American City & County

Partner T. Oliver Yee and Associate Alysha Stein-Manes authored the American City & County article, “Adapting to the ‘New Normal’: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for a Post-COVID 19 Workplace,” discussing how employers can best address remote working situations in...

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How COVID-19 Could Permanently Transform Public Agency Operations: Lessons Learned
06/02/2020
The Daily Journal

Partner T. Oliver Yee and Associate Alysha Stein-Manes authored the Daily Journal article, “How COVID-19 Could Permanently Transform Public Agency Operations: Lessons Learned,” discussing steps organizations need to take in the new era of remote work. Read the full article here.

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Telework Transition Holds Key Lessons for Public Agencies
05/28/2020
Law 360

Partner Oliver Yee and Associate Alysha Stein-Manes authored the Law360 article, “Telework Transition Holds Key Lessons for Public Agencies,” discussing lessons public agencies need to take away from the shift from in-agency work to remote work. To read full...

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Employee Housing Assistance – Legal Considerations for California Public Agencies
04/14/2020
California Lawyers Association Public Law Journal

In light of California’s housing shortage and high housing costs, public employees and candidates struggle to find affordable housing options. In turn, public agencies may be considering measures to help employees find viable housing options near the workplace, and may even consider investing in...

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Navigating the Impacts of AB 5 for Public Agency Employers
12/09/2019
The Daily Journal

Oliver Yee and Kaylee Feick authored this article for the Daily Journal on the unique challenges and issues Assembly Bill 5 creates for public agencies. AB 5 codifies the “ABC” test for determining independent contractor status that the California Supreme Court adopted in its 2018...

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A General Manager’s Guide: To Bringing Out The Best In Their Boards, Commissions, and Elected Officials
08/08/2019
California Special District's Magazine

Your job as a general manager or emerging leader of a special district demands that you provide strong leadership to your staff and boards.  When staff, management, and the board work in concert, everyone benefits. But how do you bring out the best in your boards, commissions and elected officials?...

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